| Project by USCJeff | posted 150 days ago | 354 views | 1 time favorited | 15 comments | ![]() |
Here is the link to GaryK’s original post the same design. While I didn’t have any snakewood (or have seen it for that matter), I thought it worked well with some other species. I’ll be curious to see which holds an edge the best. These are quite simple to make and only require a bit more than a pen blank worth of wood. In all, it took less than an hour to get it ready for finish.
Steps Taken:
~Printed Gary’s photo to the size I wanted and taped it to some hardboard.
~Cut the photo/hardboard on the bandsaw and lightly sanded to create a template.
~Used template to layout the design to be cut on the bandsaw on the various species.
~Sanded with a stationary sander.
~Hand sanded to make comfortable as well as sharp
~Used a little oil to amplify the grain and used a few coats of poly to protect it.
Species in photo are (Left to Right):
Hardboard Template, FS White Oak, Cherry, Cherry, Cocobolo, Purpleheart, and Peruvian Walnut.
-- Jeff, South Carolina
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15 comments so far
rikkor
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7112 posts in 317 days
posted 150 days ago
I am going to make a few of these, too. Thanks Jeff and Gary.
-- Maplewood, MN
CharlieM1958
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3965 posts in 661 days
posted 150 days ago
You guys better not try to sneak these through airport security. Next thing you nkow, we’ll all have to go through wood detectors.
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
GaryK
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8404 posts in 431 days
posted 150 days ago
Interesting Jeff. Your link to my post has the letters “of” after it do the link doesn’t work. Easy to fix though.
Very nice job!
So what conclusions have you drawn concerning the hardness of the variuos woods?
If you are interested I can provide you with a 1:1 template.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Scott Bryan
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8490 posts in 264 days
posted 150 days ago
Hi Jeff,
These are nice letter openers. I guess you and Gary are starting a trend here. I am not sure what you can do with this many openers but it is a good use of off cuts and gets you some shop time. Nice job. The cocobolo is my personal favorite.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
rikkor
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7112 posts in 317 days
posted 150 days ago
Gary, I would be interested in that template.
-- Maplewood, MN
GaryK
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8404 posts in 431 days
posted 150 days ago
Here you go to all that are interested in a template. Just print it out.
Here's a 1:1 PDF File
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Richard M. Petti
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16 posts in 156 days
posted 150 days ago
Jeff nice job they look good. Gary love to have the temp on these. Always looking for ways to use up cut offs.
-- Just believe and God will take care of the rest
rikkor
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7112 posts in 317 days
posted 150 days ago
Thanks Gary.
-- Maplewood, MN
GaryK
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8404 posts in 431 days
posted 150 days ago
rikkor – Post your results when you finish.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
USCJeff
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791 posts in 511 days
posted 149 days ago
Thanks Gary, The 1:1 is helpful. I saved your photos and skewed them to size. A template is the way to go though.
Scott, I’m actually down to 1 of the opener’s now. I had some people in mind when starting. I have 6 family members with birthdays between March 2 and April 19. One of them is turning 3 so she didn’t get it as I can see it used on little brother for playing with her Ponies. Not kidding. :) My wife picked the Walnut one and I gave the Cocobolo to my brother as he is the only guy and it seems to look a bit more masculine.
-- Jeff, South Carolina
GaryK
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8404 posts in 431 days
posted 149 days ago
Jeff – Are you going to make more.
How close were yours to my 1:1? Kinda curious.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
USCJeff
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791 posts in 511 days
posted 149 days ago
They started out being very close in size. The template was almost the same as 1:1. After sanding the contours, ithey ended up slighty smaller. I had my wife hold them so as to make them comfortable for her grip. I did several using my grip as well since my hand are a decent bit larger.
-- Jeff, South Carolina
USCJeff
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791 posts in 511 days
posted 142 days ago
UPDATE: I thought I should add a little comment after putting one of the designs to personal use. I gave away all but one. I kept a cocobolo one that is not pictured. I found that they were all a little to thick to work properly. I’d suggest not making them any thicker than 1/4”. I haven’t tested a smaller thickness, but I think I’d aim for the 1/8” mark as a starter. The edge held very nicely, but the thickness made for a steep angle that impeded the cut. Otherwise, they worked nicely.
-- Jeff, South Carolina
GaryK
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8404 posts in 431 days
posted 142 days ago
The handle on mine is 1/8” but the blade is thinner.
Closer to .093
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
gator9t9
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282 posts in 147 days
posted 124 days ago
good job …
Nice looking Letter openers ….
See Gary has created a monster!
-- Mike in Bonney Lake " If you are real real real good your whole life, You 'll be buried in a curly maple coffin when you die."