Split and Out to Dry

So I decided to embark on splitting a log of sweetgum I had sitting in the garage for a few months to make a bow. It was going to be hard, but I didn't expect this much work. Took me about 3 hours. Right now, I sit exhausted in my computer chair typing. I'm taking advantage of the (hopefully) last week of high 90s to dry the de-barked log. It's going to be a flat bow--possibly Mollegabet design.

Notice, in this picture, that the thin limbs that bend but the last 4-5 inches at the tips do not. This design (modeled after a bow design found in a village called "Mollegabet") is a very fast design (shoots fast). Wider and thinner limbs (around 2 inches wide); and narrower and thicker tips (about 1/4" wide and 1/4" thick I'm pretty sure).

Well anyway, here are some pictures of splitting and de-barking with the really useful draw knife.

In case you were wondering, I used the butter knife to de-bark the wood.

Drying the elevated half because that's the one I'm planning on using. Next week I'll probably take the 14" bandsaw to it and split it in half down the its length.

Zachary

Sheath

Almost completed sheath. Just needs a belt loop and I'm thinking about adding a wrap-around snap to secure the knife.

Used a tutorial (with google translate). Basically a front, spacer, and then back sewed together with dacron B50. Cuir-bouilli hardened leather. I soaked the sewn sheath in hot water (which I couldn't keep my hand in for more than a second or less) for about 10 min. Then I oiled my knife (I recomend waxing, because it still started rusting even with the oil on) and placed the knife into the sheath. I put the whole thing in my dehydrator set to 140F for about 1 hour. I think I pulled the knife out after 30 min. or so.

I dyed it black with a absolutely putrid smelling black vinegar dye I made. Man that stuff it nasty! I had to put the sheath outside for a few hours to get most of the smell out of it.

That's it for now!
Zachary

Knife Handle Progress

Some progress on the rasp knife I've been working on.

Toasted Osage Orange (Bodark) handle with blackened steel rivets. I blackened the steel by heating it up over the fire and then dunking them into some olive oil. Seemed to do the trick.

I recently drilled a small lanyard hole on the end that looks rather nifty.

 Oh, and I'd like to hear your opinion on this variation? To me it seems to complete the handle, but what are your thoughts?

Next time, it'll be heat treating at the blacksmith's. I'll make sure to take some pictures of the process.

Zachary