We all agree. If a knife isn't sharp, what's the use, right? The sharpness of the blade will make all the difference in the world. And sharpness is largely dependant upon the quality of the blade material from which the knife is made. You'll need to determine whether or not to get a forged knife or a stamped knife. Let's make it clear.

Stamped Knives. Stamped knives are stamped out of, or cut from, sheets of metal using a template of predetermined size and shape. This process is called precision machining. As most of these stamped knives are generally flat and thin, the process is done quite quickly. But because they are so thin, they aren't that dense and do not hold their edges very long. Unfortunately, this means more frequent sharpening is required by stamped knives than forged knives. As a matter of fact, some stamped knives sets claim that you needn't ever sharpen them. They'll stay sharp for a lifetime, the package will say. Please, don't believe that. All things change over time, including the sharpness of a knife's edge.

The blade of a stamped knife is usually fitted and fastened onto its handle and is not, therefore, thought of as a solid piece of metal. A loose handle could easily result in your having to throw the knife away. Such a waste. It's good to know that not all stamped handles are this way. Some stamped knives have handles that are fitted over the tang.

Stamped knives are also lighter, and have less balance, than forged knives. So you'll have to grip it fairly tightly and have to use much more pressure whenever you use them. Doing so will increase risk of injury.

Advantages: Fairly inexpensive. Lighter in weight.

Disadvantages: Usually unreliable handles. Requires more force, more ork from the user. Increased risk of injury during strenuous jobs. Poorly balanced. Needs frequent sharpening.

Forged Knives. Forged knives are not stamped. They are carefully made with great attention to detail. Steel is heated to extreme temperatures and set in a mold. It is than hammered out to form the blade. As a result, forged knives are denser and heavier than stamped knives and have better balance because of it. And while their tempering process results in a blade of extreme hardness, it is also more flexible. It usually has a nice thick bolster with a tang that is enclosed by the handle and is usually secured with three rivets.

Advantages: Much better balance. More weightier and so is more maneuverable. Metal is stronger and can last many years. Requires less sharpening. Less risk of injury as less work is required from the user. Solid bolster to increase safety. Secured, durable handles.

Disadvantage: Costs more. Weightier. Critical Point. Maybe 10 years ago all of the above would be undisputed. Not so today. There is quite a bit of dissent about the quality of stamped knives and whether or not they rival the quality of forged knives. Here are the popular points:

Some stamped knives are made with a high quality steel to begin with.

Some knives are stamped initially and then followed up with a forging process.

Today's manufacturing process (especially involving heat) can produce stamped knives that are just as good as forged knives, if not better.

Just as good as forged knives, if not better. That's quite amazing. Here's another critical point:

Many prefer a forged knife because of its weight distribution, the resultant ease of maneuverability and the comfort and safety of the bolster.

What's it to be then? It seems fairly easy to decide. If you'd like some strong, long-lasting knives, get forged knives. If you'd like something fairly disposable that you'd prefer not to have to maintain, get stamped knives.

But if you've got the time, the means and the desire, shop around. There are high quality stamped knives out there now. Some have good weight on them, too. They're relatively young on the market, so you're going to have to track them down.

July 2008

Zhanmadao Chinese Sabre

The Zhanmadao is a Sabre with a large, one-sided blade as well as a lengthy handle which was made to be used with both hands. This Battle Weapon was specifically designed to be used against enemy troops on Horseback and has been known to be used before 1100 AD. This weapon is similar to the Nagamaki regarding its design. The handle was 37cm so it was easy to grab it with both hands. The blade was 114cm and was straight, however, the last 50% of the blade was indeed curved. The Miao Dao, Changdao and Wodao were all somewhat similar Chinese Swords.

The Zanbato was a Chinese Weapon that was created a little later. Many believe that the Zhanmadao had a lot of influence on the development of the Zanbato. Reason being that you could use both of these Battle Weapons to execute the enemy as well as his horse with one swing of this sword. The Western equivalent of this sword would be the Zweihander. Their troops were set into formations of Pikemen, whose purpose was to cut the front legs of horses off using the Zweihander. Please note however that many historians still belabor the accuracy of this data.

