Sgian Don't - 1st try DIY

[California Highlander]

So, wanting a sgian dubh but not able to afford anything decent right now, I was inspired by Panache's thread on making sgian don'ts, I decided to go for it. The bottle opener is the hardware store paint department variety, they gave it to me for free. The wood was scavenged from halloween party decor at an office party many years ago.



I did the basics with a small hand saw and a plane.


Then I got out my B&D dremel-like rotary tool and shaped it.


Finally I added the thistle-ish cuts with the rotary tool and sanded like crazy.



Then I read the thread on ebonizing and was inspired. I put some vinegar with some bits of steel wool, a rusty nail that I sanded a bit, and an old fashioned square nail. Because the wood is some low-tannin variety, probably fir or birch, I added two Yorkshire tea bags and brought it all to a boil. After it sat for a while and cooled, I painted some on the piece but it was like brown water. I put it on my vice for a few minutes while I got some water, then upon return noticed that the area touching the metal vice was darker. So I wrapped the handle tightly in steel wool and immersed it. Upon removal and some burnishing, it looks like this:



I'll probably add a walnut or olive oil finish. While not art, I had fun making it and now have something for my hose until I can get a nice sgian dubh.

[sailortats]

Very clever and well done. Now you will have a useful, fun item for years to come.

[Panache]

I like it! Thanks for detailing the staining process.

Cheers

Jamie

[KiltedDixon]

Very nice! You did a lot with a little. It looks good.

[Kinetikat]

Lovely job! And so very, very useful (more so, dare I say, than a teeny dagger in most situations).
Are you sure you're not a closet Kilted Lebowski?
O.o

[California Highlander]

Hmmm, I do enjoy the oat sodas...ales and IPAs and stouts. Perhaps I just may be a kilted lebowski.

My first bottle opened with the new sgian...