westerwald

A comfortable and neat looking handle have become a focus for me. A lot of my first handles were based on looks with little attention to real comfort. Ed Fowler has a distinct style that I did not appreciate at first. Now I can see his wisdom and experience coming through his design. Ergonomics and usefulness are often overlooked in the pursuit of a certain look or style. I am reminded of chair design. There are crucial angles and per portions that must be present for comfort. I am finding knife handles are the same. Oh- by the way Thomas I found out what you are talking about concerning the bowling balls.We shot one up to find the surprise inside :)

The more I do this the more I realize that many ways work. I am sticking with my primitive mixture at this time. Maybe someday when the money is right I will buy 5 gallons of aaa quench or one of those industry standards. When I make pattern welds I use 1080 and 15n20. This oil mixture I have seems to get me a good hardness. Thanks for the suggestions.

Sorry about the confusion there. I say brighten his spirit and give him a knife. Fear is stopping to many of us from doing what what we know is good and right.

I have been trying corian. There are some neat colors out there. Melamine can look good also. I have considered cutting up one of those old marble swirl bowling balls.

My son went through two rounds of cancer. 1st when he was 2 1/2 and then again when 5. There are better ways to access $$. Many organizations are looking to give money away for childhood cancer fighters. Knife making seems like a slow way to get any ground when 1 chemo treatment can cost 3k. Just my 2 cents.

Thanks guys I hoped for more suggestions but these were great!

My oil is half motor half automatic transmission fluid. Is this a problem?

Old n rusty keep your duct tape for your duct work! :P

Brasilikilt I do like those sheave stouts myself! I would rather have a Samuel smith imperial stout though. That corn cob idea sounds cool. Please keep posting ideas. Thanks-Banjoe

Will you be using flux for forge welding?

Recently I had the chance to clean,study and admire a very large old knife collection. The knives were from one maker here in Michigan. He has been dead know for over 15 years. Many of his last knives had handles with multi colored spacers. His skills were not master smith quality but his ideas were. He has some shapes I have never seen done before. Being an avid hunter he knew what shapes worked. I know that Melamine was used for some neat colors. Do any of you have any suggestions for alternative handle materials? Personally I have had enough of all the latest looks. Many knives look like the materials were bought from Jantz or are plain wood. Please share what you have found for interesting handles or handle material in stacked type construction.

I was working with 1" stainless twists last year. I feel your pain.

Yes I have a self contained pneumatic. Next on the list how have you successfully heat treated this steel? Please only the simple and fast treatment. Temper temp and time. My shop is simple-a bucket of oil,a bucket of brine and a bucket of water. I have an old toaster oven to temper.Thanks to all who answer!

I have over a 1000 lbs of 4140 2"x2"x8'. What are your thoughts concerning its usefulness as an axe. All these axe videos have inspired me to get creative.

That last one is my favorite! Very nice . Stay busy!!!

This video inspired me today. It also brought me to the reality of how much I have to learn.Thanks for posting!

Jose-The repairs are done very nicely. Somebody knew what they were doing unlike the clowns who broke it.

Monstermetal-This anvil is so neat I just can't let it go. If i do in the future I'll pm you.

I found a nice 3 1/2 iron city at the scrapyard. Eleven dollars later it was mine. Dealers and collectors always want ridiculous prices. Around my area of Michigan a post vise can be found monthly for under $50.Any time I see an anvil or vise at an antique shop I ask how much just for the laugh. But some times it is worth asking.Luckily I hit 4 different scrap yards every other week. I had to build the relationships but it was worth it. For $300 you can get a better value for your money.That little Iron city touch mark doesn't hold steel any better than an unmarked $50 vise.

I rescued this from the scrap yard today.It weighed in at a little over 200 lbs. Check out the old repairs.Each jaw has been repaired at different times. One welded and the other brazed. Both are professional fixes. This is a number 6 with an 8" jaw. The post is missing but i think it is the original chain. It works like magic. This is the biggest vise I have ever owned. The bad news is i have to sell it :(

Very nice! Someday I would like to know how you make that pattern.

Thanks Guys,
I had a chance to handle some black Delrin yesterday at work. Delrin is close enough for me. It looks so good that it will work. -Banjoe

All I know is that it is black and synthetic. Any help is greatly appreciated.-Banjoe

Hello Brad,
I usually do not post about peoples new work. It seems much of the replies are obligatory words of encouragement to a newbie.
Yours caught my eye for several reasons. First the odd but pleasant "S" shape.Second the hammer marks not ground out which gives it a cool old time forged look.And third the copper does look great. This knife has character! I also was impressed that you are so determined to make knives that you forged this with such basic tools. That is the passion that is prevalent in a lot of the best knife makers I have known and studied. Brad excellent job! Please pm me some time as I might be interested in ordering one just like it.
Banjoe

Pep I bet it is less than a year before you replace big blu with one of these. Thanks for the video.