RainsFire

^^very clever lol.. I would love to see some pictures of it anyway..

lure lure lure

none I'm proud of apprenticeMan.. I think you probably remember those times right? er maybe not.. I dunno but ya, there not something I would want to flaunt.. I'm going to dig up the digital camera pretty quick though and snap a few pictures of a blade I've been working on recently that I'm rather proud of... mainly because It didn't shatter in the hardening proccess..

I think salt water would do the trick right? I just break the ice.. not a big deal, its pretty much 30' constantly here right now..

they work wonders for damascus, and probably really thin things like fillet knives I guess, but other than that thats a bit thin for anything. I'de snag em, never know what a big whippy sharp thing comes in handy for.. I've made a few really small carving knives out of them.. but again, there really thin..

I was just thinking, It would be kinda cool to format some sort of freelance knife making competition.. There would have to be set limitations to make judging possible, and to make it possible for more novice knifesmiths (like myself) to compete on the same level as the resident master bladesmiths. or maybe have different catagories and levels of competition to enter in.. or I dunno, I suppose its up to the forum, but I would certainly like to participate in something small scale like this. we certainly have enough interested people on this forum. we could have groupings for beginners, mediocre, and advanced.. but all with the same blade design restrictions.. example restrictions: size, steel type, possibly an offered knife design to make our own, temper line no/yes.. whatever.. I think size would probably be the biggest one.. the rest are somewhat petty.. anyway, I cant think super clearly right now so I'm probably missing something major here, but I would really like to see this happen.. so ya, Glenn, is it possible? Knife smiths would you be into entering? Please post some suggestions.. its getting really late and im starting to repeat myself..so ya. -Kenon

Amateur had to think about it for a bit.. nice blade!! what did you use for the grinding bit? coil spring is a bugger to work with sometimes.. Its nice cheap rod once its straightened out.. but straightening stinks!! It'll be nice to see it finished, I'll have my first "real" blade up in the next week or so..

heh, I dunno if you guy's have thought of this.. but maybe thermite could be more properly applied for drilling holes. are there any ceramics that can contain it? or is it way to xxxx hot?

thats probably the point..

well, I suppose I started at a bonfire with my family, and a straightened coat-hanger for marsh mellows heated to red at the tip, I had a slice of railroad track my deceased grandfather used to straighten nails (hardcore furniture man.. so I dont really see why he needed nails, but to each his own I guess..) and a flat uncleated claw hammer to mess with.. I'de take needle nose pliers and make scrolls and flatten them into decorative little brands. Still fun to do every once in a while or on a cold night.

hmn, thats interesting. I've kinda built up a deep fire with brick, but Its difficult to get the charcoal on top to heat.. and when I do the bottom has been consumed and it gets to be a bit of a cycle.. I'll try and make a new forge thats deeper some time this week and try that.. but I dunno. I'm sure its possible.. I mean, so many people have done it before me..

I think it probably still is controllable.. I mean, the railroad does it right? It might not yeild high carbon steel, but it would certainly do some sort of fusing..

wow, thats intense.. I'm suprised there arn't alot of restrictions ect.. like on the fertilizer bombs that were so popular before.. this is certainly a dangerous medium, and it woud be teribble to be taken by suprise by a reaction..

He wevt ti the farb he went to the farm.. erm, I see the inside of my eyelids.. he was being a little sarcastic I think..

my fleas are insane!! I find that they kinda burn off though as the charcoal is consumed.. so I tend to rake in charcoal from the sides if I'm trying to avoid them.. I cant get a fire deep and hot enough to weld 1/2in rod onto its self.. so any suggestions would be lovely, I'm using a rivit forge with firebrick stacked in a square'ish shape.. and a hand blower.. yup, I'm trying to crank out some damascus.. it seems like that first weld was the only one that worked..

lol.. optimist.. its all in the math!! otherwise railroads would be vaporized.. but there not :D

wow, I didnt know you could make it so easily.. is it really only powdered alum and iron oxide? I wonder if you could get a bloom using this stuff.. that'd be kinda cool, probably low carbon content but still..

Its really cool as is, but because everyone else seems to be making small suggestions.. I think it would be kinda cool if you blasted a thin line inbetween the two legs. it could be straight or a little curvy either way.. yup, pretty!

ya, thats true.. I wasn't really thinking, there are many many styles of blades and technique.. good link!

right, thanks glenn.. I just get kinda tired of some of the repetitive negativities that show up every once in a while.. I searched for the wrong key words I guess.. thanks.

really that post didnt help now did it? obviously I have done searches, I searched all the blueprints, and did a few google searches, I've gon through the elliscustom page a few times, and have asked a friend of ours for his design.. no, I have not looked in people magazine.. but thank you for your witty sarcasm.. I find that you apprenticeman, post incredibly un-helpfull posts with the sole purpose to down talk and infuriate their target.. so ya, thankyou once again.. anyway, thanks to the rest of you for real.. I'm going to try and base one off of the ellis custom page forced air burners.. Does it really help to have a verticle forge to reach welding temp?

hmn, thats interesting.. I guess I'll have to try one then, what do you guys reccomend for the "blower" portion? I'de like to assemble it tomorrow, so if something like an airmattres inflator, or hairdryer would work, that would be awesome.. thanks guys.

I honestly haven't found to many good designs for a blown burner either.. but I really would prefer a nice silent venturi blower.. either way I want to melt some steel.. I thought I had it solved too.. I'm just looking back on it again and really want to build something I can rely on instead of my ghetto rig that I currently use.. It seems to get to just below welding temp.. which infuriates me maybe I'll set it up for my beginner friend or something so he doesnt ever burn steel..

I am looking for a good design of a venturi driven blower that I can reach welding temp with easily.. this is mainly for making damascus so ya, It needs to be hot.. I've looked at the ones in the Blueprints, but they don't really look like an improvment over the one I have.. which leaves alot to be desired. anyway, anything would be helpful.. I've checked out the reil blowers.. and dont feel like burning the cash on a t-rex one.. but ya, thanks guys. immages of your personal blowers would be more than helpful if you feel so inclined.. Happy thanksgiving!!

very cool, I like the themes of your damascus knives.