Southeast Asian Golok Broadsword

The concept of the Golok Broadsword came out of Southeast Asia. It is also considered a style of Machete. The origin of this Battle Weapon is from Indonesia. However, it has been known to be used in Malaysia as well as the Philippines as well. Another name Malaysians give this weapon is the Parang. This weapon isn't locked into one particular blade size. Also they are known to have different sizes and weights. However these weapons do have the tendency to be shorter as well as heavier than the standard machete.

They are commonly used for cutting down bushes and branches. The Edgewise Taper or Primary Grind, which is the part of the knife blade that starts to display its cutting edge, has a much lower probability to get stuck in green wood than a standard Machete with a Flat Sided Blade does. The Golok is typically constructed with Springy Carbon Steel Sword Blade and is usually manufactured with softer heat treatment than other large knives do. Because of this, Goloks are easier to sharpen in the field.

How to set up a place in your garage or basement to work on wood projects. Some items you would need, that you could buy or build. You could build your work bench. The bigger the better!

The ideal workshop would consist of dust collectors, everything top of the line, each tool in it's proper place, like you would see on a television home improvement show.

Some items you would need to help build projects. Work Bench, Table Saw, Jig Saw, Sander, Grinder, Planner, Jointer, Chop Saw, Drill, and small hand tools, like hammer, nails, pliers, etc...

You would want to make sure you stack your wood that you are going to work with on a nice shelf, so that it does not warp and bend on you over time while not in use.

You could turn a hobby of working in your garage or basement cutting wood, sanding wood, gluing items together, and making toys, and all sorts of neat stuff. You could even make items you could sell if you like.

After you make something nice out of wood, their is a product out that equals 50 coats of varnish. It is pretty toxic when you mix it, so you have to use it all up. You mix up the concoction and then immediately pour it over your project, and within 24 hours, you will have super hard clear coat finish, that is equal to 50 coats of varnish!

You can coat items like pictures, albums, and just about anything that will not be destroyed.

If you like to make things out of wood, but find the price of wood has sky rocketed, don't be alarmed. You can check out your local classified internet sites, and look for deals on left over wood materials, or just put an ad up yourself, that you are looking for free wood to pick up, to make projects out of. People would rather give you there free left over wood from projects they have left over, than see it end up at the landfill. They won't know you want there free wood, if you don't ask them for it!

We have had a couple of requests for information about installing carpet on your boat. First let me give the advice that installation of marine carpet should be installed by a professional installer. Also, this guide is for glue down boat carpet only; snap in carpet mats can only be done by a professional with the proper tools. Now that we have that out of the way... Here is a list of tools needed.

carpet knife
Needle nose pliers
marine glue
1/16 trowel
tape measure
marker
scraper
shop vac
scissors

Start in a corner by grabbing the carpet with the pliers. Gently pull back slowly, as to not tear through the carpet. Once the old carpeting is completely pulled out; set it aside for later. Use the scraper to remove the remaining dry carpet glue from your boat. If it isn't working, try using a piece of sandpaper. But don't overboard and ruin the bottom of your boat.

Now grab your new carpet and roll it out. If it is stiff and curling, leave it in the sun for a little bit to soften up. Now flip the carpet over so the backing is upright. Place your old carpet over the top of it with the backing facing up as well. Use the marker and trace out the old carpet on top of the new carpet. Once that is done, use either a knife or scissors to cut your carpeting out. For those who do not have existing carpet, you will have to lay the carpet inside your boat and cut the carpet to your fitting. It is not difficult but can be time consuming.

Now set your new marine carpeting inside your boat. Adjust it to fit exactly as it should when it is glued down. Set down something heavy like a toolbox or a case of beer on one side of the boat. Now flip the other side over. Start spreading the glue onto the boat using the 1/16 trowel. Do not use to much glue or else the carpet will bubble feel much different under your foot. Once the entire side has been glued; gently set the carpet over the top. If you have the ability to rent or borrow a 100 pound roller; use it to go over the glued carpet. This will prevent air bubbles and ripples. Now repeat on the other side and your all done. Enjoy your new carpet.

