Hanged Man Designs

New Kitchen Knife LS1

noreply@blogger.com (A. Ringia) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:07:00 +0000

I finally finished up the kitchen knife that I was working on. It looks a little different than I planned at the beginning, but that is the way it goes some times. So without further ado...introducing LS1, my first Santuku inspired slicer/carver.

Remember, if you are interested in what it looked like before, go to the Acrylicandsteel blog

If you are into recycled goods, the steel for this came from the leaf-spring of an old jeep or dodge truck. It is most likely 1086 or 1095 steel, similar to what I've used on past knives.

Erica gave me the wood for the handle last year, it is Tulipwood, and very pretty in my opinion. The Corby rivets are brass.

The whole thing is about 12 1/2 inches long with a blade of 5 1/4 inches.

I think it turned out pretty well.

Enjoy.

Pictures from the lathe

noreply@blogger.com (A. Ringia) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:32:00 +0000

Hmmm... This post was supposed to go to Acrylic and Steel, and the one there was supposed to go to Hangedman....oh well.

I did promise some pictures from my garage projects, so I’ll give you some of the lathe projects.

If you are more interested in the knives, check out the acrylicandsteel page.

The first project after getting the lathe was to build Autumn a table. So I turned a few 2x2’s into legs. Each one is different.

Then I grabbed a small log of Russian olive and started a vase. I haven’t managed to clean out the inside yet due to some wobble. I think I know how to deal with that now, so I’ll have to throw it back on and hollow it out one of these days. Here it is with its base still attached and a layer of finish on it, just to see how it will look later.

I’ve played with a few other pieces, a 4x4 and some purpleheart as mentioned earlier, but the most fun has been this salt cedar root. Here are a couple phases – naturally I don’t have a good before picture. Sorry.

Prior to hollowing

Post hollowing

Here it is with some finish (Mosler Oil/Wax). It’s a pretty and unique little bowl. Still needs the bottom to be finished up, and the base removed, but that shouldn’t take too long.

Oh yes, I did mention that I had cleaned up an old Boy Scout knife from Cousin Chuck – again didn’t take pictures first – someday I’ll learn. But this is how it turned out. I had to rebuild the sheath, but I think that I captured the character, and I reused the front piece to retain the original look and leatherworking. And I didn’t really change anything about the knife – just polished it up, and took away most of the rust, and sharpened it up again. Hopefully the original maker (or manufacturer) isn’t offended.

AR7 Handle revision and Elk Hunt

noreply@blogger.com (A. Ringia) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:22:00 +0000

Earlier this year I decided that it was time to fix the handle on an earlier knife, AR7. I just wasn't very happy with the way the whole thing went together, and it didn't feel right in my hand. So, despite the effort that had gone into it, I chiseled off the handle, and knocked off the guard.

After some thought, some time, and some more thought I decided to regrind the blade. After several iterations, I ended up with the current shape, which I like a lot better. I also shaped a new, simpler guard. I really liked the old guard, but it was a pain to try to fit a handle around.

I decided to go with redwood burl from northern California for the new handle, it is a pleasure to work with and finishes very well. The new handle feels much better in the hand, is buttery smooth, and gorgeous. I added a corby-rivet in addition to the epoxy to hold the handle on securely. Unfortunately I ground away a little to much of the rivet on one side so the center is visible. C'est la vie. Overall I was very pleased how it turned out.

After finishing it, and resharpening it, I lent it to my coworker Frank to take with him on his cow elk hunt. Above is a picture of the knife on the fresh kill. Looks good so far. I hope to hear good reports on its edge holding and performance in skinning an elk.

Here is the old blade and handle. It was perhaps more exotic, with its tiger-eye and two tone wood, blued blade, and curved guard, but not nearly a cohesive as the revised model.

Reduced prices on some of my work

noreply@blogger.com (A. Ringia) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:26:00 +0000

Hi folks,

No, haven't managed to get the pictures up yet for the pieces that I commented on recently. And more are on the way (pieces, not necessarily pictures); but in the meantime I did reduce prices on most of the knives over at acrylicandsteel.etsy.com by at least 10%, and post a blog over at acrylicandsteel.blogspot.com, so go check it out, and get someone a nice Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Birthday/I love you present :)

Revisions and progress

noreply@blogger.com (A. Ringia) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:56:00 +0000

Sorely out of practice, I at least have my forge up and running again, and have several pieces nearly ready to have handles put on. Naturally, I don't have pictures to put up for you yet. I had some issues with quenching this time around, with more warping than I am used to, but despite all that, I think the products will be interesting.

