Ratel10mm

Hi Basher. So, where are you planning to put it? Will it take over from your main hammer, or will it go in the lecture shed?

G.day Calala, and welcome to IFI. You guys must be the ones my in-laws told me about seeing on their way back from Tamworth this year. Mike, not personally but there is a member of Laventrix who bought one & seems pleased with it (although he hasn't posted recently so no update). He did say that they arrive as cast & so need some finishing. They seem a pretty good price, especially when compared to the price of anvils on fleabay.

Happy birthday Frosty, hope it was fun. :)

I can't see anything to improve, they're superb!

Hi Davs, what's wrong with Queensland then? (Don't answer that Dale!)

Wow! Nice work mate.

First, welcome to IFI. Second, please add yourself to Dale's list of Aussie smiths on the Oz Roll call thread, I know he'd appreciate it. http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/f8/oz-roll-call-7380/ Third, talk to Double_edge2, he knows pretty much all there is to know about charcoal & coke supplies in the Brissie area. Fourth, may I recommend you check out the thread for the ABA(QLD)? You'll be welcome at the meets - next one is pencilled in for the 19th. Dec at D_E2's place. http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/f30/un-official-qld-group-b-qld-i-dub-thee-14910/

Very, very nice. The wood really compliments the blade I think.

ah, there you are! Hi mate, see you at Mike's?

Welcome to IFI. Would your surname be Littlewood by any chance?

Hmm. Better get the legs fixed on the forge then. :)

Lovely piece, welcome to IFI. :)

Thanks for the update. It's good to hear he may have gotten away with minimal or no brain damage. :)

This stuff caught my interest when it appeared on the New Inventors TV show last year: Quietwave on New Inventors It seems very cheap, & is fire retardant too! :)

Sorry to hear that Rob. Isn't it illegal to have no insurance? I hope the @*T*## is being done by the cops!!

Hello Owen! Good to see you here mate. :)

We had a lot of fun! Thanks very much indeed to Glenn for hosting it, Dale for twisting Glenn's arm, and everyone else who made it a great weekend.

What an absolutely brilliant idea! And as you say, artistic in their own right as well. May I borrow the idea?

Bonjour Stephane, and welcome to IFI. Nice bit of France you live in, too.

Welcome to IFI Plaidpaint. No doubt I'll see you at DE2's next month. Moony has a get together this weekend, but it's probably too late notice since it's the far side of Sydney: http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/f13/get-hammered-moonys-6559/ Also, stick yourself up in this thread: http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/f8/oz-roll-call-7380/ as dale will appreciate it. :)

Yep, it was a heck of a good day. It was nice to meet everyone, swap information, and so forth. Cracked, I had my anvil in the car, in case it was needed. Next time I'll get it out, and try to bring my forge too. As you say, any more peeps working instead of jawing & it'd have been tight. Thanks a lot Mike, looking forward to next month already! :D

xxxx, beaten to it Dale! lol. Welcome to IFI Noggin. What was it like to learn at G-B? I wasn't aware they ran courses, but am aware of thier excellent products.

That makes at least 3 of our trade on the site now. Welcome to IFI. Basically, once you've decided on forging or stock removal (grinding away anything that doesn't look like the knife you want), decide on your material (the leaf spring you intend to use will work for either method) as that will dictate - many modern steels aren't good for forging as I understand it. Now either forge or grind your stock into a knife shape. Leave about 1mm at the edge. Too fine an edge will mean you lose a LOT of carbon there during the heat treatment. Happy? Good. Ensure the metal is annealed. Drill any holes you'll require in the tang for fitting the handle. Harden. Temper Clean up, assuming it hasn't gone ping during the HT & you're drowning your sorrows. Sharpen. Test the edge (the brass rod test is useful here). Tape the edge so you don't cut yourself. Fit & shape the handle. Make a sheath if you want. Job done! And yes, that's the simplified version. But those are the basic steps a-z as I know them. There's a lot of very good makers here, and no doubt someone can help you more - I've only made a couple of knives myself. There are other fora that may be worth browsing as well, like Don Fogg's forum, Bladeforums, and British Blades. Good luck!

Mick, there's more than one Pom coming. But even Guiness is available cold now! Ian, I look forward to meeting you mate.

RD booked. Flights booked. :D