Marlin Spike

[@ScoutCrafter]

Ben- This video is much more helpful then you can imagine. This is literally where the fun comes in. First off a hot shop is the first thing to dampen your enthusiasm, that is why all summer I have been dragging a$$ in the shop trying to last an hour before I say "screw this" =D - Lets evaluate the project. A marlin spike is just an awesome tool to make and have, a great idea for that DOA ratchet and good practice in the shop. The fact that the ratchet was hardened makes getting it down to a point the challenge. When ever you are trying to remove that much stock from a hardened shaft you have to go mid-evil on it. The flap discs and sanding belts are great for smoothing but you need heavy stock removal and for that the best things are the Coarse Grinding stone on your bench grinder and Grinding disc on the angle grinder. The key is to have plenty of water for cooling off the part as it will get hot so frequent dunks are imperative to keep the temper. Once you get close to a point you can smooth out the rough finish with flap and beep sanders. Now- If you were in a hurry and were feeling adventurous you could use the cut-off wheel to rough out a tip like if you were sharpening a big pencil with a utility knife. It requires a keen eye and patience but it is much faster to rough out a point with the cut-off wheel and then use the grinder to get to close and finish off with the belt sander... You definitely got this... Looking forward to part two!!!!!

[@lewiemcneely9143]

2nd this.

[@mrbenmall]

Thanks for the response. I may try a bench grinder. I tried the angle grinder with grinding wheel and it wasn't hogging it out either. I don't care if it loses its temper. But for now, I gotta step away from it.

[@ihrescue]

Good ideas ScoutCrafter and excellent positive comments.

[@erikbell8259]

Ben, I like your honest approach to your projects..I enjoy them no matter how things may turn out. You always leave me with a smile 😊

[@mrbenmall]

Thank you Erik!

[@357magdad]

You could probably turn that incomplete marlin spike into a pretty handy drift pin without too much more work...

[@mrbenmall]

I'm going to have to look up what that is. THanks!

[@tonylenge424]

Well , I for one am glad you did the video because I never saw a small three jaw chuck! I think that would be very useful and I am going to look for one. Thanks

[@mrbenmall]

Thanks Tony. Heres the link: www.amazon.com/dp/B092M54CLJ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

[@AndyB1968]

Ben, your honesty is commendable, I’m with Scoutcrafter tho, his comments nailed it 👍🏻

[@mrbenmall]

Thank you Andy!

[@joeheilm]

Lol...that is such a relatable video. I recently started doing my intro after i am done....there are just too many ways that things can get off track. I found myself wasting time trying to make a project match my crappy/incorrect intro. Anyway, i love the mini chuck. And no doubt a sandpaper folks are hoping you start some sort marlin spike trend. Cheers

[@mrbenmall]

LOL. I feel validated. Thanks Joe!

[@paulhurst4239]

We always learn something. And taking a useless item and transforming it is always a worthy attempt.

[@mrbenmall]

Might finish it one day. Thanks Paul

[@shedmanx3640]

I thought halfway through the video, “I bet he wishes he never started this”. Can’t blame you mate. It’s a bugger of a job hogging out that much hardened steel. Like you said, chuck it in the back of the shop and come back to it when you are ready. I have half finished jobs like that too. I eventually get back to them. Sometimes I do a bit more, get sick of it and chuck it back in the cupboard for another year. I philosophy is, I work in the shed to enjoy what I’m doing and unwind. If I’m not having fun, I put it aside. Great video mate and I love your honesty.

[@mrbenmall]

Thanks Shed Man!

[@ianjones7394]

Ben. We've all started projects full of enthusiasm only to find things don't go as we planned and we ideally need eqipment/facilities we don't have. I admire the fact you still post your videos when things don't go as intended. I always look forward. to, and enjoy your postings. Thank you.

[@mrbenmall]

Thank you Ian. Glad you like my vids!

[@johnsullivan6560]

I like rope work, so was hooked by the Marlin spike. Seeing how you approached this, I thought that this would be slow grinding down hardened tool steel. I guess I was right.