I've also just finished a revision of AR7, which I was never really happy with. The new version is less complex but feels better in the hand, is put together a little better, and is (in my opinion) prettier too. I reshaped the blade some, and replaced the handle - which was very narrow, with a piece of redwood burl. I'll post pictures of that soon.

Thirdly, I bought a small lathe. Not quite sure how I will use it in terms of knife making, but hopefully I will manage to post some bowls and vases before too long. And maybe a walking stick or two, if I ever get around to trying that.

Anyway, I hope to have some new pictures up here and on Acrylicandsteel sometime soon.

Acrylic and Steel

noreply@blogger.com (A. Ringia) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 01:12:00 +0000

Hi Folks, if you like what you see here, check out the etsy store that my wife and I have put together. Some of these knives and jewelery pieces are for sale there, as well as her artwork and crafts. Visit us at: www.acrylicandsteel.etsy.com

Knives AR 22-23

noreply@blogger.com (A. Ringia) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:57:00 +0000

AR22 - 7 ¾” overall, 3 5/8” blade. Blade: 1095 high carbon steel, small utility knife. Hidden tang. Water buffalo horn guard. Myrtlewood handle, mild steel pins.

AR23 - 7 ¼” overall, 3 1/8” blade. Blade: 1095 high carbon steel, small utility knife. Hidden tang. Deer antler bolster. Striped Ebony handle, mild steel pins. 2 pictures.

A letter opener, DSK4, knives AR20-21

noreply@blogger.com (A. Ringia) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:47:00 +0000

Letter Opener 6 – 9” overall, 5” blade. Blade: Copper. Full tang. Guard: Holly with mild steel pins. Handle: Cholla skeleton w/black inlace. Pommel: Holly with mild steel pins.

DSK4 – 8 ¾” overall, 3 3/8” blade. Blade: High speed steel from diamond saw blade, small chefs knife. Hidden Tang. No guard. Handle: Mexican Ebony. Nickel silver corby rivet and steel pin. Red inlace filler.

AR20 - 6 ¾” overall, 2 5/8” blade. Blade: 1095 high carbon steel, mini-skinner. Full tang. Bronze guard. Banksia pod handle with black inlace, brass pin.

AR21 - 8 ½” overall, 4 ¾” blade. Blade: 1095 high carbon steel, mini-chefs knife. Full tang. Brass guard. Lignum Vitae handle, with brass tubes and pin.

Knives 17-19

noreply@blogger.com (A. Ringia) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:35:00 +0000

AR17 – 10 5/16” overall, 5 3/8” blade. Blade O1 steel, hidden tang. Guard: Nickel-silver. Handle: Snakewood, Nickle-silver corby rivet. Finished with Teak oil.

AR18 – 8” overall, 3 ½” blade. Blade 1095 steel, full tang. No Guard. Handle: Lignum vitae, marble, mild steel pins. Finished with Teak oil.

AR19 – 13 ¾” overall, 8” blade. Blade 1095 steel. Hidden through tang. No Guard. Handle: Waterbuffalo horn, Stag antler. Pommel: Water Buffalo horn.

Knives 13-16

noreply@blogger.com (A. Ringia) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:32:00 +0000

AR13 – 11 ½” overall, 6 ¼” blade. Blade: 1095 steel, fighter, hidden tang. Mild steel guard. Handle:Vulcanized spacer, mild steel, black and white ebony, Ancient Kauri. Mild steel pins. Finished with clear gloss polyurethane. Pommel: Vulcanized spacer, mild steel, black and white ebony.

AR 14 –sold- 3 5/8” overall, 1 5/8” blade. Blade: O1 steel, hidden tang. No guard. Handle: Desert Ironwood, Brass Corby rivet and pin. No pommel.

AR 15 – 9 1/8” overall, 3 3/4” blade. Blade: 1095 steel, exaggerated scimitar, hidden tang. Guard: Agatized Fossil. Handle: Spalted Curly Maple, Vulcanized spacer, Blue Mahoe, Brass Corby rivets. Finished with clear gloss polyurethane.No pommel.

AR16 –11 ¼” overall, 5 ½” blade. Blade 1095 steel, tanto style, hidden, through tang. Guard: Ground bronze. Handle: Black Palm, brass corby rivet. Finished with clear gloss polyurethane. Pommel: Ground Bronze, Brass eyelet, bronze dust and epoxy, solder.

Knives 9-12

noreply@blogger.com (A. Ringia) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:28:00 +0000

AR 9 - 9 ¾” overall, 4 7/8” blade. Blade 1095 steel, hidden tang, hybrid wharncliffe-drop point hunter. Guard: Copper. Handle: Figured bubinga, stacked leather, dyed epoxy.

