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OPINELS

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fr Offline Frenchephaistos

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Re: OPINELS
Reply #2760 on: February 04, 2024, 08:51:53 PM
JonesE, I can pitch in.
Plane tree, or platane in French, is a normal part of our countrysides and our cities in the south of France.
During the 1st Empire (Napoleon I), platane were massively planted alongside the roads used by the Grande Armée to protect them from the sun and wind, and today most secondary roads are typically still lined with them. They are easy to maintain and can deliver tons of shade. Their leaves ressemble maple leaves and do not decompose easily, so walking in the streets here in autumn means walking on a crunchy layer of brown rustle of leaves.
All that to say there is a chance some of the wood used for knives could go back 200 years ; a lot are cut down when old roads and urban settings are modernized. See it as a piece of history that may very well be twice as old as the Opinel brand itself.  :D


us Offline LoopCutter

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Re: OPINELS
Reply #2761 on: February 04, 2024, 09:14:57 PM
 :like:  so interesting!
If I start and end the day above ground, it is a good day!

Hope yours is as good!

A SMART man always knows what to say!
   A WISE man knows whether or not to say it!!!


fr Offline Frenchephaistos

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Re: OPINELS
Reply #2762 on: February 04, 2024, 09:19:05 PM
Well that was more info about the tree than the wood, which I do not see very often on knives. But the grain can be very nice indeed.


us Offline JonesE

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Re: OPINELS
Reply #2763 on: February 04, 2024, 09:45:25 PM
JonesE, I can pitch in.
Plane tree, or platane in French, is a normal part of our countrysides and our cities in the south of France.
During the 1st Empire (Napoleon I), platane were massively planted alongside the roads used by the Grande Armée to protect them from the sun and wind, and today most secondary roads are typically still lined with them. They are easy to maintain and can deliver tons of shade. Their leaves ressemble maple leaves and do not decompose easily, so walking in the streets here in autumn means walking on a crunchy layer of brown rustle of leaves.
All that to say there is a chance some of the wood used for knives could go back 200 years ; a lot are cut down when old roads and urban settings are modernized. See it as a piece of history that may very well be twice as old as the Opinel brand itself.  :D

Wow, thanks for the response. Very detailed post and I truly enjoy reading about your experience with the tree. I hope to make it to the South of France to see this tree in person. Didn’t realize it has such a history.


us Offline JonesE

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Re: OPINELS
Reply #2764 on: February 04, 2024, 09:49:37 PM
Great pics today Gareth and Gordon.  :tu:


us Offline JonesE

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Re: OPINELS
Reply #2765 on: February 08, 2024, 12:55:40 AM
I won the wood grain lottery today. Just got this beautiful no.8 in with olive wood.



The CD helped free it from its packaging.


us Offline LoopCutter

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Re: OPINELS
Reply #2766 on: February 08, 2024, 03:12:50 AM
Very nice!

I have 1 Olive Wood N08 that is luvly!
If I start and end the day above ground, it is a good day!

Hope yours is as good!

A SMART man always knows what to say!
   A WISE man knows whether or not to say it!!!


us Offline nate j

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Re: OPINELS
Reply #2767 on: February 08, 2024, 05:18:37 AM
I won the wood grain lottery today. Just got this beautiful no.8 in with olive wood.
Great score!


us Offline Aloha

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Re: OPINELS
Reply #2768 on: February 08, 2024, 02:58:07 PM
Thats very nice. 
Esse Quam Videri


us Offline JonesE

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Re: OPINELS
Reply #2769 on: February 08, 2024, 08:50:49 PM
Thanks guys!  :hatsoff:


fr Offline Frenchephaistos

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Re: OPINELS
Reply #2770 on: February 09, 2024, 09:12:21 AM
Olive always will be the best…
Another iconic essence here in mediterranean climates…


us Offline JonesE

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Re: OPINELS
Reply #2771 on: February 10, 2024, 03:53:31 AM
Had an Oak handled no. 8 with me today for French Friday.



