Knife Display Case - WIP

[Brokenolmarine]

Since a lot of my past hobbies are no longer available due to physical changes, I do a bit of woodworking, build some knives, and do a bit of leatherworking in the shop.  I can also shoot or fish on the good days... (from my kayak mostly) but mainly I work in the shop, an hour at a time.  Lately, I have been challenging myself, building knives.  I don't sell them, I either give them to friends/family as gifts, or keep them.  A table by the front door is laden with them and the wife told me I needed to build a display case to hang on the wall.

"Someone could walk off with one of your knives," she shook her head, "We have service people in and out at times."

"Worse yet, a guest's child could pick up one and they are RAZOR sharp.  Get them off the table and in a display case where they aren't easily accessed."

Challenge accepted.

[Brokenolmarine]

I played with designs in my head for a week, then started laying out the cut list.  OMG...   Have you guys seen the price of wood these days?  I typed in Oak, and nearly stroked.  So I typed in pine.  Still was some sticker shock.  So I went out to the storage side of my workshop and looked at the slabs I had, and found a few nice pieces.  Thing is, it would take some work.  This was rough wood, which would mean I'd have to run it thru the planer, then square up an edge then rip the pieces to the width I wanted before I could start cutting to length or adding the angled cuts to form the case.  No rush, and the total cost?  Zip.  Just time.  I have that.

 

The raw boards above were run thru the planer, then ripped, and cut, dado'd for the bottom,  and test fitted using band clamps.

[Brokenolmarine]

A bottom was cut and fitted, then test fitted to the frame.  NOTHING is even close to being permanently attached at this point, all held with the band clamps.  Too much to do before we ever reach glue up.

Had to decide what backing would go behind the knives.  Blue or burgundy velvet, another cloth, or ... wait for it... LEATHER? I had been making a lot of leather sheaths and thought leather might be awesome.  A tooled leather background?  I had to decide.  The area was about 4' wide and 16" tall... lotta leather.  I spent a couple days thinking it over while I played with tooling patterns for an large area like that in my head... It could work... I just needed to commit.  I finally committed and CAREFULLY cut the needed piece from a nice roll under the tooling bench.

 

[Brokenolmarine]

In order to properly mark a tooling window I'd first need to cut and fit the quarter round molding.  So I'd first need to BUY quarter round molding. 

 

The molding was CAREFULLY cut and fitted over the leather and I marked the interior edge of the molding on the leather with a Sharp Pencil.  I had my tooling window.  Then I broke down the entire framework, CAREFULLY marking every orientation, every joint, a/a b/b c/c etc.    The test fit was excellent.  Fail to mark the joints and the glue up could be WAY off.

[Brokenolmarine]

After all that time agonizing over the layout, I settled on a serpentine border for the edges, and a wide tooled Basketweave under and above the magnets.  I carefully laid out the design, with a heavy ruler and a sharp pencil.  Then cased the leather and cut it in.  It was looking good.

In preparation for tooling I taped the back of the leather to prevent any distortion of the panel. With the amount of tooling I'll have to do, I don't want to take any chances.

 

[Brokenolmarine]

I decided to start beveling the lines for the basket weave pattern.  The serpentine pattern will be last, as I don't want to distort THAT tooling by resting my hands on the border while tooling the inner pattern.  That's a lot of tooling inside, and with my arthritis, I'll be resting my hands a LOT. 

 

 

[Brokenolmarine]

I spent two days, and about six one hour sessions (arthritis) on the basic beveling, and it's gotten me to this point... the basic beveling is done.  

 

A close up look at the emerging pattern.

Tomorrow I'll start enhancing this beveling with the lined footprint by extending the bevels to create a more 3D look and further create the appearance of the over and under effect.  A couple more steps after that and the basket weave will be complete, and I can start on the serpentine.  Then, I have the magnets to install, the lighting, and the glass front frame and hinges.  Yup, we are so close to complete.  NOT.  

 

Watch this space, so much more to come.  So many more opportunities to fail. LOL.

[Brokenolmarine]

This closeup gives you a better feel for the beginning emergence of the basket weave tooling.

I have mentioned the magnets several times, here is a peek at the magnets that will run across the center of the display.. you can see their outline on the leather tooling.

[DieselTech]

That is going to be SHARP! Can't wait to see your finished display case. 

You do some nice work. 

The lighting, tooled leather back ground, with a bunch of nice hand made knives. 

Oh It is going to be awesome.