Sheath: 8oz folded leather, glued and sewn. Dyed saddle tan. Copper rivets.

AR 10 – made for Amy Raymond. 12 3/16” overall, 6 7/8” blade. Blade: O1 7/16” round stock, exposed tang, ritual knife-scimitar blade. Guard: Sterling Silver. Handle: Myrtlewood with Lapis Lazuli insets. Pommel: O1 with Lapis Lazuli.

Case- Holly sided box with Blue Mahoe top and bottom, Myrtlewood accents. Copper pins. Black silk lining. Finished with Teak oil. Gloss polyurethane coat.

AR 11 – 12 3/8” overall, 7 1/8” blade. Blade: 1095 steel, double edged dagger, hidden tang. Guard: Ebony and coccobollo. Handle: Birds eye maple and ebony. Finished with teak oil.

Sheath: 8oz folded leather, glued and sewn. Dyed saddle tan. Copper rivets.

AR12 – 7” overall, 2 7/8” blade. Blade: 1095 steel, utility knife, exposed tang. Guard: Brass. Handle: Coccobolo, finished with teak oil.

Sheath: 8oz. folded leather, glued and sewn. Dyed black. Copper rivets.

Knives 5-8

noreply@blogger.com (A. Ringia) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:24:00 +0000

AR5 – 10 ¼” overall, 4 ¾” blade. Blade: 1095 High-carbon steel. Scimitar point hunter. Hidden tang. Hand filed work on spine. Handle: Ebony and steel spacers, Lignum Vitae scales around ebony core. Guard: hand filed design in high carbon steel. Stainless Corby rivet holding handle together. Blade and handle finished to 600 grit, plus 0000 steel wool., blade polished a little more than usual. Handle sealed with 3 coats min-wax rub-on polyurethane, with steel wool in between.

Blade refinished with buffing wheel.

Original Handle removed, replaced with: ebony, cow bone, ebony bolster, cholla cactus skeleton, filled with Inlace epoxy resin (black). Ebony pommel with bone plug.

Sheath – Hand stitched 3oz leather at tip and top, edges seared, treated with neatsfoot oil. Middle layer dyed bison leather, suede-side out. Interior – red oak.

AR6 - 8” overall, 4 ¼” blade. Blade 1095 Steel, drop point hunter, hidden tang. Guard: Brass, leather, brass. Handle: Picasso marble scales with laced leather strap (dyed saddle leather brown).

Sheath: Wood core, 5oz leather outer, stitched on both edges, dyed saddle leather brown, Picasso marble teardrop inlay.

AR7 – 11 3/8” overall, 6” blade. Blade 1095 steel. Hidden tang. Guard: shaped mild steel. Handle: Padauk, applewood, inlace, tigereye. Pommel: Paduak, tigereye. Revised and reshaped:

New AR7 (below)- A bit shorter overall, dimensions to come. Revised shape. Revised guard. New handle of redwood burl.

Sheath, 8oz. folded leather, copper rivets, waxed cotton saddlestitch.

New Sheath, 8oz folded leather, steel rivets, natural sinew stitching. Leather dyed prairie tan.

AR8 – 11” overall, 5 ¾” blade. Blade 1095 steel, sub-hilt fighter, hidden tang. Guard: Gibeon meteorite, filed copper with Inlace, ebony with amber inlay in finger grove, copper. Handle: lignum vitae scales with Nickel silver corby rivet. Pommel: copper, ebony, copper, meteorite, with amber inlay.

Sheath: 8oz folded leather, glued. Sewn leather straps for horizontal hang on belt.

My Third Folder...

noreply@blogger.com (A. Ringia) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:51:00 +0000

Forgot my razor when I was travelling a month or so ago, so I used the last folder I made. It worked surprisingly well. Not my closest shave ever, but it did the job.

This isn't that one though. I found another folder blade that I had forged a while back. Decided that I should work on it and try to do a nice job. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

F3 - 8” open, 3 ¼” blade, 4 5/8” closed. Blade: 1095 high carbon steel, liner lock folder. Steel pins and liners. Bronze bushings on main pivot. Big Leaf maple Burl scales. Filework and copper accents on spine.

Next on the agenda is redoing the handle of AR7 which I never liked the feel of. We'll see how that goes...

My Second Folding knife

noreply@blogger.com (A. Ringia) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 23:05:00 +0000

Finally finished a second folder, and personally, I think that lock-backs are a pain.

