Phil Dwyer

Sweet looking knife Dodge. Thanks for sharing. I like the idea of your handle. Can you explain a little more about the usage of bone. For instance, why did you have to do the handle in pieces? Is it an inherent limitation with the dimensions of the bone, as in its walls are just so thick, or some other reason? How about the hardness and density of the material? Does it need sealing? Do you think it will stain easily? Etc???

Does the tire hammer have a brake?

Hi Friends, Has anyone ever thought about, or done, a kind of Mickey mouse power hammer with a jackhammer or pneumatic impact hammer like used by stove carvers? I saw a couple of used jack hammers being sold while I was in NH. At the time I was just interested in the chisel tips for the steel, but the shop keep pointed out the tips went with hammers that were on the other side of the room. Well, that was that until just now. The idea just popped into my head that maybe I could mount a jack hammer and use it to beat steel. Having never used a jack hammer I am not sure if this an idea that would be worth further thought. As always, your thoughts would be appreciated. -Phil

We're excited too. You bet...keep posting. We love it. Can't wait to see more and hear of your progress!

Yup, that's the deal ship up to 70 lbs (weight limit for any US mail packages) from anywhere in the US to anywhere in the US for $8.95 or $12.95 depending on which flat rate box you use. Postage Box size ------- -------- $8.95 11" X 8.5" X 5.5" $8.95 11-7/8" x 3-3/8" x 13-5/8" $12.95 12” x 12” x 5-1/2” You can do it to Canada and International too, but it costs more and can only go up to 20lbs. Of course when you're sending heavy metal stuff pack it tight and tape the box well as the boxes really aren't designed for the load (not many are). It's a good idea to put an address label inside the box too. You can get the boxes free, either at a PO or via the web. USPS - Priority Mail Flat Rate Shipping Supplies Category - Flat Rate

Sounds like you're on top of it. Thanks for the tips on how to purge the tank. I'll remember them for sure. And good luck pulling your forge together. Keep hammering!

Leave it to a bunch of blacksmiths to turn a thread about outfitting a shack into a beer and booze fest! You do have to be careful distilling. I understand acetone and alcohol vaporize within a few degrees of each other. If you stay away from "mash" that is high in cellulose you minimize acetone. If you know the vapor temp points and monitor you're even safer. If you ask some one who's from the hills how to do it, make sure their eyesight is good. If they're cross-eyed you might not want to use their production methods! Back in the 70's I had a friend who was ancient. He was an old prospector and moonshiner. He loved to make dandelion wine and distill a brandy out of it. He had a still that was a real hoot. Took a regular old pressure cooker, put it on his stove, ran a copper tube off it into his sink, filled the sink with cold running water and caught the distillates coming out of its end. Said it was real easy to ditch the cooper tube and host a revenuer right in the kitchen without him being the wiser.

Bravo. I did similar with O/A torch to heat and "whatever" to pound on. You know to be careful about "poking a hole" in that LP tank? I was surprised one time to find a tank I thought was empty, not to be. If fact, I was the one that emptied it. Opened it up and left it over night. I was moving and didn't want any accidents with shipping. Was I surprised when we went to fill it on the other end. I opened it up and what do you know more gas came out. Not sure what to recommend. Watch yourself!

I guess you really want to practice to tackle working with such a rusty piece of metal. I hope you find some good clean stuff to work with too.

Thanks for putting up some pix. Good go. What's its scale/size? Tell us some about its creation. How did you go about it? I'm always interested to hear how someone did something. -Phil

Looking good. I like what you did with the pommel. Keep it up.

That is an awesome handle. Your blade lines look spot on. Your cutting tool is often referred to as a hot cut (tomahawk looking thing). GREAT JOB! Thanks for posting! BTW, I like the looks of your "seasoned gnarly old" hand in one of the pix...the looks of a true hand working craftsman for sure.

Thanks for the thread guys. I'm learning a lot. Any chance of some photos? (If you're willing to show us your flubs, that is, it might be even more illuminating.)

Hey John, That's a real beaut for sure. Looks like you have quite the shop. Thanks for showing us. Phil (PS -- The high schoolers are starting to beat blades out of those RR spikes you sent over. I'll post pix when we make a bit more progress.)

Chuck, Some folks have all the luck. You have a steel mecca next door. What some of us wouldn't give for a slice of that steel. Of course, it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy! We expect to see pix of those blades form that fantastic score!!! Slobbering, whimpering and shouting...GO CHUCK GO! -Phil PS - Hey, maybe you could donate a few of those slices up on the auction? You know, stuff that would fit in a flat rate priority mail box. Maybe some 5160 too, or a basic pattern-weld selection? I'd bid on stuff like that. It's for good causes: IFI's, fellow craftsmen, etc. Just an idea, hint, hint, wink, wink.

Welcome. You're in a good place to do all those thing: both here on IFI and in Ohio. Wish I had the resources at hand that are all about your area.

Looks like you did a lot of slapping back, and with a big hammer no doubt. They sure look formidable. Look forward to seeing more. Thanks!

You are a craftsman par excellence! Wonderful work. Absolutely beautiful. Thanks for sharing the pix. Made by a blacksmith, and then some.....

Firegirl, I just noticed your signature. Ha, ha, that's a good one. I really like it. Let us know what you find out about sourcing your material...and definitely send us some pix of your work. It sounds even more intriguing! As a biodynamic farmer I have a deep sense of respect for elementals. Looking forward to hearing/seeing more from you. Thanks, Phil

Hi Sammy, Welcome aboard. You're right, you can learn a lot here. There are a lot of fine folks willing to share. Looks like you'll be one of them too. We look forward to hearing more from you. Aloha, Phil

Mouse Little John. It has a ring to it! It was just a phase Habu, just a phase. Yep, that's some of the stuff! We better help look after Ten Hammers too! Oh, Oh. I gave my folks (Grammie and Grandpa) IFI's link to Little Mikey's first hook so they could share in the glow of his success. Never thought they'd then have access to stuff such as this thread. My goose may be cooked. Is there a statute of limitations with parents for stuff like this? I may need to consult Ice Czar on this.

Hey Chyan, Did you sculpt each goblet in wax or make a model then cast wax repeats? Do you use the same foundry shell as the furnace to melt the wax out of the molds before smelting the metal or do you have a separate oven for that? Also, how do you vent out all your fumes, both smoke from the wax melt off and from the metal smelting? Phil

Thanks for sending more pix of your knives. I like how you're using the drilled holes. Nice touch!

Chyran, Thanks for the pix of the upside down forge, aka foundry. What did you use for molds for the goblets? How do you calculate smelt amounts for your cast items? Phil

Wow, that sounds great! Can't wait to see the pix. Guess you'll have quite a bit of grinding to do. How do you arc gouge?