(Baonghean.vn) - "The blade must be made from the steel of the car's claw to stay sharp for a long time...". That is the experience of Mr. Le Van Ky (Quan Minh hamlet, Nghia Tan commune, Nghia Dan district, Nghe An), one of the very few people who specialize in forging rubber tapping knives.
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| Having been working in the rubber tapping knife forging business for nearly 20 years, Mr. Le Van Ky said that although it is called a forging business, making rubber tapping knives is different, that is, not all types of steel can be used to make blades, but "it must be steel for car claws, especially IFA cars", because this type of steel is flexible and durable... |
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| To get the IFA car claws, Mr. Ky had to buy them from auto repair garages and scrap collection points. Then he had to work hard to turn the claws into blades, a process that required the worker to use his hands. |
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| And the next step is to use a grinder to get the right shape of the rubber scraper. |
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| Next is sharpening. This step requires the craftsman to have a real "profession" to recognize that the knife has reached the right sharpness through each sharpening step. |
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| After completing the blade, the process of making the handle is done. To have a sturdy handle, the wood selection must be very elaborate, it must be chosen so that it is not affected by termites, so the wood chosen to make the handle is mostly xoan wood. According to Mr. Ky, this is a type of wood that is both light and tight when the handle is inserted. |
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| The process of inserting the handle also requires a trick. A small hole is drilled at the tip of the handle, but the tail of the blade must be heated on a charcoal stove for a certain amount of time before inserting... |
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| Next, you must quickly place the handle in the correct position so that the heat of the steel is enough to burn the wood and also to cut it properly. |
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| There are two types of rubber tapping knives, including push knives and pull knives. |
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| Mr. Le Van Ky said that on average, he replaces 3-4 blades every day, priced at 80,000 VND/blade, and sells 1-2 new ones, priced at 200,000 VND/blade. In a month, he earns over 10 million VND. |
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| According to the comments of rubber tappers in the area, the reason Mr. Ky's rubber tapping knife is "in high demand" is because the knife is made from steel from car crab parts, so it stays sharper for longer during use, the knife tip is precise, ensuring it does not damage the tree trunk, the amount of latex tapped is greater, saving labor, bringing high economic efficiency. |
Dang Nguyen
