Big Batch Almost Done

Well, folks, I had hoped to finish this batch of carving knives over the weekend, but sometimes life gets in the way of one's plans.  I did get most of the work done on these knives, just a little cleanup and final touch up left to go.  Here are a couple of pics of the progress.

Here's a group shot of all 21 knives after shaping the handles and burning in my makers mark.

Here's a quick shot of the knives after applying the final finish.  This is my multipurpose drying rack that some would mistake for a nut and bolt storage bin.

Look for the finished knives to be made available by the end of this week or the first of next.  They will be found over on the Available Knives page here on the Old Stump Blog.  Happy carving!

-  Brandant Robinson

Big Batch of Knives

I know that I don't post here very much, but I thought that I would give everyone a heads up that I'm currently working on a big batch of carving knives which should be done in the next week or two.  Just for fun I took a pic of all the blades laid out on my workbench.  That's a lot of grinding!

I have three blades of each of the following profiles: 1-1/2" all-purpose scimitar, 1-1/4" all-purpose scimitar, 1-1/2" all-purpose katana, 1-1/4" all-purpose katana, 1-1/4" all-purpose hybrid, 1" detail arrow, and 1" detail katana.  These blades are all made from thin material, so they are nice and flexible.

I plan to give each of these groups of three dolphin, octagonal dolphin, and caterpillar style handles out of differing wood varieties.  It should give folks exactly what they are looking for.  Let me know if you have any specific requests and I'll try to meet your needs.  I'll post some finished pics when I get these done and you'll find them on the "Available Tools" page when they are ready for new owners.

Happy carving!

New Website

Hi, folks.  I hope everyone is doing well and making mountains of woodcarving chips.  I just wanted to post a link here to my new Custom Knives Website called The Robinson Edge.  I would like to invite you to stop by, check things out, and even sign up for my mailing list.  Here's the link:

The Robinson Edge

Updated the Carving Gallery

If you have stopped by the Carving Gallery here on the Old Stump, you may have noticed that payment buttons have been added to all of the carvings that are currently available for purchase. Should you be interested in purchasing one of my carvings, simply click the "Add to Cart" button and use the online check out as you would with any online store.  If you have any questions or problems with the system, just drop me a line and I'll give you a hand.

Several of you have asked when I will be making some more knives.  Currently I'm involved in a big project for a Christmas gift for my wife, so I won't be making any new carving knives until after the new year, so save some of that Christmas money (wink wink).  If you want to see that project I'm working on, check out my sister site at Robinson Edge .

On another note, I can see that I've lost interest in my little hunter bust since I haven't carved at all on him in the last few weeks.  To get myself motivated to get carving, I think I might start on something totally new and maybe come back to this piece when I feel ready for it.  I'm thinking maybe a cowboy or possibly a native american.  I'll certainly share progress pics here of whatever I decide to do. Thanks for following along with me on my adventures.

-  Brandant Robinson

Deer Hunter Bust

As I ease back into the woodcarving scene, I have decided to revisit a piece that I started some time ago.  It's a bust of a deer hunter that should turn out to be a fun project to break the rust free from my woodcarving muscles.  Here's a really crumby photo of the project as of last night.  I've just attached the right arm to the torso and have it clamped up with some rubber bands.

If the carving turns out as I envision, he will have a rifle slung over his right shoulder with the sling in his right hand.  He'll have some binoculars around his neck and something that I haven't decided on held in his left hand.  I'll post more pics as the carving develops.  Thanks for checking in.

-  Brandant Robinson

Email News Letter

Hey, folks.  I appreciate the warm "welcome home" that everyone has given me.  It's good to be back among friends, doing a little carving, and making a few knives.  The knives that I posted on the Available Knives Page last week are half gone, so get yours before they are all in someone else's toolbox.

Since I'm not taking custom orders for woodcarving tools right now, I have been urged to start an email news letter to let those interested people know when new tools and finished carvings are available to the public to be purchased.  I think that's something that I could do without too much fuss.  Also, I'm not taking orders, but I will entertain requests.  If you need a specific tool, shoot me a message and I'll see if I can add it to the next batch.

So, if you'd like to be on my Email List, just send me an email at theoldstump@live.com with the words "OLD STUMP SUBSCRIBE" in the subject line, and I'll get you added in.  Also, if you'd like to be on my Email List for my custom folding knives which are found on my sister sight at Robinson Edge just indicate that in the body of your email and I'll get you signed up for both.

In the News Letter I'll keep you up to date on new knives, gouges, and carvings.  I won't fill up your inbox up with unwanted emails and you can ask to be removed from my list at any time, no questions asked.  I appreciate your indulgence as I ease back into the carving life.  I didn't realize how much I missed carving and making woodcarving tools.

Also, I'm working on a new carving of a deer hunter.  It's so nice to be making woodchips again!  I'll be posting progress photos very soon, so check back. Thanks for stopping by the Old Stump.

-  Brandant Robinson

It's Been A Long Time

Well, folks, it's been a long time since I've posted anything here on the Old Stump.  I have been pursuing other interests and haven't had a lot of interest in woodcarving or woodcarving tools. Lately I've started to miss making chips and the fun and joy that comes with it, not to mention that I miss all of my friends in the woodcarving community.  In order to inspire myself to get back into woodcarving, I decided to make myself a new knife.  Since I was making one, I thought why not make a whole batch of new knives and offer them to the public.  In the past I have used floor scraper blades for the blades of my knives.  Now I have the equipment of a real knife shop and have the ability to shape and heat treat my own blades.  So, I decided to use some high quality O1 tool steel to make these blades.  I must say, they turned out really nice.  Here's a group photo of the batch.

Nine of the ten are now available over on the Available Knives Page of the Old Stump.  I hope to get started on something new and maybe take you along for the ride.  Thanks for stopping by.