Watch this guy make a machete...

bareass172 · Apr 8, 2014

Am I the only one watching this thinking:
#1 - $20 was a lot to pay for that saw at a flea market?

#2 - That saw was awesome, why'd he cut it up? :bounce:

Either way, I enjoyed watching it.

http://elitedaily.com/envision/this...-saw-he-bought-at-a-flea-market-for-20-video/

drivesitfar · Apr 8, 2014

very entertaining. the guy has a lot of talent and an expensive square wheel type grinder. i couldn't make out the make of it, but similar to a Wilton. is it European made?

speaking of a good (expensive) knife maker's grinders take a look at www.burrking.com

thanks for sharing B

zkling · Apr 8, 2014

Looks like a KMG grinder. Drivesitfar. I'm surprised you didn't ID the vises off the bat.

Not a fan of plasma cutting blanks, but that guy did a very nice job finishing that machete.

bareass, I would agree with your comments, however quality knife steel is not cheap nor easy to find in the first place. Repurposing old saw blades, leaf springs, files and the like are good sources of quality stock without new prices.

Rust · Apr 8, 2014

That ....

....was awesome. Alot of work there.

There are thousands of those saws out there, most of them useless.
I think that was a better use of the spring steel.
I'd like to see one made from a leaf spring. Tang is where it's at.
Perfect for the upcoming zombie apocalypse.

drivesitfar · Apr 8, 2014

Z: As you might know i have enough of a vice with the regular vises and have only started to notice the Blacksmith vises like the one i think was in the machete video. i have friends and clients with barns full of those old blacksmith vises and for now i don't know the difference between a really nice working one or a run of the mill version. i'm trying to keep some money in my bank account for food. :bounce:

as i agree $20 is a lot to pay for an old saw i know the guys making knives don't always have them or other steel available for reasonable prices so $20 is reasonable for them to make a quality knife.

92integra · Apr 8, 2014

that was awesome that guy has skills i hope to be that talented at something one day. thanks for sharing

thebeekeeper1 · Apr 9, 2014

I have a saw identical to that, but it never crossed my mind to cut it up. :headscrat

Modern Jess · Apr 9, 2014

Ah yes. Jimmy DiResta. I've watched a bunch if his maker videos. I hadn't seen this one, that's cool!

hoopvillian · Apr 9, 2014

I zoned out watching this... 12 minutes later...

Awesome work.

woodstockva · Apr 9, 2014

Cool video!

Thanks for posting it!

pfbz · Apr 9, 2014

Yes, I always wear my loose fitting metal banded Rolex when working in a machine shop... What could possibly go wrong?

Though I do like that belt grinder!

organ · Apr 9, 2014

drivesitfar said:
very entertaining. the guy has a lot of talent and an expensive square wheel type grinder. i couldn't make out the make of it, but similar to a Wilton. is it European made?

speaking of a good (expensive) knife maker's grinders take a look at www.burrking.com

thanks for sharing B

It's a Beaumont Metal Works KMG. Love mine. Hate to see an old crosscut saw cut up like that.

Clik · Apr 9, 2014

Been married for more decades than I'd like to admit and never wore or even bought a wedding ring, for myself. Never saw jewelry as anything other than a way to lose a hand, a finger, get shocked or shot. In some of the neighborhoods I used to work in a Rolex with one "L" or two could get you killed.

bareass172 · Apr 9, 2014

Fair enough about the use of the steel, I just hate seeing old stuff destroyed.

I had to laugh though, because that belt grinder caught my eye too. :drool:

91bronc300 · Apr 9, 2014

That guy might be worse with a plasma cutter than I am. I like the pen he uses at 4:50, anybody know what that is?

Looks like the guy to a hit to the thumb with his band saw. Also, it looks like he could've gotten two blanks from that saw by using better pattern placement.

cheechi · Apr 9, 2014

The most impressive thing to me is how he freehanded that straight edge for the back.

I've seen a lot of DiResta's videos. He's very good at what he does. The majority of the skills needed all come from paying attention in high school shop class.

Westly · Apr 9, 2014

A good machete is about 1/8" thick. You can hack through weeds with sheet metal but not split coconuts.

Jolomite · Apr 9, 2014

Westly said:
A good machete is about 1/8" thick. You can hack through weeds with sheet metal but not split coconuts.

Exactly what I was thinking. Because a Machete is a striking tool, it needs a certain amount of weight and rigidity. I can't tell how thick the blade was, but I would bet $5.00 that it is not near an 1/8" thick- defeating its effectiveness and durability. He would have done better to have started with something thicker (like a lawnmower blade of some type) and not cut up an antique in the process.

Westly · Apr 9, 2014

^Most of the machetes you see here and there are sheet metal, but they're just novelties really. A real one like you'd get in Latin America or something G.I. is right at 1/8. If you are just cutting through vines swinging in the air, then something lighter like maybe as thin as 1/16, but it still must be steel that will hold an edge, like I guess saw blade metal would. So it's not a total loss

r-ice · Apr 9, 2014

zkling said:
Looks like a KMG grinder. Drivesitfar. I'm surprised you didn't ID the vises off the bat. Not a fan of plasma cutting blanks, but that guy did a very nice job finishing that machete.

bareass, I would agree with your comments, however quality knife steel is not cheap nor easy to find in the first place. Repurposing old saw blades, leaf springs, files and the like are good sources of quality stock without new prices.

yup it is a kmg grinder.

Modern Jess · Apr 9, 2014

91bronc300 said:
I like the pen he uses at 4:50, anybody know what that is?

I was curious too, so I hunted it down. My google-fu actually worked pretty effectively this time, unlike my recent failure with identifying an odd stubby ratchet.

It's the FastCap Pattern Marker, available here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002NQPEE6/?tag=atomicindus08-20

91bronc300 · Apr 9, 2014

Modern Jess said:
I was curious too, so I hunted it down. My google-fu actually worked pretty effectively this time, unlike my recent failure with identifying an odd stubby ratchet.

It's the FastCap Pattern Marker, available here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002NQPEE6/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Awesome! I thought it was a scribe at first but then I noticed it was a marker. Like a fine tip sharpie with a super long neck and I decided I wanted one. Nice google-fu :thumbup:

paulsomlo · Apr 9, 2014

That's nothing - I've seen the "professor" make a radio out of a coconut.

Davefr · Apr 9, 2014

Wow, he was doing a lot of this work without gloves.

pepi · Apr 9, 2014

Nice !

zkling · Apr 9, 2014

Davefr said:
Wow, he was doing a lot of this work without gloves.

Gloves can actually make it more dangerous. *Depending on the glove. A knife making shop is one of the most dangerous a person could get into. Especially when large buffers come into play as they have a tenancy to grab the work and toss it at a high velocity.

3/4 drive · Apr 9, 2014

Real sweet, but I dont know about sacrificing that old saw.

jonathan75 · Apr 9, 2014

I watched the whole thing out of respect and pure amazement. He does great work.

Watch this guy make a machete...

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