If You Need It Just Make It

As soon as I got my counter cleared off it got taken over by a Gilbert project... the best sort!

My sister got him a present that guys normally only dream about, by a cool Etsy seller.  It's made from a railroad tie.

Anyway, as you can see he needed a belt holder. Gilbert being a maker just got to work!

He's pleased with his work, I just hope he doesn't plan on walking down the street wearing it!!!

And Gilbert does like his goat!

Reworking a Spearhead

Gil rediscovered an old spearhead he had. We purchased it from a flint knapping artist years ago. Gil's gotten better at his flint knapping and wanted to turn it into a knife. He tells me he's not done yet but I thought, so far so good!

Very Cool Gifts

Gilbert made all handmade gifts this year. He decided this would be the perfect gift for everyone.

Dad got the antler handle with carved wood hilt fillet knife.

I got the carved wood pairing knife that fits right in your hand.

Ro got the small zebra wood survival knife with suede lanyard and toggle.

Pretty cool right!

Outside Inside

Gil's interested in creating a forge. He wants to temper his knives but there's so much to consider.

How do you obtain the right steel, how do you get a really hot fire, how do you blow air on the fire?

On a different note, we've already been eating from the garden. Bok choy and swiss chard, yum!

And then there's the inside...

All my mess, representing lots of different projects, all being worked on at the same time.

New School Project

I don't think too many 17 year olds read my blog but I wonder how many could say, "I made a throwing knife at school today." He and dad went out the other evening and bought a bench grinder. It makes knife making so much easier, wonderful!!!

 

He couldn't wait to get outside and try it out.

My poor magnolia.

Gil says it's perfectly balanced and preformed beyond expectation.

It's made from a flat bar you can buy at the hardware store. I've asked Gilbert to maybe refrain from calling it a throwing knife when it comes time to record it in his homeschool journal, maybe instead calling it an artist knife. I don't know?

Did I Show You This?

 Gil's latest knife.

 Sweet handle shape.

 He didn't like when I told him it looked like a kitchen knife.

 Finished with tung oil.

 The sheet of leather will be a new pouch.

2 knives under his belt, I am incredibly impressed!

Important Equipment

 I completed our (my) project of the other day, see the below link:

http://karenmakesstuff.blogspot.com/2011/09/note-to-self-avoid-craft-store.html

 Gil is pleased.

He finished his handle with a poly stain and it looks great!

He also finished his knife pouch/cover.

 

Items the young man needs to be ready for anything!

Boy am I in trouble if he reads this post.

I'm Amazed

 I can't believe it, it looks like something I pulled out of the knife drawer!

I love the patina. 

Gil rounded the handle perfectly. He's going to finish it but I'm not sure how yet and he's already working on a pouch that will hang on a belt.

I've been working on a super secret project that I have to keep under wraps for now.

Knife Handle

 Gil said he spent 6 hours yesterday working on his knife. They drilled through the blade and handle and inserted wood dowels. They love Gorilla glue!

He was even up early this morning getting it to this point. He and dad will look for stain finishes.

Homemade Knife

 Homeschoolers get to do some cool stuff.

 Gil wanted to make his own knife, boys. This shovel was already cracked so dad said he could use it.

 I let dad help here but I heard a lot of hack sawing!

 He did a beautiful job getting the shape right.

I told him he had to be in a picture. Stay tuned!