us Offline JonesE

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Re: OPINELS
Reply #2772 on: February 17, 2024, 04:06:48 AM
Got a new to me Inox Beech no.8. Handle was a little groady. Had some light scratches and dings. Took an iron and damp wash cloth and got out most of the dings. Took a tooth brush and dawn dish soap to the knife and cleaned it up. Then a hair dryer to dry it off. Taped off the blade and lock ring so I don’t cut myself. I have to protect my self from stupid and constantly reminding myself to slow down. Then sanded off the old finish and scrathes with some 220. Now I applied my first coat of poly. Tomorrow I will buff it out with some 0000 steel wool, then apply another coat. I will do this till I get 3 or 4 coats on. Hopefully it will turn out nice. Trying to get it ready for next month’s challenge.



Oh, and happy French Friday!


us Offline Alan K.

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Re: OPINELS
Reply #2773 on: February 17, 2024, 07:38:53 AM
Just got the Garden Tools set for next month's challenge.  Opened, of course, with the Center Drive for this month's Gerber challenge.

* Gerber WDT '24 17.jpg (Filesize: 84.79 KB)


us Offline LoopCutter

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Re: OPINELS
Reply #2774 on: February 17, 2024, 01:33:37 PM
 :woohoo:

I like the blade shape and color of the middle one! :hatsoff:

A N08?
If I start and end the day above ground, it is a good day!

Hope yours is as good!

A SMART man always knows what to say!
   A WISE man knows whether or not to say it!!!


us Offline powernoodle

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Re: OPINELS
Reply #2775 on: February 17, 2024, 09:53:36 PM
I'm not A.K. - which I am pretty sure he must be happy about - but that's a No. 8 Folding Gardening Knife in purple.  That knife is sweet.

https://www.opinel-usa.com/products/opinel-garden-knives-trio


us Offline LoopCutter

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Re: OPINELS
Reply #2776 on: February 17, 2024, 10:26:27 PM
I'm not A.K. - which I am pretty sure he must be happy about - but that's a No. 8 Folding Gardening Knife in purple.  That knife is sweet.

https://www.opinel-usa.com/products/opinel-garden-knives-trio

I was not sure, and I am trying to avoid stopping in and viewing the Opinel web site for a few reasons.

Yes, N08 gardening knife is SWEET👍 :iagree: :like:
 
IMG_5500.jpg
* IMG_5500.jpg (Filesize: 123.57 KB)


It was the 2nd order I made… :whistle:

Mine is just  :facepalm: plain beech! Not the fancy Colorama



If I start and end the day above ground, it is a good day!

Hope yours is as good!

A SMART man always knows what to say!
   A WISE man knows whether or not to say it!!!


us Offline Alan K.

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Re: OPINELS
Reply #2777 on: February 18, 2024, 02:55:38 AM
It is a No 8 garden knife and I see they also made it in pink at some point, and I think I would have preferred that to the purple, but that option was not offered at this time. :cheers:


us Offline BPRoberts

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Re: OPINELS
Reply #2778 on: February 21, 2024, 02:16:43 PM
Any advice on maintenance for the carve your own handle no 8? I ordered one this weekend, and I'm wondering if I should stain it or oil it or something when I'm done whittling.


au Offline Heywood Floyd

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Re: OPINELS
Reply #2779 on: February 21, 2024, 02:44:12 PM
Any advice on maintenance for the carve your own handle no 8? I ordered one this weekend, and I'm wondering if I should stain it or oil it or something when I'm done whittling.
FWIW, my limited experience from "pinstriping" two of my No 8s is one (carbon steel) left raw and other (stainless) charred and darkened. Former has some pics posted earlier in this thread (P92). Latter is shown below. … Both have had reasonable use and finish has remained remarkably stable.


us Offline Alan K.

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Re: OPINELS
Reply #2780 on: February 21, 2024, 05:42:48 PM
Mineral oil is good, especially if you may be using that knife for food prep since mineral oil is non-toxic.


us Offline LoopCutter

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Re: OPINELS
Reply #2781 on: February 21, 2024, 07:51:04 PM
Any advice on maintenance for the carve your own handle no 8? I ordered one this weekend, and I'm wondering if I should stain it or oil it or something when I'm done whittling.
Here are so many options!

