Rat Rod Blades Challenge 2021 - Build thread
- Thread starter Verrt
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Oh come now Leon, I've got hand grinders, a bench grinder and a belt sander. Have you watched anybody create a knife from a file on YouTube? I do believe I can pull off a reasonable facsimile. It's the cat with the flint and a stick that I'm interested in seeing...
GC.
OH and... anybody else building a bike in March???
GC.
OH and... anybody else building a bike in March???
If you hadn't of banned the ice skate, he'd probably be done already...
Merle.
Merle.
Old Uncle
Uncle Doyle liked me and I liked him. I made him a belt buckle in shop class one Christmas and he cried when he opened it. He was proud of me and I loved him as proudly as a kid could. He went on to meet his reward and I was thankful to get this old knife outta his shop that has been sharpened so much over the years, it’s got a concave edge on it and pretty flimsy at that length.
As for scales, I’m gonna use this timber. It’s original use was part of a tunnel near downtown Fort Worth that was built in 1917. I figured it will go well on this project. The mutts seem to agree.
Uncle Doyle liked me and I liked him. I made him a belt buckle in shop class one Christmas and he cried when he opened it. He was proud of me and I loved him as proudly as a kid could. He went on to meet his reward and I was thankful to get this old knife outta his shop that has been sharpened so much over the years, it’s got a concave edge on it and pretty flimsy at that length.
As for scales, I’m gonna use this timber. It’s original use was part of a tunnel near downtown Fort Worth that was built in 1917. I figured it will go well on this project. The mutts seem to agree.
Old Uncle
First day progress
got the old scales off. Hurt a little bit knowing how much sweat those things have absorbed.
now sketching out the new shape
got called in for supper. First day is done.
First day progress
got the old scales off. Hurt a little bit knowing how much sweat those things have absorbed.
now sketching out the new shape
got called in for supper. First day is done.
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I’m building a bike. It’s been unseasonably warm and almost no snow so I have been picking away. I’m welding up a frame and should be ready to begin assembling by March. Paint could be possible in late May, if it gets warm enough for my heater to get my booth up to 70. Here is progress so far.
Swampthing
Rusty and broken, Still rolling.
Cratchet a carving hatchet of awesomeness from the hatchet, and from the file, a Fine Friction Folder. The wood should serve for the handles of both, although I might need to scare up a longer bit for the Cratchet
and there should be enough metal left over from the file to make another knife
Maybe a utility thrower or something wild like that.
and there should be enough metal left over from the file to make another knife
Maybe a utility thrower or something wild like that.
Last edited:
@Oak Tree , great back story and emotional oomph for this knife build. We both have uncles for our inspiration. My Uncle Les is more like a big brother to me, just 7 yrs my senior. But he married at 20, and me at 32, so we feel like we are a generation apart. In other words, he's still the boss on any job we tackle!
I will be watching your thread. Keep the storyline and progress pics coming!
I will be watching your thread. Keep the storyline and progress pics coming!
@Swampthing , cool start! Can't wait to see what you do with these rusty and rad blade ideas. If you can, edit your post and use the 'B' in the letter menu and retype the actual names of your two builds in bold. If you do that every time you post an update, it will alert readers that it is an uodate, and not just a comment on the general challenge thread.
A folding file knife?? Wow!
A folding file knife?? Wow!
Swampthing
Rusty and broken, Still rolling.
And yea.
I have a bike build in the works too.
I’ll be making a Canal Path Rusty Racer, or something out of this:
I have a bike build in the works too.
I’ll be making a Canal Path Rusty Racer, or something out of this:
Goodwill Hunting Knife
Day 2 build is in the books. Gonna sneak a bike ride in before dinner, gorgeous day here in Mesa.
First off, I still do rusty. I know my RaTs GaSs build was shiny as could be last summer, but my roots are in rust; whether real or 'surreal'. We picked up this metal cactus at the flea market, but my wife was not pleased with the 'metally' look of the raw steel. "Can you make this rusty, like the other cactus, for me honey?"
Huh? That's what I DO, sweetheart!
So , with a mix of hydrogen peroxide and white vinegar, and some table salt, we created this in just a few minutes time.
The new one is on the left. It has already darkened some in the last few days, and will continue to over time in the desert sun.
Since I first started thinking about this way back in Dec when @Verrt first mentioned it, I knew I would need a couple tools in AZ that I didn't have. Today, I made the short trip to Harbor Freight to pick up this 1 x 30" belt sander which was on a killer sale. Watching hour after hour of Youtube in the early mornings, time and time again I had seen the extensive use of this tool in knife making.
A few minutes of grinding on the blade produced a beautiful shine and took the grind marks from the flap disc right out.
And then an hour later I had the semblance of an 'edge'.
Of course, now that it's shiny, it's time for some 'rat-ina' . As he did in BO 13, Colonel Mustard did it in the garage, with the knife....
Till tomorrow, BlaDe oN~!
Day 2 build is in the books. Gonna sneak a bike ride in before dinner, gorgeous day here in Mesa.
First off, I still do rusty. I know my RaTs GaSs build was shiny as could be last summer, but my roots are in rust; whether real or 'surreal'. We picked up this metal cactus at the flea market, but my wife was not pleased with the 'metally' look of the raw steel. "Can you make this rusty, like the other cactus, for me honey?"
