ok folks lets hear some reports on the rolling mills
how well do they work? what changes would you
make if you made another one?

In well over two years of using one now I would change absolutely nothing. I thought of simplifying by leaving out the hand lever but I can now roll really close tapers to tang and blade (distal) and for economy of metal and time I just cannot see how there can be a better way. No nees for more than 1hp motor or 20rpm on 2"rollers.

Could you post a pic of your roll mill?
It sounds like a fun tool.

Ditto. Is this a forger's tool? Sorry I'm so naive!

Sounds like you are happy with your rolling mill. Two of us are making them. Please shead some light on hand lever you spoke of, I only knew of a foot lever. There seems to be several of us wanting to know more. Please post more info, or e-mail me. Thanks

Jim sent the pictures to me and Pat posted them for us.

-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Steele
Sent: Monday, July 09, 2001 9:01 AM
To: ccmw@centercross.com
Subject: Roller

Hi Gene,
I'm not much on these computer things, more of a people kind of guy I guess. My roller is one of the first two production ones made in Oz by Hugh MacDonald as written up in Blade mag last year. The will in my opinion do for damascus what Ford did for motoring. Hope the pix work. Go Well,
Jim.

http://www.centercross.com/tooltime/RollersNoDrive.jpg

http://www.centercross.com/tooltime/Rightwheels.jpg

http://www.centercross.com/tooltime/WheelsMotor.jpg]

http://www.centercross.com/tooltime/Hotrolling.jpg

Geno and Jim, thanks for the pics. Jim, I assume the hand lever you mentioned in a previous post is to the left of the red hot billet?? What is its purpose? Is its function to reopen the rollers? I know the foot lever is used to apply pressure to the billet and it can also be used to open the rollers with a bit of foot work.

The hand lever operates independently of the foot lever and on a seperate cam. It provides both a quick "rough" adjustment or with a tiny bit of practice the best possible distal tapers to handle or blade. Full plans/working drawings are available so don't feel the need to re-invent the wheel so to speak. I would reallyt like to hear from anyone outside Australia who has made or uses a roller for knifemaking.

Where can a copy of the plans be found? Thanks