I am reshaping a N09, SS model.  My plans include to prize a neutral minwax finish, at least two coats.

I little while ago, FolderBeholder shared a recent purchase of TUNG OIL to apply to a few older wood handled traditional knives.

If Beech wood, the grain seems very tight, oil may not absorb, yet for the knives shipped to be carved, they maybe Maple or another wood that will be easier to work.   If Oak you may need to seal the raw wood first as the grain is very porous and can be difficult to obtain an even color. 
If I start and end the day above ground, it is a good day!

Hope yours is as good!

A SMART man always knows what to say!
   A WISE man knows whether or not to say it!!!


us Offline Aloha

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Re: OPINELS
Reply #2782 on: February 21, 2024, 08:15:42 PM
I made a beeswax/mineral oil preserver thats been pretty nice to use on wood and leather.  I can suggest something similar. 
Esse Quam Videri


us Offline JonesE

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Re: OPINELS
Reply #2783 on: February 22, 2024, 02:53:56 AM
So my handle redo project didn’t go as planned. The polyurethane that I used refused to kick off and harden. So after three coats and waiting a few days for nothing, I sanded the sticky mess off and started over. This time I am applying BLO thinned with mineral spirits. Thinning the BLO with mineral spirits will help the BLO to  penetrate into the wood.



As for the polyurethane I used, it was Varathane brand semi gloss. I think I just ended up with a bad batch. Normally, I pick up Minwax, but Home Depot didn’t carry it.


us Offline Aloha

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Re: OPINELS
Reply #2784 on: February 22, 2024, 05:41:10 PM
Bummer but glad it came off.  I've used BLO but I've not thinned.  I like the smell  :whistle:
Esse Quam Videri


us Offline JonesE

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Re: OPINELS
Reply #2785 on: February 22, 2024, 09:55:50 PM
Bummer but glad it came off.  I've used BLO but I've not thinned.  I like the smell  :whistle:

I will say Aloha, that I am on the opposite side of the fence and do not like the smell. Especially, when it gets into your clothes. The reason I am thinning the BLO is to get it to penetrate into the Beech in order for it to cure. Beech is pretty dense and the BLO will just stay on the surface, so thinning helps.


us Offline Aloha

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Re: OPINELS
Reply #2786 on: February 22, 2024, 11:57:49 PM
 :tu: I'm sure it'll be great once all done.
Esse Quam Videri


us Offline LoopCutter

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Re: OPINELS
Reply #2787 on: February 28, 2024, 10:18:53 PM
Two days away from the OPINEL CHALLENGE (3/01).

Any one here joining in?  If you are completing another challenge you can double post  two challenges to finish and start March 1 on time. Looks to be a great time!    🗡️🔪🪓⚔️


https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,90877.210.html
If I start and end the day above ground, it is a good day!

Hope yours is as good!

A SMART man always knows what to say!
   A WISE man knows whether or not to say it!!!


us Offline LoopCutter

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Re: OPINELS
Reply #2788 on: February 29, 2024, 06:45:47 AM
Just being a good MTo member!

Was forced to look up a Opinel No9 DIY model, been  :drool:  And on 1st look the two color options are now the same $.   $32.  In my future cart at 48.

Checked the Opinel US web site, same thing. Price now the same for two colors.   Mine is to arrive Friday😉
If I start and end the day above ground, it is a good day!

Hope yours is as good!

A SMART man always knows what to say!
   A WISE man knows whether or not to say it!!!


us Offline JonesE

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Re: OPINELS
Reply #2789 on: February 29, 2024, 11:30:20 PM
Just being a good MTo member!

Was forced to look up a Opinel No9 DIY model, been  :drool:  And on 1st look the two color options are now the same $.   $32.  In my future cart at 48.

Checked the Opinel US web site, same thing. Price now the same for two colors.   Mine is to arrive Friday😉

Congrats LC, looks interesting. Don’t forget to post pics when it arrives.

JonesE


 

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