[@mrbenmall]

Yes indeed!

[@wadel6]

You don't know till you try. You learned what doesn't work. Now its figuring out what does. I still enjoyed watching the first half of your marlin spike video. Can't wait for "the rest of the story!".

[@mrbenmall]

Thanks Wade!

[@OldSneelock]

Hi Ben. Sucks when it doesn't work out the way you want it to. I have a bench full of projects that are in progress. No one knows how they are going because the video hasn't been released yet. I may not be following protocol, but it is my channel and I set the protocol. 😁😎 Having said that I can see something that might help with the speed of the process of removing metal from the marlin spike. While you were grinding and sanding using the drill and chuck to spin the marlin spike you were running the drill in the normal "forward" direction. Let's call it right handed. The part is turning counterclockwise looking at the chuck end of the drill. While you were grinding on the different belts you were working on the normal right hand side of the machine. Since the belts are turning while the drill is turning, on one side of the belt the part is actually spinning so the part is running slower in relation to the belt than if you were on the other, or left hand side of the machine. You were still making sparks just not as many as if the part was turning the other way. Sorry about the wordy explanation but it was something I learned the hard way many years ago doing something similar to what you are doing. When I use to work for a living I had access to machine shops and tool rooms. Giant machines and skilled people who ran them that would amazing things in minutes, that would take days at home with my hand tools. I have been slowly adding equipment to my shop so I can do bigger jobs faster. Not sure what town you live in. There might be someone near you that has bigger equipment that you could borrow. If you lived next door, or even the next town over, I would have you over and we could turn the marlin spike on the South Bend and be done in an hour. Still could do that, but it will involve mailing, or shipping the part. Happy to do that if it will help. Working in a shop that is too hot, or too cold, is not fun. As I get older it gets harder. You have my sympathy.

[@mrbenmall]

That is very nice of you to offer. I think I will try to tackle it (with yours and other good advice) down the road. :)

[@robertlevine2152]

Ben, When you start doing part 2 you need to look at the rope you will be splicing. If you want to splice wire rope hardness and temper will be very important. You don't want the wire strands scoring the spike, turning into a file. If you are splicing natural or synthetic lines, hardness is not as important. At the same time you don't want the spike to become brittle. In any csse you don't necessarily want the spike to come to a sharp point. Remember, as you place the end of the spike into the rope you don't want to damage the strands, or the fibers. Another thing that may make your job a little easier is that marline spikes are often curved making it easier to slip between the strands. The spikes I have on my knives all have a curve to them. Good luck. Bob

[@mrbenmall]

Thank you Bob. I'm not sure I will ever use it. Just a project for fun. But that is good information to consider.

[@robertlevine2152]

@@mrbenmall Ben, Try it for fun. Use three strand rope. Braided rope is way too hard. A simple project is make some ropes for binding and hanging things like hoses and extension cords. Splice an eye on one end. Cut a 3/4" dia. dowel about 2" long. Drill a hole large enough to pass the rope through, in the center of the dowel. Now pass the rope through the dowel and splice the rope. You can now use the eye and the dowel to hold your hose or extension cord. One trick when splicing is to wrap the ends of the three strands with tape to keep them from unraveling. You also want to wrap the rope at the place where you want to separate the three strands. This keeps the strands from sepsrating as you start your splice. The marlin spike is used to separate the strands for making the splice. It takes a few tries to get the hang of it. Don't feel bad if the splices don't look so good at first. It takes practice. Bob

[@johnramey7190]

Love your stuff Ben. You are like the 99% of that don't have everything figured out. Sometimes you just have to punt.

[@mrbenmall]

Thanks John!

[@troon5488]

…and, of course there are a whole lot of us thinking: “ I wonder where he got that chuck for his drill.”

[@mrbenmall]

www.amazon.com/dp/B092M54CLJ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

[@357magdad]

I like that mini chuck! I may have to look into one of those!

[@mrbenmall]

It's kinda great. www.amazon.com/dp/B092M54CLJ?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

[@wingnutsworkshop]

Be careful, 357. You already have one little Chuck who may get jealous!

