Knife Display Case - WIP

[Brokenolmarine]

Thanks.  I did get out this evening for a long work session.  I finished the tooling on the one side.  As you can see in the comparison pic, this step really brings the side to life.

I also worked on the Maker's Mark since the spot for it was on that side.  There were a couple dings in the edge tooling the rays around the edges but I'll correct those prior to adding dyes/stains. Those won't be applied until both sides are done, and the borders are tooled.  This side still gets accent cuts.

Here is a somewhat closer look at the completed tooling so far on this side.

[DoogMeister]

Looking nice!

 

From one old Marine to another, who also makes knives, shoots, fishes, etc. I am watching this project.  My wife was asking the other day what I'm going to do with all my knives. I give some away, did one as a donation for a 4-H silent auction fundraiser last year, and mostly just look at the rest.  Your project may have given me something to do . . .

[Brokenolmarine]

35 minutes ago, DoogMeister said:

Looking nice!

 

From one old Marine to another, who also makes knives, shoots, fishes, etc. I am watching this project.  My wife was asking the other day what I'm going to do with all my knives. I give some away, did one as a donation for a 4-H silent auction fundraiser last year, and mostly just look at the rest.  Your project may have given me something to do . . .

Yup, When they started to pile up....

[Brokenolmarine]

I got out this afternoon and worked on the new side, tooling the lined footprint shader as I had on the first side.  I had been tied up all morning running errands in town.  Those are usually handled by the boss, but she is down with the flu, (Hopefully).  She has had Covid twice, but mild cases both times.  This Flu has been kicking her while she is down.  Face swollen, stuffed up, headaches, coughing, body aches, temp... We both have medical backgrounds and if it gets too bad, she will go to the doc, but she avoids them like a plague center. 

Miss T doesn't send me to town normally, she can be IN and OUT before I can get IN... plus she knows what she wants, without a list, I forget stuff.  But, she feels like she is dying, so she gave in... and sent me.  I didn't forget much... and remembered the important things. TP and Ice Cream... 

Where was I?  Oh yeah, shading.  I knocked out about a third, but didn't want to push myself and make a mistake, so I quit for a bit.  I am pretty happy so far...

 

I"m looking forward to finishing the inside and starting on the serpentine border.  I enjoy it, but you have to go slow and make sure of the work.  One slip, a poorly placed tool or missed strike and you can ruin the look.  The mistake is glaringly evident and the formal pattern is broken.  In a belt or wallet, you can start over, but with this large panel and all the interior work?  Not... so careful, SO careful will I be Master Yoda.

 

 

 

[Brokenolmarine]

I should be able to work another session this afternoon or evening.  I can feel the leather calling. 

 

[Brokenolmarine]

On 9/29/2024 at 1:33 PM, DieselTech said:

I would reach out to Tim Purdy at Steel Stamps Inc. He does some awesome work. 

He did my 1½" makers mark stamp. 

Really great guy to deal with. 

Nice work on the large quilted basket weave tooling. Looks great. 

I sent Tim an email query late Sunday evening, got my reply early this morning.  We sent emails back and forth for a couple hours.  I just paid my invoice.  Thanks for the suggestion.  His stamps aren't inexpensive, but they aren't Cheaply Made in china either.  I expect it will outlast ME.  I should have it in a couple weeks at most.

[DieselTech]

32 minutes ago, Brokenolmarine said:

I sent Tim an email query late Sunday evening, got my reply early this morning.  We sent emails back and forth for a couple hours.  I just paid my invoice.  Thanks for the suggestion.  His stamps aren't inexpensive, but they aren't Cheaply Made in china either.  I expect it will outlast ME.  I should have it in a couple weeks at most.

You will love it. Yeah his stamps are buy 1 & it will last forever type stamps. Kinda Buy Once, Cry Once type stamp.

But I have used my stamp for heat foil transfer to leather, as well as making brass & aluminum plates with it. To its actual job of stamping leather. 

Congrats. Can't wait to see it on some of your nice leatherwork. 

[Brokenolmarine]

I got a session in the shop this morning, a long(ish) one.  I got the internal tooling done and then the accent cuts on each block.  I will keep an eye peeled for any blocks that may need individual correction to tune their look, but I'm pretty much ready to start on the tooling of the border, been looking forward to that.

 

Here is a bit closer look at the two sides.  One looks a bit darker as it's still wet from the morning's tooling.  They do match when they are both dry.  Once the border has been tooled, I can move to dye / stain work.  While each phase of that is drying, I'll work on the construction of the case again.  Flipping back and forth between work on the leather panel and the case itself.  Can't see the light at the end of the tunnel yet, but at least I don't feel stuck in a traffic jam with that big tooling job on the open basket weave... THAT was a big job. 

 

[AlZilla]

Kind of like the Sistine Chapel.

[Brokenolmarine]

Yeah, No... 

Got back out this afternoon to tool the Serpentine border.  It's a one tool job as well.  I made mine from another Tandy tool, grinding off one leg of the H shaped tool.

You simply stamp the tool along the border, keeping the edge square to the edge with the point to the inside, careful to space the stamps with the ends touching.

Then come back on the opposite side, shifting half a space so the point is centered on the loop.