Old Boggy Posted September 8 Report Share Posted September 8 14 minutes ago, wisdom said: Brilliant work on the antler knives but be careful with angle grinders. Ooh that looks painful. Not particularly conducive with your username either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted September 8 Report Share Posted September 8 16 minutes ago, Old Boggy said: Ooh that looks painful. Not particularly conducive with your username either. oooooooooccccccccccchhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.................that has made my knees go all funny... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shambam1962 Posted September 8 Author Report Share Posted September 8 (edited) 8 hours ago, wisdom said: Brilliant work on the antler knives but be careful with angle grinders. Thanks 👍 That looks very sore. Angle grinders are brilliant tools, when things go right. I once worked with a guy in the workshop, who went to change a cutting disc on an old Bosch 9” grinder. He unplugged it to changed the disc, and on placing the plug into the socket, he held the grinder in his right arm and against his chest. As he flicked the switch on the socket, the grinder started turning and caught into his padded shirt, and he was very lucky, it jammed the clothing tight enough to stop the machine while I turned the switch off within seconds. He was very lucky as his padded shirt and boiler suit had saved him preventing a very serious injury, and walking away with a red line on his chest and not badly cut. Edited September 8 by Shambam1962 Prediction text spelling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shambam1962 Posted September 8 Author Report Share Posted September 8 30 minutes ago, ditchman said: oooooooooccccccccccchhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.................that has made my knees go all funny... Simon I am interested to know if you have straightened antler by boiling it. I have a very nice piece I would like to use, but it has a slight kink, and I would like to straighten by clamping in the vice once boiled. I have watched a video on YouTube and he was fairly successful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted September 8 Report Share Posted September 8 4 minutes ago, Shambam1962 said: Simon I am interested to know if you have straightened antler by boiling it. I have a very nice piece I would like to use, but it has a slight kink, and I would like to straighten by clamping in the vice once boiled. I have watched a video on YouTube and he was fairly successful. No ....i have never done that....i have done Horn and put it inbetween 2 bits of wood in the vice for a couple of days......but never antler.......try it on a rubbish piece first is my surgestion....let us know how you get on... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave at kelton Posted September 8 Report Share Posted September 8 Cutting the groove is the hardest part. i fit the blade then run a steel rule along the antler where it is to go and use a pencil line. I then cut using a dremmel with a diamond blade. I check I am on the line by closing the blade into the slot I have cut and re-mark as necessary. It is all done by eye, takes time, but seems to work fine and is not too dangerous! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shambam1962 Posted September 8 Author Report Share Posted September 8 7 minutes ago, ditchman said: No ....i have never done that....i have done Horn and put it inbetween 2 bits of wood in the vice for a couple of days......but never antler.......try it on a rubbish piece first is my surgestion....let us know how you get on... Okay thanks 👍 This is the piece I want to try and remove the slow curve. I will try it out tomorrow and let you know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKD Posted September 8 Report Share Posted September 8 (edited) 2 hours ago, Old Boggy said: Ooh that looks painful. Not particularly conducive with your username either. 2 hours ago, ditchman said: oooooooooccccccccccchhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.................that has made my knees go all funny... It's not as painful as you'd think. The heat of the blade cauterizes the 'cut' 🫣 Don't ask how I know 😆 Edited September 8 by JKD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wisdom Posted September 8 Report Share Posted September 8 6 hours ago, Old Boggy said: Ooh that looks painful. Not particularly conducive with your username either. No it was a silly mistake I was cutting the clinches off some horseshoes and thought in my wisdom (as old boggy said not conductive with the username)I'll not bother with my vice ill hold them that's the result it was at full chat and red-hot with sparks flying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted September 8 Report Share Posted September 8 5 hours ago, Dave at kelton said: Cutting the groove is the hardest part. i fit the blade then run a steel rule along the antler where it is to go and use a pencil line. I then cut using a dremmel with a diamond blade. I check I am on the line by closing the blade into the slot I have cut and re-mark as necessary. It is all done by eye, takes time, but seems to work fine and is not too dangerous! That is EXCACTLY how i did mine 'cept i used a angle grinder with cutting disc........on the angle grinder i had a 2 stage starter...so it was a smooth start...as long as you are anchored on 3 points its quite easy....i never miss cut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Boggy Posted September 9 Report Share Posted September 9 14 hours ago, Shambam1962 said: Okay thanks 👍 This is the piece I want to try and remove the slow curve. I will try it out tomorrow and let you know. Good luck with that Kevin. I did read that whilst it is possible to bend antler with heat etc it also has a habit of returning to its original shape. It would be sad after all the work that goes into cutting the slot for the blade, only to find that the bend returns. However, knowing your persistence in these matters, I’m sure that you’ll win in the end, so best of luck. OB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shambam1962 Posted September 9 Author Report Share Posted September 9 3 hours ago, Old Boggy said: Good luck with that Kevin. I did read that whilst it is possible to bend antler with heat etc it also has a habit of returning to its original shape. It would be sad after all the work that goes into cutting the slot for the blade, only to find that the bend returns. However, knowing your persistence in these matters, I’m sure that you’ll win in the end, so best of luck. OB Thanks, Chris for the info 👍 I know it would be really annoying if it returned to it’s original shape in time, after all the work involved. I can actually use the piece as it is, but I would like to incorporate the fork end into the handle, which means I have to straighten a small section of the antler. It is a bit of a challenge, and if it doesn’t work out it will become a dog chew 😁 My mate had a buffalo horn crook and left it in the cab of his pickup. The following day he went to Greece with his family on holiday. On his return home after 2 weeks, he jumped into the cab, only to find the stick handle had returned to it’s original shape, caused by the heat of the sun, whilst left in his yard for 2 weeks. He was absolutely gutted, and had the stick redone a few months later Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve1066 Posted September 9 Report Share Posted September 9 Hi Gents can I just ask a quick question, I have had a couple of the Opinels over the years and noticed when they get a little damp they are right ******* to pull the blade out, would you have the same issue with the deer antler? Many Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shambam1962 Posted September 9 Author Report Share Posted September 9 (edited) 48 minutes ago, steve1066 said: Hi Gents can I just ask a quick question, I have had a couple of the Opinels over the years and noticed when they get a little damp they are right ******* to pull the blade out, would you have the same issue with the deer antler? Many Thanks Steve, I believe it’s down to the beech used in manufacture, and the moisture is easily absorbed into the end grain like a sponge and causing the wood to swell. Take a look on YouTube and a guy gives tips from oiling the wood handle and sealing the end grain, and many more. The antler handle opinel knives don’t swell and prevent the blade from opening. Edited September 9 by Shambam1962 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve1066 Posted September 9 Report Share Posted September 9 1 hour ago, Shambam1962 said: Steve, I believe it’s down to the beech used in manufacture, and the moisture is easily absorbed into the end grain like a sponge and causing the wood to swell. Take a look on YouTube and a guy gives tips from oiling the wood handle and sealing the end grain, and many more. The antler handle opinel knives don’t swell and prevent the blade from opening. Thanks Shambam, that’s very helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shambam1962 Posted September 9 Author Report Share Posted September 9 7 hours ago, Old Boggy said: Good luck with that Kevin. I did read that whilst it is possible to bend antler with heat etc it also has a habit of returning to its original shape. It would be sad after all the work that goes into cutting the slot for the blade, only to find that the bend returns. However, knowing your persistence in these matters, I’m sure that you’ll win in the end, so best of luck. OB Chris, just a quick update on the antler. I boiled the antler for 45 minutes and expected a bit of a whiff in the kitchen. It actually didn’t smell to bad and I think if I placed a few vegetables in the pot, it could have been antler soup 😂 The antler is clamped in the vice and straightened very easily with minimum effort. I will leave it clamped for a day or two, and will hopefully be able to use. I was very surprised how easy it straightened 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Boggy Posted September 9 Report Share Posted September 9 41 minutes ago, Shambam1962 said: Chris, just a quick update on the antler. I boiled the antler for 45 minutes and expected a bit of a whiff in the kitchen. It actually didn’t smell to bad and I think if I placed a few vegetables in the pot, it could have been antler soup 😂 The antler is clamped in the vice and straightened very easily with minimum effort. I will leave it clamped for a day or two, and will hopefully be able to use. I was very surprised how easy it straightened 👍 Well done. I sincerely hope that it doesn`t return to its original shape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted September 9 Report Share Posted September 9 1 hour ago, Shambam1962 said: Chris, just a quick update on the antler. I boiled the antler for 45 minutes and expected a bit of a whiff in the kitchen. It actually didn’t smell to bad and I think if I placed a few vegetables in the pot, it could have been antler soup 😂 The antler is clamped in the vice and straightened very easily with minimum effort. I will leave it clamped for a day or two, and will hopefully be able to use. I was very surprised how easy it straightened 👍 i worked with some very curvy antler ..almost a half moon shape......i havt any pics anymore...wonder if anyone has a curved opinel i made for them...if so put a pic up.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shambam1962 Posted September 9 Author Report Share Posted September 9 (edited) 18 hours ago, ditchman said: i worked with some very curvy antler ..almost a half moon shape......i havt any pics anymore...wonder if anyone has a curved opinel i made for them...if so put a pic up.. I do like the curved antler knives and they look very nice 👍 I would have left the curve on this one, but the fork end was on opposite sides and wouldn’t look right once done. I have just received my assorted diamond discs and they look quite promising and will allow me to make deeper cuts than previously 🤞 At the moment it’s trial and error, and hopefully less errors. I did look on the pen turners forum and they had a post regarding bending antler, and quite a few had been successful straightening antler, ready for turning pens. I can only but try, and if not successful , hopefully learn from my mistakes 👍 Edited September 10 by Shambam1962 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shambam1962 Posted September 10 Author Report Share Posted September 10 I received a message yesterday from greenshank1 to inform me the antler knife had arrived, and he was very pleased with it 👍 I started this knife this afternoon, and have a bit more work on it to complete. Cut the groove as previously, and this time I was more confident, and it took a few minutes to cut., and very pleased. Tomorrow I will fit the stainless blade and sand and shape the front of the antler and contour it to suit the Opinel locking mechanism. A bit more sanding of the antler and it will look presentable 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted September 10 Report Share Posted September 10 yup......i like that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shambam1962 Posted September 10 Author Report Share Posted September 10 18 minutes ago, ditchman said: yup......i like that Once the front of the antler is shaped and sanded, I think it will look good 👍 The antler looks bigger in the photo, but fits nice in the hand. The piece of antler I straightened yesterday, is still in the vice drying out after boiling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Boggy Posted September 11 Report Share Posted September 11 9 hours ago, Shambam1962 said: I received a message yesterday from greenshank1 to inform me the antler knife had arrived, and he was very pleased with it 👍 I started this knife this afternoon, and have a bit more work on it to complete. Cut the groove as previously, and this time I was more confident, and it took a few minutes to cut., and very pleased. Tomorrow I will fit the stainless blade and sand and shape the front of the antler and contour it to suit the Opinel locking mechanism. A bit more sanding of the antler and it will look presentable 👍 Are you going to leave the end as it is or finish it with something infilled. A bit of brass or bronze would look good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shambam1962 Posted September 12 Author Report Share Posted September 12 I managed to spend an hour this evening in the shed, to finish off the knife. Very pleased with the end result 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted September 12 Report Share Posted September 12 Rather nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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