windancer

Yup I am bidding- just too cool, user or not :) Dave

Did you buy this? If not can you remember the name it was called on bay? I think it is super cool! Dave

I am blind in one eye. That means I have almost no depth perception. That means that if I use the closest-fitting coil for the best heat output to the work that I am constantly resetting due to shorts. Even though the machine has built-in safeguards I would much prefer avoiding the shorts completely. One of the bigger companies overseas coats their coils with some kind of red 'stuff' that insulates the coils and eliminates the chance of shorts from touching the coils with the work. I have emailed them and am waiting for an answer to will they sell me some of the red 'stuff'. I will post again when I hear from them. Gene Olson [the site he has set up and gotten off the ground is mettleworks.com] is now marketing the machines and is offering the same one year warranty. Gene is still testing insulation to try and find one that will hold up to the rapid heating/cooling that the coils go through. If Gene finds something that holds up I will post that here. Yup- love the machine and all the work it does and REALLY like the almost heat-free shop. Dave

Tell your wife she does nice work! Did you at least take her to supper? Dave

Very nice work on the knife and I love the3D designed bolster! Great package! Dave

You will use that tool for the rest of your blacksmithing life. Seems to work just fine and it sure has a smaller footprint. I can remember when got mine installed and running how excited I was [and still am!] to finally have a power hammer. You did a great job and I know how much work went into it- and now you can reap the huge benefits for many. many years. Fine job! Dave

Have been using the new induction rig almost exclusively. Don't think I have fired either of m propane forges since I got the new induction set up and installed. I am NOT getting rid of the propane, just haven't needed either yet. I am over the WOW factor and don't even think about it unless someone else mentions it. It is now another too in my arsenal that gets used a LOT; Heat treating a knife takes less than 2 minutes. The temper still gets done multiple times in my toaster oven. After getting familiar the new tool I went and spent three days with Geoff Keys, JS in Duval, WA, who gave me a cram course on forging blades plus a lot of other info. The forging process is easier and so much faster that there is almost no time for a breather while the material is reheating [reheats are WAY faster than the first heat. I bought a couple dies from the KA75 web site to make tongs. The heater and the dies should make tongs much easier and faster. I now spend 90 seconds to adjust tongs I am using so they fit the stock rather than using as is and dropping stuff. I made about a dozen pieces of coin mokume. I am tutoring a young fella to help him get started in blacksmithing and knife making. This week he did a few feathers and used the induction to heat the stock. He was still raving about how fast it was when he finished for the day. Next week s inside-out blacksmith crosses and the week after RRSpike knives and maybe a RRSpike mouse hawk. He has already done Roses and I think we have anither steel junkie. The shop is more fun when you work instead of waiting for heat. There is WAY less scale [almost none]. I use the proper coolant for the tig cooler, but never let the shop get near freezing anyway [Pellet stove]. I still bump a coil once in a while and am still looking for some reasonably-priced coating/sleeving to prevent that. Haven't damaged anything but the machine short warning isn't very pleasant. My work has improved and my learning curve has reduced. Again, working instead of waiting. Using the induction is so routine now that I have only brushed the bare surface of it's use. I have kept the propane, just in case, but I haven't needed it yet. Just thought I would share my experience with the Induction Forge. I don't sell 'em or fix 'em or get any commissions. I just use my new tool and love it! Dave.

Great project! Beautiful work and planning. Now the acid tyest: How does it work and are YOU happy with it? Dave

You need to hold the picture a little closer to the screen- I can't quite make it out :) Dave

Bulk is outside anything I will ever use... Dave

Anyone find a less expensive source for the 3M nextel 440 sleeving? 77cents per inch is pretty steep..... Dave

Great job! I am a big fan of lower layer count and the nickle. The dark handle enhances the Damascus. I love it! Dave

I am excited for you! Good luck and pay attention to what you are doing and not so much new tool fever :) You don't want to get hurt while learning about the new hammer. Will watch for pics or a vid when you get it going! Dave

Yup^^^ Dave

Great job! I like it a lot ) Nice flower n the handle, too. Dave

Good job! Dave

I was lucky enough to learn that Geoff Keyes does some teaching/demo work in his shop. Geoff is a very knowledgeable smith and accomplished blade-smith [ABS Journeyman] and a very flexible teacher interested in teaching whatever phases of making knives you are interested in. I enjoyed three days of forging [i had only done stock removal blades for the last several years] and learned everything I could absorb in the time we had. I am still putting into practice those new skills of course and will continue to learn. We were also able to spend some time with Geoff's mechanical hammer and hydraulic press. A lot of tool trading took place and I was able to fill in blank spots in my shop and give a new home to some others. I also brought home one of Geoff's knives. We also took a short trip to Whiteside Steel and found a 297 pound piece of 5.5 x 5.5 steel for a knife anvil which is now in service in my shop. Geoff and his wife are terrific folks who made me feel welcome and at home in their beautiful home and gorgeous property. These three days were one of the best times for learning and tooling I have had. I now count Geoff and MaryAnne among my friends. Dave

I am gonna give this a try tomorrow! Thanks Dave

Looks usable to me. My first anvil was a huge deck cleat for tying off docking ships. Dave

Good job! And a nice poker, too) Dave

I always keep one hammer in the shop [it is the one with the fire engine red handle so I don't grab a different one by mistake] made from dead soft mild steel. This is my striking hammer for hitting other tools and I also use it on my hot cut. Dave

I would use an angle grinder from HF Tools and a cutting disk. This is something you will use a LOT if you continue to do metal work of any kind and they are priced as disposables. They will work for a long time- then throw it away and buy another. And all the above :) Dave

Dave Hammer told me about Butcher's Bowling alley wax and that is all I use now. Seems to give a harder and more even finish. Dave

Still a nice knife. Just a design difference :) I like it! Dave

I found them. No use for me in my shop. Thanks, Dave