Mike Turner

Welcome Ernie from So. Oregon.

Bill very nice package

I would say stay away from cast iron. Depends on how much money you have to spend on an anvil. Farrier anvils make good starter anvils and may get one used at a shoeing supply.

I agree the refractory brick forge and mapps gas would be the your best bet and would also be cheap to do.

Julian the damascus is my own, was not what i was trying to achieve but turned out well anyway. the blade is 208 layers of 15N20 and 1084 that I upset drew it out then cut into 7 pieces and re stacked, drew it out again the same way. Glad ya like it.

Jens, Thank you for the gracious comment. I have enjoyed your work for sometime myself. Ted, Thank you Ted I still have a lot to learn with the knife making but I do have a huge head start on most that come into it, I really enjoy talking with all the guys in the chat. I too learn talking with everyone there and I am glad that I can contribute to the community. I had drawn several knives before I came to rest on this design, I like it so much that I have made it one of my stock patterns and will call it my standard hunter. It feels really good in the hand. I am sure this will be a great performer in the field.

I have seen it in Enco's catalogue Enco - Guaranteed Lowest Prices on Machinery, Tools and Shop Supplies Will this do?

Hi all here is a Stag Hunter that I am just about done with. http://www.iforgeiron.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/3055/ppuser/1159

I have not welded copper with a mig or tig but have welded aluminum, stainless, and steel with both, and the tig just makes a cleaner weld, also less warping. I am sure that it would be just as well on the copper.

Glenn when I was welding for a living we had quick disconnects we had leads from 20' to 100' long. It was like a pigtail at the machine was very nice. I would go to your local weld shop they could set you up.

Thomas, Boy the farriers in your area work cheap, only $20 more than a smith . When I was shoeing in California I started at $200 and had a few that where almost $500.

Michael, Hoof nippers in my oppinion would make terrible tongs. They have to much carbon and will likely break on you from quenching. All the nippers I have seen are drop forged which leaves a cast looking line around them, the better nippers have all that cleaned off. do you have any pics that would help to identify what you have.

Whats the difference?:D

Nice looking knives, is the Damascus your own? What are the steels? How about a shot of the file work?

Are you using a hood? If not increase your distance from your structure. If so you can put a piece of hardware cloth at the top of your chimney.