[@billmccabe9601]

Hi Ben...thanks for Welcoming us to your channel. Just a thought, lock that Marlin Spike in your machinist vise and try your angle grinder with a cut off wheel? After you get a chisel style point, just keep rotation till the tip gets you close to what you like. Then grind on...etc.

[@mrbenmall]

Thanks Bill. I still might work on it.

[@bigvicsworkshop]

Man Mr. Ben that looked like a lot of work... but that "Thang" is pretty slick! I'll have to look into that.... always great viewing one of your videos, period! Thanks for sharing!!

[@mrbenmall]

Thanks Vic!

[@williamcarroll3807]

Ben, I hope you come back to the spike soon. The finished product will be great.

[@mrbenmall]

Done, William. Thanks!

[@Resto-Rob]

I have been in your spot before. I do like the chuck you have. Let us know where you got yours. That look like something I need. Thanks Ben!

[@mrbenmall]

Thanks Rob. Here's the link: www.amazon.com/dp/B092M54CLJ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

[@ProvinceOfPosen]

The length of time to make one would not have been on my mind either. Maybe in the future have a part 2 and 3. Good luck.

[@mrbenmall]

Thanks PoP.

[@jackthompson2132]

You always have great videos Ben. You can work on it a little at a time when you out in your shop and show us the results when it’s done. Thank You for sharing this video.

[@mrbenmall]

Thanks Jack!

[@wingnutsworkshop]

Challenging project. With the hardened steel of the ratchet handle, maybe someone can offer ideas to heat it to loose its temper so the process could be easier. Retempering is relatively easy.

[@mrbenmall]

Oh I didn't think of that. Yes it probably is tempered. Thanks!

[@enriquemendoza8650]

Waiting for part 2. If at 1st you don't succeed, try, try again. Love the trial and error.

[@mrbenmall]

Thanks Enrique!

[@Traderjoe]

Sometimes this happens to me too, and I just don’t bother recording things now as much

[@mrbenmall]

Thanks Joe.

[@tchiggz9206]

Ben try keeping it chucked in the drill and spin on the bench grinder.

[@mrbenmall]

I may try that. Thanks Tc.

[@kylekyleson373]

I don't know what a Marlin spike is, I guess I will have to look it up. But I enjoy watching shop work anyway so it's still entertaining. Thanks for the content.

[@mrbenmall]

Thanks Kyle. I think it's tool used for untying ropes.

[@rickhammar1636]

Well I'm sorry that didn't work out for you Ben. I have several old broken foreign made ratchets & I thought that seemed like a good idea to repurpose a couple. I think I'm gonna steal this idea & give it a try.

[@mrbenmall]

Thanks Rick. Good luck!

[@richardmalone1986]

I always enjoy your videos. Would a bench grinder speed things up? I like the little 3 jaw chuck, never knew they came so small.

[@mrbenmall]

Thanks Richard. I didn't either. Glad I found it.

[@Uwannawatch]

Man you just keep doing what you do, everybody has a different approach to a project and there is no way of knowing how it'll turn out. .you showed a different way of doing something and real results and a concept of time.there for it was educational. and as some one who has lost a lot of items off the buffer or sander it was nice seeing some else do it to.😆 keep up your good work.

[@mrbenmall]

Thank you!

[@Rusty_ok]

I want one of those little lathe chucks. Did I miss your source?

[@mrbenmall]

Here ya go... www.amazon.com/dp/B092M54CLJ?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

[@toolscarriagesmodellbauand7246]

Now I knew what a Marlin Spike is.And for that reason along iz was worth to watch your video. Thanks, Ben.

[@mrbenmall]

Thanks!

[@jamesretired5979]

Keep piddlin Ben we will be here

[@mrbenmall]

Thanks James.

[@lotsabirds]

There's an old song....even though it was sung in cartoons by either daffy duck or Sylvester the cat...(I don't remember which one)...anyway...the song is...You never know where you're going til you get there! That's like this project. When I get an old horn to restore, I have no idea what challenges might lay ahead. Some take a few hours, some take a month! It all depends! In any case, I always look forward to your videos, no matter what happens! Have fun, Ben!

