Sunday 27 October 2013

Hook Knives


 These rather strange looking curved blades were nearly an extinct tool until the recent renaissance in green- wood working.  The wooden table ware (called “Treen”) that they are instrumental in producing has been ubiquitous throughout Europe for millennia, only in recent decades has industrial process allowed ceramic bowls and plates to become truly commonplace at the table. That said, as recently as the 1950’s and 60’s there were still regions of the UK where the Turners could still be found producing green wood wares for everyday use and more commonly on the continent.



The knives appear, outwardly, to be a simple thing- a bent, single edged blade- however when one sets about to use and make them their hidden complexity becomes apparent…

The difference between a hook knife being a pleasure and a pain to use is subtle and nuanced, a matter of Geometry and attention to detail.

Firstly, the blade blanks are forged. The steel I am using here contains between 1.1 and 1.2% carbon.
 

The first point of interest that we come across is that in order for the inside of the blade to be flat on the finished, curved knife, they must first be hollow-ground whilst the piece is still straight.  This is because the inside of the knife will be compressed when it is bent- making the interior cross section convex, if the forged-in flatness was left uncorrected.

 

Additionally, the blunt edge must be ground to a radius that doesn’t interfere with the curving cut, this again is done when the blade is straight.

The bevel at the edge is also partially ground at this point as it would be close to impossible to grind one evenly once the piece is curved. If it is left too thick, it will more difficult to sharpen after hardening as it will be… well, hard. If it is too thinly ground, the edge can be easily overheated causing the steel to lose carbon and thus making it harden less effectively.

These different shapes can be seen together in cross section.




After this first grinding phase the work is reheated and the initial, acute bend in the ricasso (blunt) area is put and the curve is delicately put in either around a former for the consistently radius “twca cam” style traditional knife or freehand for the modern, versatile “compound” hook.  Care being taken not to damage the ground in cross section, which could be easily done whilst the metal is soft.
 
 
 
Twca Cam blades
 

 
 
Once hardened they are tempered for an hour to relieve the brittleness and then ground sharp. This is tricky because each blade must be continuously moved to keep the grind smooth and even. The blades are sharpened and polished with a high grit buffing compound, leaving a mirror finish.
After final sharpening I give each blade its second temper for an hour to ensure it is fully stress relieved and at it’s most resilient.
 
The tempering process causes a range of oxide colours to form on the steel surface, these colours precisely indicate temperature. This golden colour, whilst permanent is exactly one molecule thick and so, easily removed with a gentle stropping- it is, though, very beautiful and as such I have been leaving it in place as a proof and a decoration.
 







 
These knives are an interesting thing to make and ive been very satisfied with how well they cut.

Please contact me either on my Facebook page or by leaving a comment here
 
 

 

Friday 25 October 2013

Bespoke carving axe


I had the pleasure of forging an ultra-lightweight carving axe for a customer this week, coming in at about 550g.

These smaller axes are such a joy to forge – they are condensed essence of axe.

This one has a forge welded bit and a mild steel body, the eye was hot punched.
 
I started with a short piece of 20 x 40mm mild steel
 

 
This was then upset before the edge was split, and a tapering carbon steel insert was inserted
 
 

 
This was edge piece inserted hot, set and then forge welded by hand







 
The eye was hot punched and drifted, the edge for was refined, and everything was straightened up.
 

 
 Once forging is completed, the piece was heated one more time and allowed to cool naturally to relieve stress- this is called “normalising” and is the first phase of the heat treatment. After this cycle, the edge is ground to a nearly sharp state and then the axe is heated once again and finally quenched in oil to harden. After hardening the axe went in to temper for an hour to remove stress and thus add resilience by reducing the brittleness of the edge.



 
 




 

Sunday 20 October 2013

Knives and axes.


Its Autumn now and my breath is hanging around for a moment before dispersing, the Jumpers are coming out and the shorts are definitely away. 

I have done some more travelling since my last entry- to Sheffield to meet the Last surgical instrument forger, to Plymouth to meet a legend and soon hopefully to Gloucester and to London to see some friends and fellows.


Ive been busy and its been a long time since my last update so I want to just share some pictures today and revisit specifics in more detail at a later date.


A "goosewing" hatchet, for workshop hewing and preparing timber for planning after being split. Made with a forge-welded construction.


 
Froe with turned, self-wedging ash handle
 
 
I bought a wood lathe so had to forge my own tools as wells turn the handles for them. the timber here is green sycamore from the farm where our workshop is.

 
 
Single bevelled carving knives hand forged from 1.1% carbon steel. These are available for sale, £40 per blade + £15 fitted with a handle.
 
 
a Sycamore spoon, carved with said knife.
 
 
Using a stock knife I have forged to carve a bowl. More on this piece to follow.

Lightweight Carving axe (500g) with welded in steel edge.
 
the same axe finished and fitted with a Yew wood haft, carved by knife to allow the natural undulations of the timber to add form, beauty as well as strength.
 
 
small carving knife with spalted beech handle, green chord ferule.
 
 
Hand forged "hook" knives for bowl and spoon carving, forged from 1.1% c steel, shown here with the deep golden hue from the tempering process.
 
 
 
 
These Hook knives are available in a range of styles and radii for £45.
 
there is more to come on these blades as they are a subtle and complex tool to create.
 
 
 
.