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Review - Ginsu Santoku Knife With Cutting Board

• Japanese-style cook's santoku knife.
• Traditional Japanese style handles are made of heat and water resistant resin.
• Japanese steel tang extends through the entire handle and fits smoothly in your hand
• Holds an incredibly sharp edge
• Quality craftsmanship known and respected by consumers and all other premium knife brands

For More Information :

The Ghost Knife fish, (Apteronotus albifrons) is an interesting tropical specimen that originated in the Amazon Basin in Peru and Paraguay. Most Knife Fish are black in color except for two white rings on its tail and a blaze of white at the nose, which sometimes will stripe down its back. The fish has no scales and can grown to 20 inches. The Ghost Knife fish does have nocturnal habits and are a weakly electric fish that will utilize their electric organ and receptors to locate insect larvae. There are also gold-line knife fish but the blacks are more popular with a population to match.

The fish prefers a sandy bottom creek or tropical climate and the natives in South America have a belief that the departed enter these fish, which is where they "ghost" entered into their name. Requirements for a Ghost Knife Fish is a 30-40 gallon tank to start off and as they grow, they will need 75+ gallons so you may want to start off larger to avoid having to move them. The fish has a jealous streak and will eat all the algae they can in the tank to add to their dimension. They like to hide so supply a piece of driftwood or a "ghost tube" so they can take up residence. It will be fun to watch them in the tube during the day.

As they are electric, they should not have other fish inside with them and like a very dimly lit tank as since they are nocturnal, they have evolved with a low light habitat. Having no scales does leave them open to parasite infections so be careful and keep the aquarium clean. Keep the temperature at 75-80 degrees. They do prefer water toward a neutral pH and enjoy playing in the bubbles during the night.

Once your fish becomes a resident of your tank and feels at home, the fish has been known to become tame and trusting. It will tolerate other larger Ghost Knife fish for company. The Ghost Knife fish is a carnivore so you will need to supply live foods including chopped earthworms, frozen and flaked foods. They also enjoy blood worms and neon's. Some are not fussy and will eat most anything.

Breeding is very rare but does occur on occasion. Remove the spawnings from the tank, as the parents might be tempted to have them for dinner. You will enjoy having these fish in your aquarium. They are entertaining and take on their own personality once they feel at home.

If you take an interest in cheese, a cheese knife set is a must. A typical cheese set contains a hard cheese knife for cheeses like cheddar, a cheese plane or shaver, a fork-tipped knife, and a spreader that works not only for soft cheeses but spreads, pates or cheese accompaniments.  The soft cheese knife typically has a very thin blade that is sometimes perforated with holes to prevent cheeses like Camembert from sticking.

Cheese knife sets range in price from about 20 dollars to as much as several hundred dollars for a 4-piece Wusthof cheese set. You'll find some sets come with a case or cutting board, typically bamboo.  While the cutting board is a nice feature, they are typically not big enough to serve a selection of several cheeses. However, they work beautifully if you were to bring out a wedge of cheese and some grapes after dinner. You may also find cheese sets bundled with picnic or wine baskets that may include additional tools such as a corkscrew for cheese-lovers who double as wine-lovers.  You may also find multi-purpose cheese knives that are like several tools in one.  For example, Global makes a single stainless steel knife that is suited both for hard and soft cheeses for around 70 dollars.

When shopping for a cheese set, look for stainless steel blades that are designed to keep their edge and have a lifetime warranty.   If you have the opportunity to try out different knives, take note of the knife's balance and weight.  Make sure it has a non-slip grip that feels comfortable in your hand.  Many cheese knives have very small handles which are ideal for some hands, but not for others.  If you're serving a lot of different cheeses to a group, it's important that you don't get hand fatigue from an uncomfortable cheese knife. Also, note that some cheese sets are dishwasher safe, but many allow only handwashing so read the accompanying instructions carefully.

A must for any cheese lover, as well as a great gift, your cheese knife set will be enjoyed with friends and family for years to come.