This blog will only represent some of what I make. So if you haven't seen my booth setup at a recent show you haven't got the whole picture. Which by-the-way wasn't taken at the last show. The more things I make, the more things I'll theoretically sell. Right?
One of my Hottest sellers, literally, are my Fire Stix. These are 1/4" ferrocerium rods with antler handles..for now. I'll be turning some out of wood soon. These things spark like crazy man. They can be used in wet conditions and throw a 2000+ degree F spark. I use mine to start my campfire all the time. After building my tepee of thin sticks, I usually put pine needles in the center surrounding a little t.p. A few scrapes with the back of a knife blade or other piece of scrap metal and "POOF" Blow on the smouldering sparks and your fire is started. They make perfect gifts for that person who has everything, scout, pyromaniac or that backwoods camper you know. Take one if you go to Alaska! That Bic lighter won't work if it's too cold. Keep one in your B.O.B.(bug out bag) The display was made from a nice piece of walnut. I burned the "Fire Stix" into it with pieces of scrap knife blade cutoffs.
The thing I've made for the longest amount of time are my Silverplate Wind Chimes. They have such an awesome tone to them. I always tell customers that they are the only chime I'll have because most others have an obnoxious sound about them. Even in a storm my personal set of chimes tinkles rhythmically with the pulse of the wind. They are made with old silverplate knives, spoons and forks. If you have some from your grandmother and would like to share with other family members I would be ecstatic to make a few sets for you from your families old set. I hear a LOT of people say "psst we could make those ourselves psssst psst" but it took some time to get it right. They make great homewarming gifts. The display for these is a pole clamped to the table with a 4 way head to hold about 10 chimes.
The Key Rings I make start out as a shoulder bolt that I cut, grind the sides flat and drill the hole for the ring. As with ALL my antler products, there is a lot of work involved trying to find what I think are the right pieces to fit the product. The bolt is heated to red hot and coated with beeswax before it's epoxied to the antler. The display uses an antler on a piece of walnut to hang them.
At the suggestion of a customer I came up with an antler handled Sewing Seam Ripper. They work well and people are buying them. As with most of my creations I designed and built the little display unit.
We do some heritage shows and they usually ask that you dress up in period clothes. NO not THAT kind of period! I'm talking about clothes from the 1800's or so. Well some of the things I make pertain to the old days. I've had muzzle loader items on the table for quite a while. Most people quizzically ask what the heck a couple things are. They are Ball Starters and Shot or Bullet Boards. Ball starters get the lead ball started into the barrel of the rifle before you use the long ramrod. I make these with a large piece of antler with a 1" and 3" oak dowel. The shot/bullet board is an old timey speed loader. Made from wood, these hold a number of patched balls ready to put into your rifle barrel with the ball starter. Recently I've added an antler handled Leather Awl to the muzzle loader supply although they can be used by any leather worker. They're small and fit well in the hand. I start these with an 1/8" piece of steel rod and grind them to a point. Then they're mated with an ergonomic piece of antler.
Everyone needs a good portable Diamond Sharpener for all their knives and other cutting devices. Mine sport a good sized antler handle for a good grip while sharpening. These have have a flat and round sides for a multitude of sharpening uses.
I recently started turning wood with an old Sears lathe I got at a yard sale. After getting the thing to actually work, it turned out to be an enjoyable new hobby. No pun intended. I signed up for the IAP-International Association of Penturners forum to get some insight into this venture. My idea is to mesh my knife making with the wood turning. Still working on ways to cross them over. Anyway, while playing around I came up with the idea of Keepsake Magnets. You know refrigerator magnets. Everyone uses them. Why not make some with the super strong rare earth magnets I have sitting out in the shop. They are small but can hold a bunch of stuff to the ol' keepsake fridge. The display is a recycled piece of steel from an old file cabinet attached to an aluminum rod, stuck into a piece of walnut. Wanted customers to see how strong these magnets are while keeping the display small.
Then there's the Pens. Pens are cool and the Pen/Sword thing makes them go together naturally. It seems my table was lacking something in the price range between jewelry and my knives. There are so many cool woods in my shop and a lot of other materials to use. So far Antler is my favorite medium for pens. I just have to come up with some new ways to deal with it. People want to buy stuff they just have to have things with the right dollar amount on them to let the cash go. My sincere intention is to bring some of my knife making materials and techniques to pen making. There is so much for me to figure out, so I'll just keep practicing in the mean time and put a few pens out on the table to sell. My pen display was made entirely from oak. The base is solid oak, the top part is oak plywood and the uprights are oak dowels. Everything was sitting in the shop just waiting to come together.
Guess I gotta get my Jewelry on here as soon as I can. Hope y'all like what I'm doing here. It really is a LABOR of Love. I have to get a few knives done soon then it's pretty much jewelry season in the shop. It's far easier to work on a piece of jewelry in the heat than it is a knife. Although now turning can be done a little at a time too.
Thanks for reading!
