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| Artificer: [ART-IF-ISS-URR] : Noun: A craftsman who makes things |
What I do...I make things - it is my hobby, and occasionally my job. I try not to say, "I can't make that"; rather, "How do I make that?" That comes from my Dad - inspirational teacher, gentleman, gentle man, and a "cunning artificer" if ever there was one. Everything here is supposed to be useful - nothing is (or should be) decoration for the sake of it. If it doesn't do what it was designed for, I've done it wrong! I also make things for other people - if you like what you see and want something made, get in touch. |
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What is new?23rd July 2010I have made some alterations to the knifemaking page, as it was getting too big and unwieldy. It is now more of an index, with thumbnails linking to sub-pages for each project. The damasteel knife has gone to it's new owner, and the proceeds have gone towards this summer's trip to the Channel Islands by our local Scout troop. Following an enquiry from Down Under, I have started another whittler - details on the knifemaking page. The forged nessmuk has still not made it to the front of the queue, but hey-ho... The kitchen is a higher priority this summer! 24th May 2010 The damasteel knife is complete, pics up on the knifemaking page. 12th March 2010 The replacement ZDP Mule will not be appearing - the cracking problem is apparently related to the "molecular bonding within the steel". I would translate that as a problem with the crystalline structure, as steel doesn't strictly have a molecular structure, but not everyone is a chemist! Disappointing though it is for this one to fall through, the original point of the Mule program was to gather more information about exotic steels in use, so it has at least achieved that. I have also passed on the CPM-S35VN Mule to another collector/maker, as I won't have the time in the short- to medium-term to do anything with it. The damasteel blade is shaped and ground, and is away to be professionally heat-treated. 16th February 2010 The O1/Ebony neckers have been completed and despatched - photos on the knifemaking page. The leather stamps made up by Kerne are working really well, so the mark now goes on every bit of leatherwork that goes out. I have bought a small piece of damasteel (stainless damascus) - this has jumped to the front of the queue... 5th January 2010 New Year has been and gone. I finished the damascus blade before Christmas, and it has gone to it's new owner. Photos on the knifemaking page. The fat-belly bushy blade was prised out of my grip by another keen maker, and has been finished by him. Details here. 4th December 2009 Update: the ZDP Mule has cracked... Apparently, the first batch of these came out too hard - 67-68Rc, and failures have not been uncommon. Mine cracked while sitting overnight wrapped in clingfilm and grease while making the sheath. More information on the Spyderco forums. I managed a reasonable session in the workshop earlier this week, and got a tempering run completed. The bar of cable damascus is now a blade, heat-treated, polished and etched. The pattern has come out quite nicely, and is awaiting some buffalo horn scales. The blades I am making for a commission are also HTed, and awaiting polishing. Finally, a forged stick-tang in the Nessmuk style and a bushcraft blade are also awaiting post-HT finishing. Oh, and I've made some more mosaic pins... 30th November 2009 A kind member of the BCUK forums is making me a set of stamps for the previously mentioned makers mark, so the mark should now be consistent. Next is to find a method of etching it onto blades... 30th September 2009 Spoon photos are up on the Woodwork page. I have started using a maker's mark:  This copy is a bit rough - I'm not so good at drawing on the tablet - I'll try to put up a better version. A better copy actually appears on the Leatherwork page, on the Scout axe masks. 27th September 2009 The desert ironwood has been used on a Spyderco Mule Team blade - photos on the Knifemaking page I have made another batch of mosaic pins - pictures to appear shortly. I have finished a 'Goldilocks' set of spoons - large, medium and small in birch, willow and sycamore respectively. Photos will appear as soon as I get round to taking some. 4th September 2009 The O1/yew necker is sold and posted. Jeroen has sent me some photos of the full tang whittler blade I sent him earlier this year, now completed and in regular use - on the Knifemaking page. 21st July 2009 40th Anniversary of the 1st Moon Landing. The bar of cable damascus has arrived, and I've started on it. It's big enough to make a small necker as a full-tang, so that is what it will be. The desert ironwood has also arrived a couple of weeks ago, and is thoroughly gorgeous - I may just mount it in a frame by itself! It won't be going on the cable blade, as this will mean wasting too much on the wood, and also losing the wonderful figuring on it. It's no. 1 in this picture...  You can see why I don't want to lose the figuring! 10th June 2009 Following a few computer problems, I now have a new one! System is now rebuilt and working with most stuff recovered. The O1/ebony necker is now sold, and I have a bar of cable damascus on it's way from Denmark shortly - really looking forward to that. I also have some desert ironwood scales coming to go with the damascus, so it has the potential to be quite special. I'm getting nervous about starting on it! 23rd May 2009 All the current batch of mosaic pins are either used, sold or are allocated to a project. Thanks to all those who bought some. The O1/bog oak whittler is staying - I spent some time carving with it a a recent scout camp, and it works really well. I have also bought a crook knife for spoon carving, so my first big spoon should appear on the woodworking page soon. The O1 and ebony necker now has a suitable sheath, on the Leatherwork page, and my second necker is now up on the Knifemaking page. 8th April 2009 Link/banner added to Heritage Crafts Association. Well worth a look! 31st March Photos up of a completed project by AndyJ from the British Blades forum. I supplied the blade, pins, uncut scales and liners, and Andy put it all together and took the pictures. 27th March 2009 Some layout problems (hopefully) fixed, getting to grips with Cascading Style Sheets (thanks, Carol). Hoping to get some workshop time in this weekend... 21st March 2009 - the vernal equinox: New version of the site is now live. If you find any glaring errors, please let me know! |
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Copyright Peter Nicholson 2009. And just for spam-bots
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