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Thanks for sharing that imagedude. One thing that is hardest on my father is for me to see him this weak. He has always been strong and able. Now he has to stand back and let me take the lead. Although I am in my late thirties, he still remembers the little boy that idolized him and had to have his help. Now he's the one needing help and it's hard on him.

All too often we get the idea that we are the only one facing things like this, but then we get reminded that there are plenty of people who know our pain because they have already been there. Thanks welder19.

Thanks for the prayers and advice. We are spending vacation together this year. Mom and Dad live in Georgia now but when Dad was growing up here in NC, he spent a lot of time at White Lake. We did not know that when we started checking into vacationing there. He is excited about going and it is supposed to be between his treatments. But if it turns out that he can't go, then we'll go to their house instead. Either way, I'll make certain to throw him in the truck and take him for a ride or something to spend some special time with him. I haven't given up hope yet, but I also have enough common sense to prepare for the worst. It's kind of a strange place to be. When I talk about it with my wife, I get speechless (which rarely happens ). She asks what I am thinking or feeling and I really can't tell her. I really don't know. It's not easy to sort through everything.

Thanks for the prayers and the tips. I called today and Dad is doing a lot of sleeping now. I think I'll mention the damp towel idea. Yeah, each parent has their own special place in our lives and hearts.

Hi. My father has been battling cancer for 5 years now. At first, there were many ups, but within the past year, it has all turned into downs. He has started chemotherapy and has started losing his hair now. This is taking its toll on him and he is getting very depressed. This scares me because I'm afraid that he is about to lose his will to live. Just pray for the best. Eric

That file-work is impressive. Keep it up Tek.

Again, good thinking on the table. If I ever get my new forge up and running, it is going to have a sizeable work space where I can put oft-used tools within arm's reach. I imagine I'll have to retrain myself NOT to go on a goose chase for tools that should be right there. Looking good so far.

Or you could be blessed enough to work at a sawmill that is throwing out some logging cable. I got probably 50 feet of 3/4" wire rope from work one day. Probably half of it was new and they were just going to throw it out because they had gotten what they wanted out of it. If there are loggers in your area, see if they have any old cable. But they may be less likely to throw it out as the others that have been mentioned. As for welding it up, I am on the other end of the spectrum from JPH. I have put mine through several welding heats and still have parts that are not welded very well yet. Hope you fall somewhere between the two of us, hopefully more toward his end of the spectrum. ;)

Thanks for the tip on plow steel. I'll check the ones that I have to see what I've got my hands on.

Maybe, and it's not the dirt that worries me, it's the thick slabs of rust that it was covering. I think it is causing me some problems. I may take another plowshare (I have a few) and grind it down to remove rust before I work with it this time.

Yeah, I found out about the noise factor. And the slag etc. . . It can be quite hot when it hits you too. Of course I don't think the pieces that I am welding are as clean as they should be either. I mean after all, it spent its entire former life being dragged through the dirt.

:) That actually makes sense. I have worked with nickel babbit at work and I know that water will do the same thing if it falls into it. Except then you could be wearing the babbit. Not my favorite piece of attire.

Today after church, I went out to clear my head and do some thinking. I felt like beating on some hot steel would help me work out frustration. A few days ago I welded together the end of two pieces of a plowshare and wanted to work them into a small axe. I decided that I needed to weld some more of the piece. So I heated it to a cherry red and fluxed with Borax. There was some water on the anvil. I heated the piece to welding heat and took it to the anvil. I struck it the first time and it gave a loud "POP" like a lightbulb exploding. Slag flew everywhere. The weld didn't take but I nearly took to flying when it popped! So, with the info I have given, what did I do wrong? All I know is that it scared the daylights out of me for a moment.

I do good just forging something around 1/2"-3/4" around. I can't imagine the heat this thing put off while you were working it. I was wondering what it is for also.

I am a saw filer in a pine mill. The steel they are using in bandsaw blades these days is 15N20 usually made by Uddeholm in Sweden. And yes, it is very good for knife blades. Soon, I'm going to experience with combining several layers of it with a couple of old files, also from work, and see what kind of blade I come up with.

I may set mine aside for a while until I get more experience. I think I'll work on some cable I just cut up this week. I am happy to say though that the mass of chain that I have collected around work has grown into a pretty good pile against the wall of my shop (Apprenticeman, in answer to your earlier question that I didn't see until now). Some of it is different sized. I found a short piece that is only the size of a bicycle chain. I might work on it tomorrow just to get a feel for it. Good idea or bad idea?

Glad I came across this thread. I have reclaimed some roller chains from the sawmill where I work, just in case they were suitable for knives. I guess I have my answer! Now, I've got to see if I can get my hands on more of it (okay, I admit it, I'm a pack rat).

That's a nice forge ya got there! Makes me jealous because I've been trying to get a new forge up and running for some time now. But now you have to show us the fine work you put out with it.

Hello, I just signed on and am glad to be here. I have had a small homemade forge for over a year now, and have done some work on it, but I am working on a bigger new forge wrapped around a Champion 400 blower and firepot that I bought off of a guy at work some time ago (got it for a steal too ). I have enjoyed my experience in the forge so far, and now I look forward to getting to know you here and learning from you. I am interested in making items for outdoors/camping as our family loves to camp. I am also interested in knives and other sharp objects. Anyway, glad to be here and hope to enjoy my stay.