Early Access Video: Old Pocket Knives for Hand-tool Woodwork
Added 2020-02-22 12:00:02 +0000 UTCFriends:
I recently had the chance to revisit the classic folding knives of my youth and I discovered that they're FANTASTIC bench tools for woodwork. One good knife can have 3 useful tools for trimming, carving, and marking. Best of all, these knives are small and can be bought for peanuts. They're truly the forgotten multi-tool.
Let's expand our horizons by looking back at the tools our grandfathers carried!
Happy Saturday!
--Rex
Comments
It's an affliction.
Mike J
2020-02-28 21:06:33 +0000 UTCone thing that sheepfoot blade is REALLY good for is cutting rope. You lay the rope on a piece of wood, lay the knife across the rope, and hit it with a chunk of wood. Thunk, done! No sawing, no mess, no tearing, practically no effort. This is why old Sailor's knives were all sheepfoot design. A knife the size of the one in your combo knife would easily handle up to 3/8 sisal or manilla line. (I only use percussive cutting for any line over a twine in size. I use a wood chisel if my knife is not handy -- but really how often is my knife NOT handy? it's generally on my belt!)
Jeff Gedney
2020-02-28 14:07:31 +0000 UTCDamnit, now I'm going to buy ANOTHER tool. Thanks, Mike. :)
Rex Krueger
2020-02-28 12:27:46 +0000 UTCI've found that a classic wharncliffe profile also makes a great marking knife. Similar to the sheepsfoot blade but with a pointed nose.
Mike J
2020-02-27 22:53:57 +0000 UTCThat happens each week during the Premiere period. Now it's over and you can watch it.
Rex Krueger
2020-02-26 20:44:38 +0000 UTCProbably our grandparents knew too.
Mike J
2020-02-26 16:09:40 +0000 UTCHey rex its not letting me watch the video it directs me to YouTube and says i have to wait..
Urmamjeff The third
2020-02-26 15:20:09 +0000 UTCI think it's just an obvious solution. The sheep's foot had excellent geometry. Glad it's working out for someone else.
Rex Krueger
2020-02-23 12:34:19 +0000 UTCAnd if you can make a mallet, the rest just sort of falls into place...
Rex Krueger
2020-02-23 12:33:28 +0000 UTCEven riding a desk, you need a blade and a few screwdrivers. That's just life.
Rex Krueger
2020-02-23 12:29:25 +0000 UTCIt's tough to beat a multi-tool for day-to-day stuff. I have one Victornox, one Leatherman, and two by Gerber. Love them all.
Rex Krueger
2020-02-23 12:28:59 +0000 UTCOh, the world is full of cheap, cranky nerds. This is a safe space for us.
Rex Krueger
2020-02-23 12:27:53 +0000 UTCWell, I think you've got that figured out!
Rex Krueger
2020-02-23 12:27:10 +0000 UTCAs usual, Nic covered it pretty well. Sandpaper will get you going, but it get expensive in the long run. Nate and I will be shooting a video on it this week, so look for it on Saturday. A good Norton oilstone is my choice, but there are lots of good options. Diamonds are nice, but not necessary.
Rex Krueger
2020-02-23 12:26:15 +0000 UTCWell, thank your wife for me! It's nice to have a little support.
Rex Krueger
2020-02-23 12:24:19 +0000 UTCYou might be able too. When it comes to steel, it's pretty amazing what you can do with sandpaper and patience.
Rex Krueger
2020-02-23 12:23:52 +0000 UTCWelcome to the channel! I'm really glad that the video came at the right time.
Rex Krueger
2020-02-23 12:23:15 +0000 UTCI'm not Rex, but here's my two cents. I got a cheap oil stone from Ace Hardware and I HATE IT. The old ones that were given to me by an old friend are so much better. If you want to go cheap to start, go with the sandpaper "scary sharp" system that Rex shows. I found that I was restoring so many tools that course sand paper for establishing my primary bevel and a $30 water stone off Amazon saved me money on higher grit sandpaper. I made a strip out of scrap leather glued to a block and harbor freight green compound in stick form. The water stone is good after a year, and I spend less on sandpaper. The compound has years of use left in it yet.
