Knives (handmade) 101 #10 Little WorkShop of Horrors
Hello Steemians,
for today's post, I've decided to show you a glimpse or two of my little workshop. And, when I say little I do mean little - it's like 2.5x2 m :)
Why would I do this? Well, on the week after Ester I am moving a part of my workshop to a new part of the edifice.
The thing is, when I started this knifemaking adventure, my father was kind enough to cede a part of his summer-kitchen-hoarding-cave, which is basically a big shed in his yard that for some unknown reason has doors on both ends.
So, I build a wall and occupied the south 5sqm.
You can see me cooling down in the rain after a forging session (looking all mysterious as fuck) in front of the shed in this pic.
Anywho, next week I'll be moving everything but my grinders into the north side. That way, I'll have a nice big clean room and this smaller part will be for all the dust-producing activities.
That being said, this is probably my last chance to show how things are now...
Oh, one more thing before I start: as I was choosing the pics for this post I've noticed a certain pattern, a light motive one might say - all the pics I have of the inside are when the workshop is when I'm resting from grinding or something like that. Consequently, it's a bit messy in all of them.
So I just wanted to say, that even though I don't do it as often as I probably should, I do clean my shop from time to time.
Usually, it's when I can't find some tool or when I can't recognize anything because of all the dust.
I. The outside
Since my shop is a bit small, I do like to bring my work outside when the weather allows it.
This is how I usually start and end my day - coffee, cigs and checking my WIPs
I have a portable table without the top, that my father uses or feeding birds (don't ask) that I bring in front of the door, and two old chairs. And when I can, I like to do all the "cleaner" stuff outside.
Glueing up the handle
The small anvil and the big vice
II. The Inside - The Bearnessesities
I won't be showing all the small tools just the big 4 - there's actually also a drill press inside but for the life of me I can't seem to find a single pic with it.
My big hammer and my big anvil
I remade this 4kg hammer to better fit the forging needs - rounding it up and scorching the handle with a flame for better grip.
The big anvil was a great find from my friend from scrap-yard. It's a 100kg - a bit too big if I'm being honest, but anvils are like a dick, they can never be too big. There's an en face view down below.
The propane forge
I build this myself from scrap. It's a bit too short, I'll probably cut the back end so I can heat the bigger knives more comfortably.
The tempering oven - it's my mum's old oven that got some parts fried off when the lightning hit a nearby el. lines.
I've built the salt bath on the inside, that way when I open the doors the temperature doesn't drop.
The vices - the big one and the small one. I have a few more somewhere.
The Crown Jewel - my 5x2000 grinder. It really is the most important tool in my shop. I know you can make knives without one, but I wouldn't for all the files in the world.
For some reason, I tend to blow up my VFDs a lot. And, the way I do knives, a variable speed is essential so I've spent quite a lot of money on them. And learned a lot about instaling them along the way.
.And that's it
.
This is what it looks like after I'm done with work.
It is small, and either too hot or too cold but it was a perfect hideaway for the last couple of years. And even though I'm looking forward to having more space and, hopefully, a bit less dust, I will kinda miss it when all said and done.
As always, if you have any Qs or just feel like saying something, just drop a comment below and I'll get back to you in no time.
Thank you for reading and for your support...
Thanks for the hard work and great content. Keep it up.
Your post had been curated by the @buildawhale & @upmyvote team and mentioned here:
https://steemit.com/curation/@buildawhale/buildawhale-curation-digest-04-02-18
Thanks guys - much appreciated!
your posts are always very interesting friends.
and I always support you @docsmith
Thank you - I'm glad you're enjoying them
La tana del lupo!!
un saluto, nicola
Haha ha, I don't think any wolf would be willing to spend any time in all that dust ;)
Wow !!! Great workshop @docsmith... I love workshop...
Your grinder is really well.....
Thanks man.
Yep, I love my grinder - it was a gift from me to me ;)
Good post..
You got a 2.86% upvote from @postpromoter courtesy of @docsmith!
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