[@mrbenmall]

Thanks Bill. Nice of you to say.

[@timeflysintheshop]

Oh come on. The grinder wheel was making good progress. Use the stanley vice to hold it in four positions and give it heck with the grinder until its pointy. Make sure you are using a grinder wheel and not a cutoff wheel! Then use the grinder to knock off the four corners so you have eight flats. Then go at with a flap disk. Then use the holder and drill against the belt to round it out and your golden. YOU CAN DO IT!

[@mrbenmall]

Good advice. I might go back to it. Right now I gotta step away. But things are starting to cool off. That always good shop time.

[@rawbacon]

I'm wondering if this failure is my fault, I made a Marlin Spike from a ratchet and wonder if I didn't make that comment............Oh well at least you got a Nice New LATHE out of it.......

[@mrbenmall]

Or a chuck, anyway. Thanks RB

[@garypannone7755]

This really was a great video and you feel the same way we all do. Sometimes we walk away think and start fresh the next day ane everything goes smooth.

[@mrbenmall]

Thank you Gary.

[@MrDoeboy356]

Man where did you get that Chuck?

[@mrbenmall]

www.amazon.com/dp/B092M54CLJ?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

[@larryborkstrom3580]

Well Ben lots of time I just wing it lots of times it successfully done got to try some new things it's always fun in the shop

[@mrbenmall]

Thanks Larry!

[@ihrescue]

I am in the process of having an electrician install a 220 volt circuit and I will install a MrCool 18,000 BTU Mini Split heat pump in my garage. I don't mind moderate heat or cold whole working but the extremes are a turn off and I can't stand not being able to tinker.

[@mrbenmall]

I had planned to buy an AC unit this summer, but then my computer went kaput. So the AC will have to wait. THanks Michael!

[@Maidrite1960]

Ben, don't be disappointed we all have done things that didn't go the way we wanted them to at least you will have a nice punch out of it. Where did you find the lathe head and what's the cost if you don't mind me asking? Link would be bonus. Thanks

[@mrbenmall]

www.amazon.com/dp/B092M54CLJ?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

[@mrbenmall]

Thank you James!

[@Maidrite1960]

@@mrbenmall Thanks Ben for the link 😊

[@isabellaandsophia7527]

We need a part 2!!!

[@mrbenmall]

It could happen. Thanks Isabella and Sophia

[@paintnamer6403]

I have a knife project that I put away for a few years.

[@mrbenmall]

Thanks Paintnamer (I have zero knife skills)

[@stevenb.182]

Don't sweat the fact that it's taking longer than you think that it should. Work on it, in between other projects, and return to show us the finished project, once your are done with it !!! It will become "Marlin Spike - Part Two - Ben's Triumph" !!!

[@mrbenmall]

Thanks Steven!

[@ttfweb1]

Maybe your making a large punch! Nice video.

[@mrbenmall]

Thanks Ttf!

[@Dino_Buk]

Use a file instead when you spin it.

[@mrbenmall]

Might try that. Thanks Dino!

[@lewiemcneely9143]

No problem but just put a grinding disc on the grinder, take it down close to being done and then finish it out with the others. Keep it cool like John said. Then look out ropes! BLESSINGS!

[@mrbenmall]

Thanks Lewie!

[@GeorgeWMays]

HaHa. I totally get it. This is supposed to be fun, and, when it sucks, it's just time to rethink things. What was that running joke on Car Talk about Mr. Heavy Duty? Every thing had to be heavy duty. Well, here you go. You just need something more heavy duty to take that shaft down. Ideas are appreciated....

[@mrbenmall]

Thanks George!

[@DeeegerD]

Try a file :)

[@mrbenmall]

I might. THanks Digger

[@MeNanWazaHowitzer]

Real slow start bro i was able to google what a marlin spike is and what its used for in 60 seconds and your still in an intro, start with what it is what it does and then how you are going to make it