Tiaan Burger Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 It's been a while since I posted a show and tell. I started a blog, and need photos to go along with the stories, so you guys are now unwitting victims of my relentless pursuit of infamy. I finished this little craft knife about a week ago. I then listed it on Etsy and posted it here on the For Sale forum. This morning, on my way to mailing a parcel that is going all the way to California I stopped at a garden where there is a ginkgo tree growing a couple of yards inside the fence. We had a bit of a storm last night, so I managed to pick a number of fallen leaves off the ground outside the fence without having to trespass. I love ginkgo leaves, having used them as a theme for a couple of years and I always keep a couple of leaves for reference. With our move two months ago all my dried leaves got crushed. Back home I considered the day's work when inspiration struck. I immediately deactivated the Etsy listing for this knife; don't want it to sell while I am busy tripling its value! I did a couple of layout sketches, each leaf a simple half rounds with a stem. When I was happy with the composition I made a number of copies, cut each leaf from the paper and glued it onto the metal I chose for the inlays: Copper, brass and nickel silver Each leaf was then sawn using a jeweller's saw fitted with a 0/5 blade. I broke only three in the process. Each is sawn at a slight angle, the bottom of the inlay must be larger than the top to allow the raised edge of the pocket to trap the inlay when the edge is tapped down with a punch. From the right, 1 - copper, 2 - nickel silver, 3 - brass, 4 - copper, 5 - nickel silver, 6 - brass and 7 - copper. I transferred the layout from one of the copies using carbon paper, then went over the outlines with a permanent marker. In the pic below you can see that the first copper leaf is in place, and I have raised the edges and started cutting the hollow for the nickel silver leaf that fits against it. After carving it will look like the nickel silver leaf is partially beneath the edge of the copper leaf. It takes some careful filing of the abutting edge to ensure a tight fit. All inlay and carving work is done using hammer and chisels, I also use various punches to set the raised edges. Next instalment I'll show a bit more of the inlay process and the carving. Thank you for looking, questions, comments welcome. Tiaan @tiaan_burger_knives on Instagram My Facebook page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clifford Brewer Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 (edited) Tiaan ; would you be kind enough give up the particulars on that adjustable vice your using.? that looks to be a handy tool for the arsenal and would be greatly appreciated.......Thanks Cool little knife !.... Edited December 4, 2017 by Clifford Brewer If ya can't be good don't git caught !! People who say stuff can't be done need to git the hell outta the way of people who do stuff !!! Show me a man who is called an expert by his peers And I will show you a good man to listen to ...... Show me a man who calls himself an expert and I will show you an egotistical asshole...............!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 Looking great so far! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiaan Burger Posted December 5, 2017 Author Share Posted December 5, 2017 11 hours ago, Clifford Brewer said: Tiaan ; would you be kind enough give up the particulars on that adjustable vice your using.? that looks to be a handy tool for the arsenal and would be greatly appreciated.......Thanks Cool little knife !.... Hi Clifford I posted a series of pics here: https://www.bladesmithsforum.com/index.php?/topic/36501-home-made-ball-vise/ I hope this helps. @tiaan_burger_knives on Instagram My Facebook page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clifford Brewer Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 Thank you very much Tiaan ......... If ya can't be good don't git caught !! People who say stuff can't be done need to git the hell outta the way of people who do stuff !!! Show me a man who is called an expert by his peers And I will show you a good man to listen to ...... Show me a man who calls himself an expert and I will show you an egotistical asshole...............!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiaan Burger Posted December 7, 2017 Author Share Posted December 7, 2017 Some more progress on this little knife: All the inlays are in, and I have gone over the background with a "nanako"punch. I also started sculpting the first leaf By last night I have rough sculpted four of the leaves, hoping to have the sculpting done today. More pics to follow, thanks for looking 3 @tiaan_burger_knives on Instagram My Facebook page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiaan Burger Posted December 12, 2017 Author Share Posted December 12, 2017 This knife is finished, the last bit of work was to do the last couple of leaves, then I had to get rid of all the chisel marks using a deft touch with a very sharp scraper. Final finish was applied using abrasive powder and a toothbrush, followed by patina, then the highlights were brought up by brushing with finely crushed charcoal. 3 @tiaan_burger_knives on Instagram My Facebook page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Dougherty Posted December 12, 2017 Share Posted December 12, 2017 Wow That is stunning! 1 -Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted December 12, 2017 Share Posted December 12, 2017 Absolutely gorgeous! If I didn't know better I'd think was Japanese, 19th century! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pieter-Paul Derks Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 Very beautiful knife. I love the nanako punched background. And the ginkgo has always been one of my favorite trees 1 http://mefecit.nl/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter fontenla Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 Extraordinary work, thanks for the step by step, beautiful design, thanks for showing, leonardo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony Peterson Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 Fantastic work Tiaan. I love the way the punched background adds depth and contrast to the sculpted leaves. Thanks for the WIP too - it's always thought provoking and inspirational to see a beautiful piece that's the result of artistic handwork rather than machinery. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Detrick Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 Man, that is gorgeous work Tiaan! Ironically enough, I just bought my wife a handmade copper Ginko pendant for Christmas. I think this is one of my favorite things you have made. 1 “In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer." -Albert Camus http://www.krakenforge.net/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiaan Burger Posted December 15, 2017 Author Share Posted December 15, 2017 (edited) Thank you all for the kind words. I finally got to writing the blog post about this making of this knife. It can be read HERE and if you like it please do subscribe! Edited December 15, 2017 by Tiaan Burger @tiaan_burger_knives on Instagram My Facebook page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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