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So far the welding is going good. I take it a little at a time. I doubled and welded it once last night for a total of 32 layers now. I'll do that twice more, then twist and forge it out. It'll be pretty small though. The billet is smaller than I intended. And yes, I'll post it when I'm done. Enough about my project. Yours is looking awesome! It looks like you got a nice tight twist in that bar. Can't wait to see the finished product.

That's really a cool project! I'm working on my first damascus bar at the moment. It started as 4 layers of lawn mower blade and 3/16"ish circular saw blade. It is up to 16 layers at the moment. It's a test to see how I am doing. It may look like trash, but we'll see. Anyway, I can't say what my favorite seax is yet because I haven't studied them enough to know. But I look forward to seeing what you come up with in this project!

It sounds like you met the saw filer! He can be a good source for you. I am a filer at a local mill. I only deal in bands though. Good steel there.

Once I get my shop closed in (pushing to have it done by winter) I'll be interested in a grinder. I'm interested in those shown in Wayne Goddard's $50 Knife Shop But I like looking at other plans to get some ideas. Thanks for the link.

I've got a piece of an old rasp sitting around. After I grind off some of the file teeth and check out the integrity to make sure it wouldn't fail on me, I was going to make a big knife or dirk out of it. Maybe I'll try a hawk or axe instead. You've inspired me, sir!

I'll have to try it like that next time.

Nice hawk! How do you apply the beeswax? I just finished a haft for an axe with beeswax. I melted it and applied with a rag and after it dried some I buffed it.

Well, I knew two things: 1) They didn't turn me in. 2) RR spike products fill plenty of posts in plenty of forums. If it was illegal to own them, then why haven't we all been busted? Thanks. That was what I thought, but I figured it was best to be safe. Eric

I've posted this in this forum because we all love to turn them into knives and hawks and such. But if this is the wrong place, please relocate it as the mods see fit. Anyway, I hauled off a load of steel today with the hopes of taking those funds and getting some 1095 and coal. In the haul were some railroad spikes. The guy refused to take them and told me it was a federal offense for me to even have them. I know that if you are caught on the tracks, you can be arrested for trespassing and I know that if you are caught pulling spikes out, you can be charged with saboutage, but I have never heard that it is against the law to have or even buy a RR spike. Has anyone else heard this?

HA! No. Several years ago when my daughter saw the "purple wood" at a woodworker's store, she wanted me to make her a purple bed. Not knowing better, I bought enough wood for the bed frame. Then I found out how hard it is and about its toxicity (though I find Cocobolo to be worse). So I still have a bunch of purpleheart laying around. I'll make something out of the wood for her room, but rest assured it won't be a bed!

The guy that is getting this one is supposed to be hanging it on his wall... But what if he doesn't. Good point. I'll have to do a search and study up on cutting the slot for wedging.

Here are a couple of axes I'm working on. The one that is not hafted is actually the first one I forged out. The second is a barter piece to a guy that is helping me get a gas forge up and running. These are forged from 16 oz claw hammers. They have Purpleheart hafts. Specs: The finished axe 19" long Head: 7" from horn tips to edge. Cutting surface: 2.5" Unfinished Axe: 7 1/4" Horn tip to edge Cutting surface: 2 3/16" I heat treated then edge quenched in veg oil. Two tempering cycles @ 400 degrees F. The horns are somewhat softer than the edge, but I like the idea that they are more springy. I tried to get pics of the eyes that I punched, but my photo skills stink and our camera is cheap. I am going to try to carve a design into the haft of the unfinished axe, but that should be a challenge. On to the pics: Thanks for looking. These are the first axes I've actually finished so ANY suggestions at all are welcome. Anything from the forging to HT to carving to hafting. Anything in the process. If you have any suggestions, I'm, open to them.

Thanks guys! I had camping and hiking in mind when I designed this knife. CG That's because the first one was ugly! It was a major accomplishment for me as a knife maker though. If I can find the pics, I may post it within this thread as a comparison. Hopefully everyone will be able to see some growth from the first attempt till now.

