Thread: Draw Knife

G'day Bob,
Whats next? A new tool cabinet!

You sure have been busy lately nice work BTW.

How did you get such a nice straight bevel on a bench grinder

Cheers Mike

Originally Posted by m2c1Iw

G'day Bob,
Whats next? A new tool cabinet!

A tool cabinet would be good but my shed is full!.

Anyway in terms of immediate projects Laying on my bench in bits and pieces are

1) A set of 3/16" thick plane makers floats, Have to turn handles and harden and temper the blades. Then make the 1/8" thick complementary set!
2) A 9/10 complete japanese pull (rip) saw.
3) A set of chisels
4) A set of legs for a pair of saw horses
5) A pot plant stand (this has been there for over a year!)

You sure have been busy lately nice work BTW.

The more stressful work is, the more I feel I have to do in the shed so you can guess what work is like.

How did you get such a nice straight bevel on a bench grinder

Like this.


Cheers

Originally Posted by BobL

Like this.


Cheers

Ah yes brilliant simplicity, which so often escapes me

nice draw knife Bob

Good looking drawknife Bob! I've often wondered about the type with the handles splayed out like that, I've seen them in some catalogues. Did you do any heat treatment, esp. after the welds?
I notice you shaving in a front bench vice, which is what I used to do too. Its an awkward thing to do, the body can never really get in a position to fully use a drawknife, plus the risk of skinning knuckles on the bench! A shaving horse may be out of the question, due to limited room or use, but once you combine that with a drawknife, a whole new world opens up. (I know...none more one-eyed than the converted!) With your ingenuity you mabe able to construct a foot operated clamp that fits in the vice, one that allows you to work 90* to the way you are now, so you have clearance around the work and pull evenly on both handles with your body doing the work?!

Cheers, thanks for posting the pics.

Thanks for the feedback Wheelin and Andy.

Originally Posted by Andy Mac

Good looking drawknife Bob! I've often wondered about the type with the handles splayed out like that, I've seen them in some catalogues. Did you do any heat treatment, esp. after the welds?

I've only ever used a straight handled one which was OK and the 90º handle seem a bit awkward so I though I'd try a splayed handled version.

With the welding I tacked up, cooled, and then only welded one side of one side (if you know what I mean) before cooling. It was easy to see the temper oxides (straw, brown, violet, blue) traveling out along the blade and the pale straw basically went out a few mm before the bevel starts. Given how hard it was to cut the bevel the blade is still very hard. I did detemper the blade to a pale straw colour in an oven anyway.

I notice you shaving in a front bench vice, which is what I used to do too. Its an awkward thing to do, the body can never really get in a position to fully use a drawknife, plus the risk of skinning knuckles on the bench! A shaving horse may be out of the question, due to limited room or use, but once you combine that with a drawknife, a whole new world opens up. (I know...none more one-eyed than the converted!) With your ingenuity you mabe able to construct a foot operated clamp that fits in the vice, one that allows you to work 90* to the way you are now, so you have clearance around the work and pull evenly on both handles with your body doing the work?!

I know all what you mean about shaving in a vice especially when making these cant hook handles. Would love a shave horse because I make all manner of oddly shaped handles but as you say - no room in de shed. So I do like your idea of a 90º thingo that clamps in the vice - stay tuned.

After making so many tools, jigs and gizmos it has come to the point where I now have to work out where I am going to put anything before I build it. I have even started to rotate some of the "prettier" tools inside - sort of on display.

Originally Posted by BobL

After making so many tools, jigs and gizmos it has come to the point where I now have to work out where I am going to put anything before I build it. I have even started to rotate some of the "prettier" tools inside - sort of on display.

Bit of a problem for me as well, and while I like the idea of the better tools inside the house, its not universally accepted! All I've managed is an oil stone box carved from a mallee root, which sits on the piano.

Cheers,

Originally Posted by BobL

Anyway in terms of immediate projects Laying on my bench in bits and pieces are

1) A set of 3/16" thick plane makers floats, Have to turn handles and harden and temper the blades. Then make the 1/8" thick complementary set!

Probably unnecessary to bring this to your attention, Bob, but here is a recent piece on Float making:
http://www.wkfinetools.com/tMaking/a...ts/floats1.asp

Originally Posted by jmk89

Probably unnecessary to bring this to your attention, Bob, but here is a recent piece on Float making:
http://www.wkfinetools.com/tMaking/a...ts/floats1.asp

Thanks JK - nice link - the sequence is pretty much my process as well, except I have access to a nice thermostatically controlled furnace to do my hardening and tempering with. I also cut the teeth on them with a mill (see here) which was much easier than a hand file - especially for the 1" wide ones.

I have been using the floats in untempered/unhandled form without to make these japanese saw handles and they are fantastic tools for getting into and shaping out various nooks and crannies etc.