 

[AlZilla]

That's a big project. I like working with rough lumber, slabs, etc. Way back in about 7th grade wood shop, we basically started from scratch like that. Much more satisfying than just buying some piece of lumber ready to go.

That giant quilt pattern is fun. I'm waiting to see what you use for the centers of the blocks. The couple I've done were smaller and the tool I used is the Seeder (I think). Too small to look right on that larger pattern.

[Brokenolmarine]

1 hour ago, AlZilla said:

That's a big project. I like working with rough lumber, slabs, etc. Way back in about 7th grade wood shop, we basically started from scratch like that. Much more satisfying than just buying some piece of lumber ready to go.

That giant quilt pattern is fun. I'm waiting to see what you use for the centers of the blocks. The couple I've done were smaller and the tool I used is the Seeder (I think). Too small to look right on that larger pattern.

You are thinking of the Quilted Pattern.  I've done that one as well, and I used the seeder to tie the blocks together on that.  The tool I wanted was a Shell Pattern, but couldn't find it anywhere.  This Basket Weave doesn't use anything in the corners to tie them together although Don Gonzales does mention it as an option in his video.

I have watched several, most all of my skills come from YouTube since there are no classes in my area.  (I live among the cows, hayfields, and woods... by choice.) 

Yup, will start with the shading today, if the arthritis allows it. 

[Brokenolmarine]

Thanks for the comments...

[Brokenolmarine]

Out this morning to work on the panel.  I had rewatched the section of Gonzales video on the toeprint tooling and was raring to go.  But, as I looked at all the work I had done on the large panel, I thought, "Wait One Second," and went over to the tooling bench and pulled a scrap out of the bucket.  I quickly tooled a small section up to the point where the toeprint was required and attempted the techniques I'd watched several times in the video by Gonzales.  Okay, turned out pretty good.... I even added the accent cuts.

 

Now I was ready to  work on the BIG panel.   I cased the panel, settled into my chair and got to work.  Slow but sure.  NO mistakes.  I did learn ONE thing this morning.  This is going to take a while.  There are about thirty five columns on each side, and I knocked out ten before I was told it was time for a break.  "Arthur" tells me when it's time and I listen.  If I don't, I end up having to take a day or two off.

If you look at the progress so far, you can see the ten columns I have done so far, and tell the difference it makes.  I think this will look great, especially paired with the border.

[Brokenolmarine]

A question for the peanut gallery.  I have a maker's mark stamp in brass that I like fine, but it's small... about a 1/2"

I'd like a larger stamp, possibly an inch or more.  Anyone have one they like and would care to share where they got it?

You can see my maker's mark stamp on the sheath, here:

[DieselTech]

1 hour ago, Brokenolmarine said:

A question for the peanut gallery.  I have a maker's mark stamp in brass that I like fine, but it's small... about a 1/2"

I'd like a larger stamp, possibly an inch or more.  Anyone have one they like and would care to share where they got it?

You can see my maker's mark stamp on the sheath, here:

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. 

[Brokenolmarine]

Thanks, I'll check them out.

[Brokenolmarine]

I went back out to the shop for a bit intending to work for an hour or so with the lined footprint shader.  I didn't get far before a headache set in.  I got four columns done.  I'm not going to push, don't want to make any mistakes.  

I did, however, take the opportunity to try a finish test on that scrap panel.  I stained half the panel with yellow stain and let it dry.  Then I covered the entire panel with Watco Natural Oil.  I let that dry.  Then using Medium Walnut Antique, I wiped it down.  I'm liking the side with the yellow base.  But, there is plenty of time before I have to make a final choice, I think I'll tool another test panel and try just Watco Golden Oak finish... 

Lot of work going into that panel, may as well make sure of the finish before I apply it. 

 

[dikman]

You choke on the cost of wood and then think nothing of using half a hide of leather! It would never have occurred to me to use leather as where I am the lumber would be cheaper by far. Anyhow, I'm all for using what's around, if possible. The yellow stain has a "glow" to it that makes the brown look flat.

Regarding the maker's mark, have you thought about one of those little el-cheapo lasers, they're great for something like that as they can be placed wherever you want on the hide and the mark burned in. Just a thought.

Thanks for the detailed ride along, it makes for a good read.

[Brokenolmarine]

The leather was purchased on sale at Tandy, but good call.  Yes, it will be the most expensive component of the case.  The plexiglass is second.  The rest was pretty much on hand other than the piano hinge.  You are welcome to follow along and share the ride, I am looking forward to seeing where it ends myself. 

[Gezzer]

That  will be OUTSTANDING !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[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.