dikman

Thanks mate, when I started leatherwork and came across head/round knives I thought what a strange shape for a knife. Then it slowly got weirder as I kept coming across all manner of variations in their design. Fascinating.

Single head knife - yeah, I can live with that.

https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/122906-new-look/ It's not intentional, the site was hacked and Johanna managed to keep it going with a simpler layout. She's still hard at work restoring the site.

Angle grinder with a cut-off wheel. Toxo, I agree, head knife seems an odd term, given the shape of the blade. I've also seen this particular shape referred to as a bird's-head knife, which seems more fitting. It's a funny thing to use as I thought it would work by pulling towards me and using the large curved part but it just doesn't like to cut using it like that, very strange. It works better by using the pointed section.

Thanks guys. The craftmanship isn't that good on the handle (fortunately you can't see it ) next time should be better as I'll give more thought to the antler. I wanted this to fit INTO the palm as it makes it easier to push and control, and with a stumpy handle I can also hold it like a stabbing implement and cut by pulling it towards me.

Didn't know that, I've learned something new. So just buy sewing machine oil (check the MSDS if uncertain what's in it) or ISO 66 hydraulic fluid.

I've made a couple of head knives from a circular saw blade and while they work they're fairly big (plus I need to grind the bevels down a bit more). So I thought "why not make a smaller half head knife?". A guy on youtube called Red Beard made one and kindly made the pattern available so I pinched it. Looking around for a bit of steel I found a panel saw I'd bought for $2 but it wouldn't cut straight and I couldn't be bothered resetting and sharpening the teeth so I just hung it in the forge. I tried a centre punch on it, which it promptly blunted! Hmm, might have possibilities. I made an assumption that the Chinese factory would likely have used a simple carbon steel, with no differential hardening for the teeth, to make it cheaply. So I cut a little piece off annealed it and then heated it to non-magnetic and quenched in water. Bingo, the file skated across it, looked like I was on a winner. I cut the shape out with an angle grinder, annealed it and ground to shape on the belt grinder, then heated and quenched in oil. To temper it I ran a gas torch carefully along the edge to just get a tinge of colour, good enough for this experiment. The deer antler proved problematic as when I started grinding it became apparent there was going to be a lot of pith showing. At that point I decided not try and make it perfect, just functional. I wanted it to rest against the palm of the hand so that ruled out fitting an end cap. The blade was carefully sharpened on the belt grinder, then a paper wheel and finally a strop. I have some leather from an old saddle so it's dirty and stiff but it cut it without too much trouble and breezed through softer veg tan. There's still quite a bit of the saw left so I might have another go once I can figure out how to better utilise the antler that I have.

Why bother? This is temporary until Johanna has sorted out the hacking issue, at which point I'm sure we will be offered the option of the "old" scheme. In the meantime at least we have a functioning forum, which is the main thing. So us olde fuddy-duddy's will just have to put up with it.

I would say it's up to them to reach an agreement you're happy with. Complete replacement or full refund at their cost or, as suggested, replacement parts and partial refund. I know here in Oz consumer laws are on the buyer's side in such a case.

A cylinder arm will be the most versatile, as fred said you can always buy, or make, a flatbed attachment for it - if you find you need it.

Yep, like I said don't overthink it. I'm sure many out there use 3-in-1 oil because it's readily available. I doubt there's anything in modern engine oils that is likely to cause any damage to a machine but what you don't want is a heavy sticky oil. If you're not sure then do as Michiel said and just buy sewing machine oil and your Pfaff will be happy.

It was 8 years ago so was likely 2 years back then and has changed since.

If you're not familiar with BLO be careful disposing of any rags soaked in the stuff, they can self combust! Do a search on the 'net.

After reading all this my brains hurt.........

Many many years ago I was making a wooden carrying case for a rifle and lined it with foam. I used Selley's contact cement (most commonly used contact glue then) to glue the foam and after spending a long time leaning over the case gluing it all in I was feeling very........strange! A salutary lesson about using such glues.