Hi folks. I've made about four knives of this particular style. Hopefully they have gotten better with each attempt. I know this one is much better than the first one I made, which I claimed for myself. This is the last of them. It is getting a little longer from here and she's getting bronze fittings. Anyway, here are some stats on the knife: OAL: 12" Blade Length: 6 7/8" Blade width: 1 3/8" just before the belly Blade thickness: ~ 3/16" Weight: 8.5 oz Forged from Circular saw blade steel. Heat treated then tempered at 425 Degrees F. Quenched in veg oil. Handle: Hand carved Cocobolo treated with several coats of Tung Oil and two coats of Butcher's paste wax. The fittings are mild steel. Peened through tang construction. Now a few pics: Oh, forgot to mention, she's for sale if you know of anyone who is interested.

Thanks for the replies guys. I'll have to give the Kwik-Polly a good look. It looks like it could do the trick.

Hi all, When I finish a handle, whether it is slabs or a hidden tang, I usually use several coats of tung oil. Lately I have tried to use two coats of 2 ton epoxy, lightly sanding between coats, then buffing the last coat. Not sure how it is working to seal the handles as I just started doing it. But now I'm faced with something new. I am making a hunting knife for myself and I'm coming close to making the handle slabs. The slabs will be made of cherry. But a few years ago for my birthday, a friend sent me some odd pieces of leftover petrified mammoth tusk to use as inlay. I figured this would be the perfect opportunity to use some of it! But how should I seal it to make sure the wood and the tusk are protected from the elements?

I'm near Louisburg, up in Franklin County. I've been near or through the towns you've mentioned. The new owner has seen the pics and completely loves it!

Thanks! Don't know why I couldn't think of "smith's knife" when I posted this. :rolleyes:

Okay, I really stink at posting pics on a forum, but here goes. This is a knife I forged from a log chain pin. It is for a soldier that is in Iraq at the moment. He in into primitive camping and wanted a rugged knife to carry out into the woods with him. I hope he likes it. Oh, and i hope you do too. First some stats: OAL: A hair over 11" Blade length: 5 3/4" Blade thickness: 1/4" at thickest point Blade width: 1 1/4" I only finished it to 220 grit. It hardened nicely in a veg oil quench. Now a pic or two: The spine That bulge doesn't show as much in person as it did in that pic. Hmm. The knuckle guard Comments are certainly welcome.

That's a really nice knife! I'm glad to know I'm not the only knifemaker who isn't happy with his work. Welcome to IFI. I'm on Don Fogg's site too...I just can't remember my screen name at the moment.

Save them and if you set up a table at a show somewhere, market them to kids as "dragon boogers." It may be a little more money toward your next coal purchase. It doesn't really work with my own kids anymore. They've learned me over the years.

That looks really good. What are the specs on that thing?

It's good to know I'm not hte only one to face these things. @ Macbruce too true.

I work with a guy who always "has something to say." We'll call him Ray. Ray's mouth has gotten him into some pretty stiff trouble at times. I know his life has been threatened once by a coworker and at least two others have threatened to catch him away from work and show him just who the man is. Ray has always shut up pretty shortly after that. So far after 9 1/2 years I have at least not heard anything he has said about me... until today. I forged out an axe head from a claw hammer that came off of its handle. I'll be posting it once it is completely done. I showed it to the guys at work. Well it gets back to me that Ray said he found an axe exactly like it beside the road one day (implying that I didn't make it). I told the guy to informed me that this isn't a new idea and others make them, so I suppose it's possible. But if or when it comes up again, I will tell Ray to put his money where his mouth is and come to my forge or shut up about it. That's not the way to handle everyone, but it's the only thing that works with Ray. When I get the, "I can get a knife at Walmart for $30." I usually say, "Okay, if you want a piece of stainless steel trash with plastic handles that is one of a million produced every day, go ahead. But if you want a custom, one of a kind knife with a high carbon steel blade and exotic wood handle, come see me."

:lol: