Tai Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 (edited) I took a little time to make my self a paring knife this morning. The blade is from a salvaged hand plane blade and the handle is oleander. I tested it out on a key lime. It's sharp as all heck! It cuts great! Edited September 13, 2005 by Tai Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hans Holzach Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 I took a little time to make my self a paring knife this morning. The blade is from a salvaged hand plane blade and the handle is oleander. I tested it out on a key lime. It's sharp as all heck! It cuts great! that's a cute little knife you have here, tai! it reminds me of the sad fact that good kitchen knives are hard to obtain... it would be nice to find one in the for-sale-section... hans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tsterling Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 (edited) Tai - Just a little word of warning - oleander is highly poisonous! When I was a kid in Florida, there were several folks who died when they used oleander spikes growing in the state park to cook their hotdogs on. I sure wouldn't use it for a knife handle that will be used around food! Tom Sterling Edited September 13, 2005 by tsterling Tom SterlingTom's Instagram Tom's FacebookSterling Sculptures Web Site Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tai Posted September 13, 2005 Author Share Posted September 13, 2005 (edited) lol It's funny you should say that Hans. I was thinking about starting a whole "Self Knife" series, using them for a while,... and then selling them! Edited September 13, 2005 by Tai Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tai Posted September 13, 2005 Author Share Posted September 13, 2005 (edited) Tai - Just a little word of warning - oleander is highly poisonous! When I was a kid in Florida, there were several folks who died when they used oleander spikes growing in the state park to cook their hotdogs on. I sure wouldn't use it for a knife handle that will be used around food! Tom Sterling 30855[/snapback] I haven't had any problems with the "dried" wood. It's a good idea to seal it too. I've used it before. You have to be careful with the "green" wood. Maybe I'll do the next one with "tree Tobacco",... The "poisonous self knife" series? Edited September 13, 2005 by Tai Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kristopher Skelton Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 you should make sushi chef knives with poisonous wood handles for the pufferfish sashimi Maybe dry some belladonna stalks and make fibres out of them for your wrapping red-cap mushroom buttcaps Kristopher Skelton, M.A. "There was never a good knife made from bad steel" A quiet person will perish ~ Basotho Proverb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CProkopp Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 Prepared on a cocobolo cutting board! "I'm not anti-gun. I'm pro-knife." Molly Ivins NT Limpin' Cat Prokopp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tai Posted September 14, 2005 Author Share Posted September 14, 2005 you should make sushi chef knives with poisonous wood handles for the pufferfish sashimi Maybe dry some belladonna stalks and make fibres out of them for your wrapping red-cap mushroom buttcaps 30860[/snapback] Yeah and alternate them with hemp cord! Belladonna grows like weeds here. I wonder if chicalote fibers would work? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamRidlon Posted September 14, 2005 Share Posted September 14, 2005 red-cap mushroom buttcaps 30860[/snapback] mmmmmm..... red cap mushrooms. you can feed me those all day long as long as there's white spots too I dig that knife Tai. What kind of oil did you finish it with? I made a integral paring knife out of a 3/8" paring knife and find that I use it far more than anything else in my knife block. Yours gives me a bit of inspiration to work on a full set. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tai Posted September 14, 2005 Author Share Posted September 14, 2005 (edited) mmmmmm..... red cap mushrooms. you can feed me those all day long as long as there's white spots too I dig that knife Tai. What kind of oil did you finish it with? I made a integral paring knife out of a 3/8" paring knife and find that I use it far more than anything else in my knife block. Yours gives me a bit of inspiration to work on a full set. 30871[/snapback] I used some toxic cactus oil. ... or was it desert pack rat oil? I don't remember. Edited September 14, 2005 by Tai Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamRidlon Posted September 14, 2005 Share Posted September 14, 2005 I used some toxic cactus oil. ... or was it desert pack rat oil? I don't remember. 30872[/snapback] Wha... no gila monster nose oil? I hear they give it up if you ask nicely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Crocker Posted September 14, 2005 Share Posted September 14, 2005 Well at least now when you wet yourself and forget your name you have an excuse. Of course make sure you set the wicked-sharp blade down when the effects kick in. Crocker Knives Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Thomas Obach Posted September 14, 2005 Share Posted September 14, 2005 what bout that urushi varnish... you could seal it up with that... think its made of poison ivy or somethin oh and mix some scorpian stingers in the cutlers resin hey..... you gotta take some risks.. Greg North Shore Forge & Ironworks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tai Posted September 14, 2005 Author Share Posted September 14, 2005 (edited) All kidding aside you guys,... I bet as long as I don't stick the handle in my mouth, chew on it, suck on it, or put it in my pipe and smoke it, I should be alright. Edited September 14, 2005 by Tai Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Crocker Posted September 14, 2005 Share Posted September 14, 2005 Ok Ok all kidding aside. The thing that I admire about seeing other makers work is the creativity. If you compare this knife with Tai's last gentleman's knife, the difference is so broad that some might not believe that they come from the same person. A fine example of true creativity. It reminds me of a skilled guitar player. One song can bring joy, the next tears. Some makers style is recognizable from 20 feet away. The ones I truly admire are those whose work you recognize by their mark, and are surprised by the work. This isn't something I see just in Tai, but it sure seems to come with years of experience. I see some great young makers. That just tells me when people like Don, Jimmy, Tai, etc. pass, greatness will still exist. I wish I could name all of my favorites but there isn't room. Crocker Knives Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bennett Posted September 14, 2005 Share Posted September 14, 2005 Don't forget to wash all the above mentioned sustenance down with a few shots of absinth Nifty little blade BTW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Thomas Obach Posted September 14, 2005 Share Posted September 14, 2005 just teasin.. anyhow... I haven't read anything bout its toxicity but i'd still worry abit bout it.. I'd think of sealin up the grain on the wood... just in case... you'd be surprised how some substances can be absorbed through the layers of skin.. (such as some solvents) but in the defense of toxins.... sometimes in small doses can help a phoenomena called " hormesis" ... so... errr... umm.... so to be on the safe side.... I'd keep that kitchen cutlery but use only on special occasions..... such as when the mother in law is visiting...... sheesh... can't belive i said that Greg North Shore Forge & Ironworks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tai Posted September 14, 2005 Author Share Posted September 14, 2005 (edited) Greg, I actually had that handle on a palm knife I used for carving handles. The blade was shot so I pulled the handle off and reused it on this knife. I haven't had any allergic reaction to the seasoned oleander wood, but that doesn't mean someone else wouldn't. ... But maybe it wasn't such a good idea to smear the blade with Sonoran desert toad venom to keep it from rusting. I'm having some trouble with my spellig this marneng. Edited September 14, 2005 by Tai Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tai Posted September 14, 2005 Author Share Posted September 14, 2005 As a side story on the oleander, I had a bunch of it at my old house. One day I decided to make a rustic night stand from it because the sticks are nice and straight. I was working the green wood with a sharp knife. I slipped and cut myself with the blade coated with oleander sap. It made a nasty inflamed wound, which took longer than normal to heal. I can see how the practices of coating arrows and blades with poison got started. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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