Codycrusenberry

Why did i not think of that? Lol i used to cut trees for money when i was a teen......obvious. i guess im so busy over thinking things.......and underthinking others. Thank you.

Im working at a blown forge, i have endless steel fab, at my garage. I can only work on it during my free time after work however, so its going to take me a bit of time, trying to make it awesome. Just dying to get my feet wet with this little guy.

Wow. Thats amazing, for a first knife. Or maybe youre lying, and thats your 50th knife. Lol.........regardless i love the look, much respect to you!!

Check it out buddy, got me some of those magic bricks........finally! Sorry for the wacky picture layout......had to crop them to death to get them under 500kb. Thanks for any feed back, try not to be jealous of my sweet gear............lol

I have the 50$ dollar knife shop, super cool book! So i got my bricks today, made a nice little 1.5"x8" chamber. It gets much hotter than the ceramic board alone, however im starting to have my doubts as far as my propane/torch go. I think the torch is good, its for pre-heating steel before a weld, however the control knobs on it, about 2 turns out, it no longer dumps more fuel, its like the propane bottle is to the max. Would a regulator fix this? Or just a larger bottle? Im just using the 16oz propane handhelds......not so great. Ive got the cash for a larger bottle, however not sure if that will help to get more flame and heat, or i need a better burner, i know i could use both, just wondering what i would see a more dramatic difference from.....also i have photos of my setup, its sure to dazzle you all. Lol thanks for helping a noob out, im trying to pay my dues just as you all did!

Very nice ideas, more so than knifes. I am using propane however. Its not the best, but it works, all i could locate in Knoxville TN, was some ceramic fiber board.......i guess its decent. However i did find some silica based kiln brick.....going to get those tomorrow, so hopfully with these awesome pointers from you guys, and a little bit better forge, i might get that book mark sooner than i thought! lol!

Frosty, i hope you teach, or atleast do apprenticing, beautiful directions sir. Thank you greatly, will try tomorrow. Frozen, im honestly just whacking metal lol i didnt bother grabbing a plan, and drawing, because im 100 precent sure it wont go that way being as its my first try. Im just flattening it, if i can make a somewhat uniform, flat, 1/8" thick bar, i will be very happy at just that. I might grind that, or maybe make a nice book mark? Yeah, i think getting it hotter would help as well.......cant blame me too much, i was anxious to see sparks fly. I will wait longer, and do as frosty said next time. Thanks a ton guys!

Felt like sharing, making some friends from pitty haha!. I struck my first hot steel today, hard work, so much respect to all of you! It went better than expected, but not as well as i had hoped! My forge works, it gets the steel red, almost yellow hot, however i started with some 1/2" bar stock i got from a buddy, it took me about 45 minutes to get a 5" lenght of it down to about 1/4 thick.....im using a 3lbs hammer, and im no weakling, is that normal? Or should it flatten easier? I have no idea of the makeup of the steel :/. Regardless me and my fiance had fun, other than the mosquitos, i think im going to enjoy this trade very much. Thanks for any feed back, poke fun if you want, i have a good sence of humor! Haha!

Im 21, automotive tech, body/paint man by trade, woodworking as a hobby, i enjoy metal work as well, im excited to get going with knifemaking. My questions to you, have probably been addressed, so forgive me. Ive made a simple forge, using a steel pre-heating propane torch, running into a small brick forge. Im doing it all outside, what are the risk factors of an explosion or fire here? Im no fool, but i have limited time dealing with propane, just dont want to have any bad times with that. Second question is regarding my insulation, ceramic fiber board, will it emit toxic fumes in which i need a respirator? Or being outside should i be okay? I know some risk must be involved but how great? I wear a respirator at work, sometimes all week in a paint booth, it isnt exactly wonderful, being 95° out. So if i can avoid it, i would like that. Thanks in advanced for my rookie questions.