Huh? That's what I DO, sweetheart!
So , with a mix of hydrogen peroxide and white vinegar, and some table salt, we created this in just a few minutes time.
The new one is on the left. It has already darkened some in the last few days, and will continue to over time in the desert sun.
Since I first started thinking about this way back in Dec when @Verrt first mentioned it, I knew I would need a couple tools in AZ that I didn't have. Today, I made the short trip to Harbor Freight to pick up this 1 x 30" belt sander which was on a killer sale. Watching hour after hour of Youtube in the early mornings, time and time again I had seen the extensive use of this tool in knife making.
A few minutes of grinding on the blade produced a beautiful shine and took the grind marks from the flap disc right out.
And then an hour later I had the semblance of an 'edge'.
Of course, now that it's shiny, it's time for some 'rat-ina' . As he did in BO 13, Colonel Mustard did it in the garage, with the knife....
Till tomorrow, BlaDe oN~!
Swampthing
Rusty and broken, Still rolling.
Nice rust!
Oh I forgot to add for the Fine Friction Folder (or other knives I make) I have a bit of copper to attach the wood and possibly use as a pivot. I’m tempted to use an old nail for the pivot if the copper is too soft.
Oh I forgot to add for the Fine Friction Folder (or other knives I make) I have a bit of copper to attach the wood and possibly use as a pivot. I’m tempted to use an old nail for the pivot if the copper is too soft.
Old Uncle
Some progress shown on one of my uncle’s old books. He used this book and others to build his own house. Notice his sketch and notes. The build nearly killed him one time when he fell about 20 feet into the basement but he got it done. It had a built-in safe room, steel framed doors, and fireplace made to heat the house. He also had a ping pong table in the basement and he did whatever it took to beat me every time. I guess he thought God looked the other way when he played ping pong cuz cheating was his skill. God rest his soul.
Some progress shown on one of my uncle’s old books. He used this book and others to build his own house. Notice his sketch and notes. The build nearly killed him one time when he fell about 20 feet into the basement but he got it done. It had a built-in safe room, steel framed doors, and fireplace made to heat the house. He also had a ping pong table in the basement and he did whatever it took to beat me every time. I guess he thought God looked the other way when he played ping pong cuz cheating was his skill. God rest his soul.
Goodwill Hunting Knife
Day 3, early start, quick progress.
My mustard patina was unimpressive. Just made the blade look dirty and the pattern didn't really stand out.
So, I put it back on the belt sander and made it shiny again. And the I took my angle grinder with the flap disk on it, and using the edge of the disk, made some impressions on the blade. Reflects the light and gives it kind of a jeweled look.
Made a quick video of the 'after' ...
BlaDe oN~!
Day 3, early start, quick progress.
My mustard patina was unimpressive. Just made the blade look dirty and the pattern didn't really stand out.
So, I put it back on the belt sander and made it shiny again. And the I took my angle grinder with the flap disk on it, and using the edge of the disk, made some impressions on the blade. Reflects the light and gives it kind of a jeweled look.
Made a quick video of the 'after' ...
BlaDe oN~!
Ward Cleaver
no update as there has been no work. Looks like I'll be making this baby one handed. Several weeks of PT lie ahead trying to avoid surgery for what presents as a rotator cuff tear. We shall see, but for now I'm a one armed bandit
no update as there has been no work. Looks like I'll be making this baby one handed. Several weeks of PT lie ahead trying to avoid surgery for what presents as a rotator cuff tear. We shall see, but for now I'm a one armed bandit
Goodwill Hunting Knife
End of Day 3 report. I don't have a band saw here, the only powered one is my hand jig saw. Fortunately, I left the piece of Mesquite long so I had something to hang on to, and then clamped it to my work bench with left hand and after a slow move through the wood (this is a hard wood!) got a couple of cuts made for the scales on the knife.
Used the carpenter's hand saw to do some trimming, and have a two rough scales now to work with for my handle.
My workbench is a portable one, the legs are a foldable keyboard stand, the top is plywood coated with black Flex Seal, which keeps tools in place and makes for an easy clean up and durable surface. It's surprisingly stable, and has been used for cutting back splash stone, assembling bikes and repair, garage parties, supporting my P.A. for gigs and now knife making.
BlaDe oN~!
End of Day 3 report. I don't have a band saw here, the only powered one is my hand jig saw. Fortunately, I left the piece of Mesquite long so I had something to hang on to, and then clamped it to my work bench with left hand and after a slow move through the wood (this is a hard wood!) got a couple of cuts made for the scales on the knife.
Used the carpenter's hand saw to do some trimming, and have a two rough scales now to work with for my handle.
My workbench is a portable one, the legs are a foldable keyboard stand, the top is plywood coated with black Flex Seal, which keeps tools in place and makes for an easy clean up and durable surface. It's surprisingly stable, and has been used for cutting back splash stone, assembling bikes and repair, garage parties, supporting my P.A. for gigs and now knife making.
BlaDe oN~!
MattiThundrrr
Rattus All Terrainus
OJ, I'm liking all your knife making "hacks". Getting all inspired over here!