Nic Beurskens
2020-02-23 05:04:53 +0000 UTCwow, weird. Just Monday I broke the blade off my cheap molded plastic marking knife. Without even thinking about it I reached into my pocket and dug my 40 year old Schrade 80-OT and started using the sheep foot as a marking knife. I’m definitely going to use it from now on. It’s a lot sturdier than the cheap marking knife just for starters. Also the handle is much more comfortable.Hmm, who knew? Oh, you did! Lol. I guess I won’t bother looking for new marking knife.
William Allen
2020-02-23 04:08:26 +0000 UTCThe Case i got 55years ago when i was 10 has been sharpened enough the main blade is about half the width it was then. In the meantime, my leatherman sits at my waist most days, even a programmer needs a pocket tool and my wave with the additional driver bits is the single tool i would not go without. I've cut 2x4s with it! If i had nothing else, i could use it to make a mallet and go on from there...
James Boatright
2020-02-23 03:01:15 +0000 UTCI feel almost naked without my Leatherman. I've been carrying one for years. Even now that I'm more desk than field I still do, it comes in handy almost daily.
Mike J
2020-02-22 23:08:03 +0000 UTCRight on, Rex. I have carried at least one pocket knife with me every day for decades. And, just as you say, when I have a woodworking project, that pocket knife always gets used for some part of it no matter what the project might be. And the Leatherman you held up in your video looks the same as mine. One time I sat down at work for lunch with several of my coworkers. When we started discussing pocket knives, we found we each carried at least one. When we pulled our knives out, we were all surprised to find that all four of us had independently chosen the same model from the same manufacturer: Super Tinker Swiss Army knife. It was so well-suited to the electronic work we were doing at Motorola at that time that we had all chosen the same knife. Like you said, things that stick around for a long time tend to do so because they work. Have a great day.
Ed Smeltz
2020-02-22 17:51:47 +0000 UTCGreat video again! After watching your video I feel more normal. There are others out there like me.
Robert Bullock
2020-02-22 17:27:56 +0000 UTCIt's funny I've got a pocket knife that's way older than you in my coat that I've been wondering what to do with since my gran gave it to me over Christmas. Used to be my great grandads and was about 35-40 years old when he died back in '96. Was thinking about just sharpening the one blade up and using it as a marking knife since I've been using a box opener.
The Poor Man
2020-02-22 16:53:28 +0000 UTCGreat video as usual ... but I kept replaying the 'oil stone' part when you sharpened blades. Please consider a future video on tool sharpening methods. I'm wondering if I should buy a diamond plate or use special 3M sandpaper, or use oil stones. Your guidance would be very helpful. Thanks again.
Mark Fannin
2020-02-22 16:25:18 +0000 UTCThink I might go browse the flea market this morning now.... Thanks Rex !!!! And the wife loved it to do I get to spend money !!!
The Idle Hands Workshop - Stephen Miller
2020-02-22 16:18:12 +0000 UTCI love how you explore and appreciate the old tools and techniques. A lot of YouTubers are just all about the power tools and the latest tech. Like you said before, the old timers knew what they were doing, and sometimes the old ways are better than the latest and "greatest." Now you have me wondering if I can make a punch blade out of that third blade on my Schrade Imperial!
Kevin Lundquist
2020-02-22 15:54:30 +0000 UTCThis came at JUST the right time as I was thinking of buying a Stanley today.-instead I found my Dad's old penknife! has an awl, a sheep's foot (and something that looks like a can opener) Enjoying your videos so much I signed up for patreon and this is my first early access video. You have totally inspired me - I'm awaiting delivery of a bit and brace, vintage french planes (rabots), & vintage spokeshaves (vastringues) which I picked up for just a few euros each, and this afternoon my husband's buying me my first smoothing plane. Can't wait to start my roman bench. THANK YOU!!
Lesley Verbrugge
2020-02-22 13:46:35 +0000 UTCNow I need to go to the flea market.
Bob Templeton
2020-02-22 13:34:17 +0000 UTC