F2 - 5 7/8” open, 3 7/8” closed. Blade: 154cm stainless steel, lock back folder. Steel pins and liners. Bronze bushing on main pivot. Nickle silver thong hole. Spalted Mulberry scales.

A new Dagger and a couple of bearings

noreply@blogger.com (A. Ringia) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:51:00 +0000

Good Morning - well, for those of us currently on the west coast.
For your viewing pleasure today we have: A new dagger, and a couple more bearing pendants on different necklaces. Hmm, that would be IF i remembered to take those pictures...
Anyway - now I've taken the pics.

SS2 – unavailable. 10 ¾” overall, 4 15/16” blade. Blade: 154cm stainless steel, rondel dagger. Hidden tang. Brass and Holly Guard and Pommel. Lacewood and Leopardwood. Leather sheath. 8/1/08.

The bearing pendants of the day are a carnelian centerpiece with the bearing ground down to show the actual bearings on magnetic wire, and a lapiz and brass on a solid choker.

The lapiz still needs a little polishing.

I'm working on another folding knife too, but I'm not sure if I will get that done before I head off to Texas on Wednesday.

Sculpture

noreply@blogger.com (A. Ringia) — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 17:04:00 +0000

And since I am busy posting all kinds of old projects - here are some sculptural pieces.
1. Dragon wall hanging- Carved cherry with purpleheart eye.
2. Penguins - Carved orange alabaster.
3. Skull - Variegated Rhyolite - damn that stuff was hard, found it in a bin labled rainbow alabaster, expected it to be soft.
4. Rockfish - just a little piece of rock that I found and spoke to me.

A couple more necklaces

noreply@blogger.com (A. Ringia) — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 17:00:00 +0000

Coyote Necklace: Sterling and mexican ebony centerpiece, freshwater pearl and glass beadwork.
Meteorite Necklace: Gibeon meteorite, copper and garnet centerpiece, sterling triple strand necklace with sterling spacers.

New and Old Jewelry

noreply@blogger.com (A. Ringia) — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 16:56:00 +0000

Since I haven't actually published any of my jewelry pieces on this blog, I thought it would be a fine time to do so.

1: Amber and sterling rollerskate bearing pendant.
2: Turquise and copper rollerskate bearing pendant.
3: Sterling and emerald pendant
4. Sterling and ironwood pendant

Wood Turnings

noreply@blogger.com (A. Ringia) — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 16:49:00 +0000

A couple months ago, when I was staying with my dad in Ann Arbor, I had the opportunity to play with his wood lathe. Here are a couple of pieces that I made, and one that I made with him.

The first - with the easter egg candy, is cherry, and dad and I made it together; the second I made from Mulberry; the third-with more candy, it was easter time - is aromatic cedar; and the forth is made from maple burl.

I think they turned out pretty well (hah hah...).

Summer Solstice Knives

noreply@blogger.com (A. Ringia) — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 19:14:00 +0000

Hi folks, here is the newest installment of knives.

SV1 - 8 ½” overall, 4 ¼” blade. Blade: Sandvik 13C26 steel, Warncliff style. Unforged. Hidden tang. Steel and cow bone guard. Redwood burl handle. No pommel. Gloss poly finish. 6/21/08

AR28 – Sold! - 8 7/8”overall,4 1/8” blade. Blade: O1 tool steel, Utility knife. Hidden tang. Copper and leather guard. Desert ironwood and holly handle. No pommel. Gloss polyurethane finish. 6/22/08

AR29 –10 3/8”overall,5 ¼” blade. Blade:1095 steel, Camp knife. Hidden tang. Bronze guard.Ebony and figured maple handle, brass pin and lanyard hole. No pommel. Gloss polyurethane finish. 6/22/08

AR30 –10 ½”overall, 5 1/16” blade. Blade:O1 tool steel. Full tang. Brass Guard and pins. Mexican ebony and ancient kauri handle. No pommel. Gloss polyurethane finish. 6/22/08

AR31 – 6 5/8”overall,2 7/8” blade. Blade: Thunderforged Damascus, drop point hunter. Hidden tang. Mild steel guard and corby rivets. Vulcanized spacer. Striped ebony handle. No pommel. Teak oil finish. 6/22/08

Didn't expect to finish this one this week

noreply@blogger.com (A. Ringia) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:26:00 +0000

Well, I didn't think that I was going to finish any more knives before the move, but then as I was cleaning out the shop I saw this one, which I cut the pieces for the handle a long time ago, but never finished, so I thought...this one won't take long at all, and it didn't. No current plans to do any more before we head off to parts unknown, but one can never be sure. The lighting is a little odd on the picture, but I'm not a professional.
Specs:
Letter Opener 7. 8 3/8” overall, 4 3/8” blade. Blade: Beaten Copper. Full tang. Bolster and Pommel: Lapis Lazuli. Handle: Curly Poplar. Steel pins, Brass Corby Fastener.

