My name is Dave from north Johnson City Tn. I work in Education at a local high school.
I have lurked here a long time. Joined a while ago. Started with a "one brick forge." Forged with a small coal forge for a while. Burnt up a lot of steel. Lot's of trial and error. Made a few gadgets & blades. Lot's of cracked steel that I quenched too fast. Sometimes I'd get it right. Sometimes Id work on a blade for a long time only to have it crack in heat treating/hardening. Got yelled at for tempering oily blades in the wife's oven. Finally had a few work out and even traded & sold a few. Bought myself a brand spankin new gas forge from Diamondback Forge and set up a shop in my backyard in a small shed. Made a bunch of "patch knives," "turnscrews," "flint strikers," "S hooks," and the like. Having a great time and BAM! I develop PE's in my lungs. Hospitalized for 10 days, am told I'd lucky to be alive(85% mortality rate). Off work for months. (Luckily I had short term disability.) Wife say's "Sell the forge & stuff." "Nope!" Now several years later I'm ready to get back in to it.
I'm not as strong or fast as I once was but I have some knowledge and experience. I learn more everyday thanks to you guys. I read IFI at work in down times, make notes, go home and put it into practice. I have a few friends that blacksmith & we trade tricks & tips. I have a friend that has a Little Giant power hammer sitting in his barn unused. I'm currently trying to work out a trade with him for it. I have a few young men from Church that I've been working with making simple file knives. It's better to work with them one on one. More work gets done. Well I've rambled on enough.
Later