norrin_radd

hey. I did try to forge weld the cup. Not sure if it it took because I'm not the greatest at forge welding, especially back then. As for it splitting open, it never has and I still use it on small stock. I have had to reshape the edge a few times and it looks fine to me. If it did split or anything I would probably electrically weld it. I'm sure you probably know this but just for clarity, the thing to really remember about this sort of tool is to make sure your work piece is at proper cutting heat and to stop hitting it when its not, I've never had a problem with it. Of course ymmv, I was just seeing what I could make with free junk I had laying around. thanks for checking out the video and asking the question.

Technically I guess its still "this" year...doh!

If this has already been posted I apologize, I searched around and didn't see anything. I discovered Thak Ironworks Youtube a while ago. He does some really great work, especially in the sculpture department. Thak started this Chess Set Challenge last year before the "rona" kicked off real good and the set was finally complete earlier this month. Definitely a bright spot of 2020. He did all the big pieces and asked for help from the community to do the pawns in the form of critters. He got some really cool entries from some talented smiths. I think my favorite pawns are "The Snake and The Sword" (Douglas Morlock), the "Octopus"(Julian Amati-Lecours) and the "Tortoise" (Torbjorn Ahma), but everyone's piece came out great and really makes the set standout IMHO. The "Pope Eddy' was pretty awesome too. He has a playlist of the videos of the pieces he made on his channel be sure to check it out and the pawn makers as well. I made the bulldog. Not nearly as good as the other pieces but this hobbyist was just happy to be on the board. Been a while since I've posted. Hope everyone is doing well.

Actually I made it for my American Star anvil. Its 160+lb and pretty thick at the heel. Gary Huston is the one that made it for the rr track. The link to his video is Iin the original post. When I made this I didn't have any stock big enough to make one for my Hardy hole. So when I saw his video I figure I could pull that off. I figured people use the pritchel to punch holes etc. It should hold up to some light hot cutting. Especially since it has a big nut sitting on the top of the anvil to help disperse energy and no pressure pushing from the inside of the hole, like some Hardy tools I've seen. Like you mentioned earlier, I think busted anvils are caused from abuse(exteme cold work) or defects. I got a good deal on an old anvil because the entire heel was broke off. Looks like it broke off on part of the forge weld. Still weighed 99lbs can't remember the brand.

Yeah, I was just a noob, still am I guess compared to most here. I made it out of what I had with what skills I had just to get a quick hot cut for the small stuff I use. Actually turned out better than I expected. Doesn't make any sense to hot cut when the piece is cold so I don't Anyway, still use it regularly, no problems works great. Thanks for commenting. Carry on.

I had been a few times in 2013-2014 and I enjoyed it. But I know what you mean about free time. I have a hard enough time getting few hours in the shop on the weekends, let alone a full day for a road trip. I'd like to go back soon though. I've been looking at that Treadle for the same reasons as well. I sure would like to see it in action first though. Good luck and keep us posted.

I actually sent them an email a few weeks ago and asked them if they knew of any videos of one in operation. The lady responded very politely that she did not know of any but they had been asking for some. I would really like to see a detailed video of one in operation myself. I've only been able to find a few references of people that have used them and said they like them. You ever go to the MS Forge Council meetings in Jackson?

Hey E.M. I hate to drag up old threads but I'd like to see the pics of the tongs you made based of the ones in the A Craven video. Have you posted them anywhere else since the new software lost them? Thanks

Here is the latest K.S.O. I made from a hmb (hay mower blade). Still a little rough but I was happy with it. The one pic shows my cardboard mock up I was trying to go for, inspired by the CRKT minimalist knives, came close. First time I tried a tapered tang too. I did some tests on this one after heat treating. I dropped it on its tip on concrete from about 5.5' and it didn't bend, I did feel a little rough spot with my finger nail. I got it shaving sharp and have been cutting all manner of things with it for 3 days, paper, cardboard, whittleing hardwood sticks etc. It seems to be holding its edge well, still shaves. Was a pretty fun project. I really like using the recurve blade. Also I've had it wrong in my head for months thinking these might be similar to 1095 its more like 1065, I just got crossed up. I'm still a noob when it comes to all those numbers, still a fun mystery steel, and the price is right.

took me a minute but I see what ya did there LOLz

Glad you didn't get hurt. I grew up in "Beachy" atmosphere wearing flip flops and shorts pretty much exclusively. Since I've moved out to the country I almost never wear shorts or sandals/flip flops anymore, unless I'm not planning to leave the house. Found out early on that Its just not worth it.

I think it looks great.

Hey thanks. I've watched a few videos of people training with them and it is a very interesting style. I'm not knowledgeable in the different disciplines though.. I thought about making a dull trainer version, I did poke a nice hole in my forearm with this one, and that was before I sharpened it.

Hey prevenge, thanks for the great info. I'm with ya on that last paragraph too

I should have expected that. Y'all are crazy

Well I guess he got his point across! I was already thinking about making something small that I could carry and see how it holds up to my commercially made pocket knife. I've got a lot to learn still too. As a side note, I made a quick little bottle opener out of one of these mower blades and gave to a visitor, sadly didn't get a pic. So as for the hay blade challenge it doesn't have to be a knife. Like Nacho Libre said about a grown man wearing stretchy pants, "Its for fun"

Ok thanks a lot. I'll have to get my "google fu" on about the heat treating as well. I've been doing it based on what I read works for 1095. Normalize a couple of times in vermiculite, heat to non magnetic, quench in veg oil, then temper at 450-500 oven for a couple of hours. That seems to be doing good for the light use that I've used them for, they do get sharp. Maybe I'll start putting the last one through some tests to gauge edge retention. Thanks again.

I guess that was a dumb question, duh fingers thinking faster than my brain. I'll have to see if I can find some packaging around of the last batch of blades we got and see if it mentions anything about what it might be.

Really, is there a way to tell? What if you heat treat it wrong?

Nice! I'm sure they'll hook you up.

Lol, just grab a handful!

Well ok then http://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/47024-hay-mower-blade-challenge/

Spin off from the Karambit from Ag steel thread. JHCC Had a pretty fun idea to start a thread about a "Hay Mower Blade Challenge" to see what kind of creative items folks could forge from these small bits of mystery'ish steel. So here it goes. FYI Hay mower blades are used on hay mowers to cut hay (duh) and when they wear out they usually just get replaced. Therefore if you know anyone that cuts hay and never throws anything away, then more than likely they have a metric ton of these lying around. And will probably make you a deal on them or give them to you for a killer bottle opener, forged knife, hand forged trinkets etc.. Or you may find them at a your local scrap yard. To kick it off here are a few things I've made out of them. You may have seen them already but I figured I should post something. I usually try to use the existing hole in some manner, just because its already there. Forge em if ya got em! And post pictures here! Should be fun anyway.

No problem, that's great! There is not a lot there but its a fun challenge to figure out how to make them work for something. Posted a forging video on the Karambit too just for kicks and giggles.

this really made me laugh...