Revised handle for an older knife

noreply@blogger.com (A. Ringia) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:23:00 +0000

This knife was one of my first (AR3) and has been used a bit. The blade seems to still be in great shape, which is encouraging. I was never happy with the handle though, so I borrowed it back in order to revise it. I'm pretty happy with the result.
The new specs for this one are: 10 3/8” overall, 4 5/8”blade. Holly with Coccobolo cross inlay, vulcanized black paper and copper spacer. Brass pins.

New knives for the new year

noreply@blogger.com (A. Ringia) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:14:00 +0000

So here's the new knives as of mid-february. 26 and 27 are gifts now you you are out of luck there, as for 24 and 25, I still haven't figured out pricing, so make an offer if you are interested.

AR24 – 6 ¼”overall, 3” blade. Blade: O1 tool steel, blacksmith knife. Heat colored twisted steel handle. 2/11/08

AR25 – 6 ¼” overall, 2 ½” blade. Blade: 1095 high carbon steel, small utility knife. Full tang. Redheart and pine burl handle, leather spacer. Brass Pins. Gloss polyurethane finish. 2/12/08

AR26 – Winds of Change. 8 ¾” overall, 4 ¼” blade. Blade: 1095 high carbon steel, drop point hunter. Hidden tang. Engraved copper bolster. Spalted curly maple and Russian Olive handle. Brass pin. 2/12/08

AR27 – 9 ½”overall, 4 ¾” blade. Blade: O1 tool steel, light scimitar curve. Hidden tang. Bloodwood and copper bolster. Cholla and tuscan red inlace handle. Bloodwood and Copper pommel with inlaid carnelian bead. 2/17/08

Christmas Knives

noreply@blogger.com (A. Ringia) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 04:31:00 +0000

Howdy folks, I've been a little lax about posting lately, so I thought that I would put in an update.
So, here is the folder that I made for my grandpa. It was my first one, and most firsts are a bit of a pain. It was also my first damascus knife. You should be able to see a little bit of the damascus pattern in the blade on in the half open picture. I did some filework on the spine and blued everything. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. The specs are:

F1 – unavailable. 7” open, 4 1/8” closed. Blade: Thunderforged Damascus Twist. Liner lock drop point folder. Blued steel liners. Heat blued, hand-filed spine. Stainless screws. Madrone burl scales.

I also made a different kitchen knife for my mom. I decided that she didn't want to worry about tarnishing from cutting acidic foods, so I bought a piece of 154CM stainless and went to work. She tells me that it works very well and is staying sharp and clean. I made a nice block to hold it out of some Purple heart wood, but havn't put in a picture of that, since I don't think it is very exciting.
The specs for this one are:

SS1 – unavailable. 8 ½” overall, 4 ¾” blade. Blade: 154CM stainless steel, mini-chefs knife. Full tang. No guard. Curly maple handle, with mild steel pins. 12/16/2007. Purple heart knife block.

So, two firsts for christmas, my first Stainless steel, and my first folder. Go me. Now I am on temporary hiatus while the job search process goes on, but I do have lots of knew blades that are waiting for handles. I just have to get around to putting them all together.

Letter Openers 1-5

noreply@blogger.com (A. Ringia) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 19:46:00 +0000

Letter opener 1 – Sold. 8” overall, 4 1/8” blade. Blade: Copper, hidden through tang. Handle salt cedar center dovetailed with desert ironwood. No stamp.

Letter Opener 2 – Sold. 9 1/4” overall, 4 3/4” blade. Blade, hammered copper, exposed tang. Guard: Waterbuffalo horn. Handle: Spalted Cottonwood with copper inserts, turquoise pin accent. No pommel.

Letter Opener 3 - 10” overall, 5” blade. Blade: Sterling Silver. Hidden Tang. No Guard. Handle: Ebony, Carolina Poplar, Ebony, mild steel pins.

Letter Opener 4 - 10” overall, 4 ½” blade. Blade copper. Full tang. No guard. Handle: Coccobolo, ebony, mild steel pins. Pommel: Beaten copper.

Letter Opener 5 - Sold!- 10 3/8” overall, 5 ¾” blade. Blade Copper. Hidden through tang. Guard: Shaped copper. Handle: Mexican ebony, Cottonwood. Pommel: Copper.