Ecart

Thanks for the kind words. Today was the viewing of the body. I got to hear from so many people just how much my father has impacted their lives. That really did me a lot of good. I am remembering things that were long forgotten now, memories that should never have been forgotten. But I rest in them and let them bring a smile to my face.

Hi sfduck, sorry I didn't see this sooner. Thank you for your care and concern. But on with an update. My father, George, passed away yesterday from pneumonia. I have lost a father, a hero and my best friend. But I know where he is and I'll see him again one day. Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers. I talked with him briefly, and told him that I was proud of him and proud to be his son and that I love him. He will always be with me. He was a special kind of person. Thanks, Ecart

I have to find another place to put the treated 4X4 posts that are going into my kids' new swingset. I need a hood on my new forge to draw the smoke out of the shop. Since I am just getting a good start at this, I need to come up with places to store tools and steel that I am not using and I need a good work table. But I will be moving within the year, so all of that is on hold until we get our new place.

Hi Garyleed, I'm still working on all of this myself, so I'll leave the answer to those more qualified to answer it. But I have family in Jax. I was born there myself, but was very young when we moved to NC. Just wanted to say welcome and I look forward to seeing how things progress with you as you grow in your skills. Eric

Oops! I can't believe I forgot about this! Thanks for the reminder, Glen. Hey, even if I don't win, I'd readily give $20 to the construction of their new shop. I may manage to give more. Who knows?

What a shameless plug!!! I'm going to check it out! ;)

Certainly not as dirty as coal either since the impurities are already burned out.

I have a Blazer you can take anything you like to as long as I can have the leaf springs. But I'm taking us off topic. The Seax is looking good. One day I'll have to try one.

Sam, that is very interesting. I knew what the SS stood for, but it is neat to see how you incorporated the idea of the river into it.

I was just wondering if the Jeep behind him was to be his test subject for that thing! Sam, I've been following the progress of this blade in various places that you have posted it. I have to say that it has come out nicely. I like the makers mark also and it has inspired me to think up a way to make my own for my projects. Your skill is improving all the time. Keep it up. Eric

Rain? What is this rain you speak of? We could really use some of that here in my part of NC. I am looking forward to trying my hand at a tomahawk or axe of some kind some time soon. I enjoy seeing what everyone else is putting out and I really want to do it too. Keep at it Steve and show us the results real soon.

Today I lit my new forge for the first time and used Pine charcoal that I made myself. It did about everything that I wanted it to and what it didn't do was probably my own fault as I am just learning to use it. But I can say this, the forge flees (sparks) were terrible and they bite hard when they land on a bare neck. But charcoal is easy enough to make if you have a supply of wood and the area to do it, a place where the neighbors aren't going to accost you for burning it.

I know this was aimed at Don A., but thanks for posting it, Bottomgottem. Asheville is only about 3 and a half hours from me. I haven't spent enough time in that part of the state. Once I get the extra cash, maybe I can take the family and we make a day trip of it and I can get some coal to bring back with me.

I just joined NC ABANA and that is the first question I asked our local chapter head. He said that there are a lot of guys like me who are asking the same question. We did get it from a guy an hour and a half west of here, but he retired and doesn't deal with it any more. So, we're stuck looking for a source for now.

Peyton, At least you've had success! Success has been a bit intangible for me so far, but that'll soon change. I like it. I can still recognize it around the haft, but it looks like you put a good blade on it. Is the back of it still functional as a hammer? If so, that would make a decent camp axe!

Thanks for the replies. It seems that to a certain extent that it is up to personal preference. Mandoro, I don't know about charcoal, but one of the best smelling woods we've ever burned in our woodstove is pecan. Evan, don't use briquets. You can get lump charcoal from Walmart or a hardware store and it would work fine. The advantage that I have over many is that the throw-aways from the planer mill where I work is considered trash and anyone can pick it up for free. But I had better get all that I can now because when the weather gets a bit colder, everyone will be grabbing up the wood for their fireplaces and woodstoves. Oh and by the way, I burned down some wood today when I got home and got a pretty good yield for the amount of wood that I used, I think. Maybe I can burn more down tomorrow and Friday. Also, the new forge is very close to finished!!!!

Well, I got a 55 gallon drum set up today after work and I have a pile of pine on my front porch just waiting to go into the drum. But I never asked, how small should I break up the charcoal when I use it? Should it be about the same size as coal?

Welcome Bottomgottem from just north of Raleigh! I can sympathize with getting stuck at the blacksmith sheds in various places. I do it at the state fair, at the renfaire, at Jamestown Settlement in VA, about anywhere I go. The wife and kids just say, "Um we're going to look at . . . " I say okay, but then forget where they said they are going because I wasn't really listening . Glad to have you aboard!

I bet the cedar goves off a good smell in the forge. :)

Thanks Monkeyboy. I'll check out Twin Oaks. There is a pallet mill pretty close by that we rely upon for our wood stove most of the time. I've considered getting hardwood from them for charcoal, but I think that pine will be fine for now.

Great! I can't wait to fire some of it up myself. But I still have to finish my new forge (it's real close) and make more charcoal so it will be worth my time to even light it. Don't have enough yet to really get started forging. BTW How small should I break up the charcoal?

The first batch was by accident really. Last night, my son and I camped out in the front yard. We set up the tent and about 8:30 PM we started the fire with kiln-dried pine that I got from the mill where I work. At around 11:30, I decided to douse the fire and go to bed. After the first bucket of water, I noticed what looked like some nice charcoal. This morning, I shoveled it out, washed it off and set it aside. Promptly, I started another fire and burned down the remainder of my wood. It's not the most efficient way, I'm sure, but I have to get my hands on a barrel before I can do anything different. Also, I would prefer to use hardwood, but since I am currently "cash challenged" with vacation next week, pine is free to me and there is plenty of it! Besides, hardwood goes into my woodstove to heat the house. Anyway, I'm so happy to be making some fuel for my forge that has been sitting idle for quite a while now.

Mark, welcome to IFI. That is a pretty knife. I hope I can put out that kind of work soon. Keep it up.

Right now, my shop is piled up with all sorts of stuff, including four treated lumber 4X4s for a non-shop related job for my kids. I'll clean it out soon. I'll HAVE to before I work in it.

That's an interestig piece of work. You usually see people pattern-welding the blade, not the handle. This is different and rather pretty. I like it.