RE: Look for Photo of Mack Headley's marking knife

[David Conley]

I have been looking for a photo or two of Mack Headley?s marking knife that has the twist in the middle?  Does anyone have a good photo of it?

Thanks,
David

[Antiquity]

David,

I have two of these knives and one with the straight shaft.  I'm leaving for a show but will be back on Monday.  I will send you a photo then unless some one else does.

Dennis Bork

[jbacon]

I'm not positive which knife Mack uses, but I've seen some of the guys in the cabinet shop and the jointer's shop use this one. http://www.thebestthings.com/newtools/williamsburg_marking_knife.htm

[Antiquity]

David,

That's the knife.

Dennis Bork

[ttalma]

I make my own and have made some for gifts, I can make one in about 2 hours.

I'm not a black smith, So I just start with 1/8" tool steel. Pretty simple, cut out the basic shape, clean up with a grinder. A little mapp gas to put in the twist, file the point, and grind the chisel end. harden the chisel end and hone.

If people are interested I could write a how to for the journal.

[klkirkman]

ttalma,

If you post a description, I wil read it with interest.

My only forge experience was very frustrating; a cold chisel made in shop class from hex stock using an old fashioned gas oven to heat the work. It took all period to get to a working temperature. One smack with the hammer, and it was time to cool it off and "clean up".

Karl

[jbacon]

Not trying to jump ttalma here, but I also made some similar knives and posted a description and pictures here.    http://planeshavings.blogspot.com/2010/05/striking-knives.html

[ttalma]

I do pretty much the same as Jbacon. But I use a sawzall to cut the basic shape, the a grinder up to the line. I use layout fluid to mark my lines (because I have some), but I find a sharpie marker works as well for doing the layout.

For heat treating I hold the heat about 1 inch from the chisel end and keep the heat there until I see the sraw color move to the end of the chisel, then quench in oil.

I don't get to worried about the heat treating, my method seems to work, as they hold an edge well and are not to hard to sharpen.

[David Conley]

Thanks Everybody!!