Dodge

I made mine to accept stock 3" x .38" flat bar for dies. Shown are my "Vee" dies for tong jaws, etc

Wow! Nice work Dominic! If you hadn't said so, I would not believe you hadn't any formal or otherwise art training. You apparently have an artistic gene or right brain dominance. Your form and composition is fantastic for self-taught! BTW, welcome to the funhouse :) Scott

I agree with Robert. I used to wash my welding leathers in the washer. They are the same leather. I didn't do it to wash the dye out but rather the sweat but they were clearly a lighter color after the dryer. I even washed leather gloves! Its been a few years but as I recall, the dyes didn't completely wash out of my white t-shirts right away, but once run through the wash, the leather didn't bleed so bad after. Scott

Permit me to wipe the drool from my keyboard :P. Mr Bush, I never tire of seeing your work. I can see that the guard is a separate piece but is the handle and pommel integral to the blade? Simply stunning! Scott

Looks good for a first PW. We have a bit in common. My first 2 finished knives (my only finished ones so far) were pattern welded billets. I wasn't intending to make knives at all but was fascinated with the PW process. My attempts turned out so well (IMHO), it just seemed appropriate to make them into knives. :)

I'm sorry I didn't see this when it was current. I will try to be brief. I couldn't help notice the OP is not a legitimate member (I didn't know guests could post) But I digress. In my humble opinion, contrary to the OP's comment to Frosty, guns are not the same as hammers. Guns can be called "tools" depending on your use or profession, but they are weapons. Hammers are not (at least by design). Case in point: A Marine probably won't go to the brig for having a rusty entrenching tool (folding shovel). However, if he was negligent enough to allow his weapon to become rusty, he could certainly face charges that could result in loss of rank and pay and even imprisonment. 'If the coating offends thee, remove it' <_<

Nice, from what I can see. Photo tip: Concentrate flash at an angle (45º is generally what was used in line photography) so that the flash can't bounce back into the lens. Not easy if using a cell phone camera but bouncing flash off white cards and other tricks can help with flash washout. Hope this helps. Scott

I honestly thought you were at least as old as I, Thomas :D Liquid-filled, continuous rubberband wound g-balls are indeed a thing of the past. ( "If you remember these, you're as old as dirt" ) I remember cutting into one as a kid. It was fun watching the rubber band winding contract with each pass with the blade. and since I was a kid, I was very intent on what would happen when I reached the rubber ball core. The white milky liquid must have been under quite a bit of pressure because it squirted my eye so hard I couldn't see out of it for the rest of the day and it was red for many days after. :unsure:

Is that the bilet you posted on FB? Turned out very nice indeed!

Interesting piece, indeed! Thank you for sharing, Joel.

Nuttin' new eh? ;) I confess I have not been very active locally although I get the monthly invite. LOL I do talk to Elmo Diaz when I get the op, however. He seems to do a nice job of keeping local members informed :)

Nice job overall, neg. I especially like the homemade micarta. I agree; it is so easy to make, and fun. Sooo many possibilities! I was really happy with even *my* first attempt :D The sheath looks good too. I like working with leather, made one kydex sheath (not thrilled with the result), but wouldn't know where to begin with a wooden sheath. Bravo!! Scott

Oh. Then, never mind ^_^

I'm with the *make yer own* school. Its easy and you get what you want :) However if DIY just isn't in your wheelhouse, Chinobi nailed it: I went one click further and found Linen - Bleached Linen Melamine 1/8" Might need to update your source list ;) Edit: To be fair, US Knife Maker Supply isn't listed in the "Handle material" list but it is in the >Supplier list thread , From there its just a click or 3 or an appropriate search keyword away. Your mileage may vary :D Scott

How does it perform inside the brick? Many good burners only work inside the forge due to lack of back pressure outside the forge

I second Thomas on the bondo. Contained in the hollow, that would be really tough stuff. I have used it as *glue* to fix a garden rake because I was out of JB. Used a couple years until the handle finally broke (not in the glued joint but from accidentally stepping on instead of over it. :rolleyes: )

That's cool Jim!! Consider it copied/at least inspiring again! :D I am working on something similar to mount in my Wilton pedestal mounted machinist vise. Mine is horizontally operated but I like the way you have used the rr rail and have dies mounted vertically. I just happen to have recently acquired another length of rail that was earmarked for power hammer dies but they can wait now B)

Beautiful!! Reminds me of a sculpture near the local airport (Epply Field) here in Omaha :)

Fair enough. Thanks :)

I visited your site and found no DVD I could view as suggested. Only an ad to buy a DVD :(

We used to call the oak leaves on officer's covers (Marine speak for "hat") "scrambled eggs". Gold plate those and they would fit right in with the "scrambled eggs" :) Nicely done

Yup, Michael. I seem to remember a local news report about them being forged at the now closed Union Pacific shops here in Omaha. It was the major overhaul facility for the UP until the late 1980s and they had some multi-ton (as in 10s of 1000s) hammers and presses :) The image, I simply Googled "scupture from train axle" or similar ;) Edit: I re-googled and re-discovered that this particular sculpture is actually at Kansas State University and done in 1976. It was created by Rev. Leland Lubbers, the founder of the fine arts program at Omaha's Creighton University. So, I am assuming he did it, and perhaps the others here in town, at the Omaha Shops.

Looks like your posting just fine ;) Yeah the BBQ reg won't work. Better off with one made for a turkey frier but best source might be propane supplier. I also recommend a guage that can register 0 - 30 psi. What is the heat range of the brick? You want 2600ºf or higher. I typically melt 2300º f Insboard doors on my freon tank forge. (Albeit, I'm running a 1" T-burner :D ) Edit: Just saw the 1/2" pipe size. Not sure but guessing you wont need 30 psi ever but definately need adjustable reg and readable gauge. BYW, a gauge really means nothing outside your smithy as they fluctuate so widely from one to another and forge designs. YOUR psi won't match mine unless you bought EVERYTHING where I did. But it will help you with repeatability in your own forge.

If this was answered already I missed it and please excuse me. The problems with a steel lined forge would negate any benefit IMHO.

Stack, fold, addition, multiplication, blah, blah, blah. The maker should know how many layers he has. ;) But I'm with Rich on this: Nice work, kayakersteve :)