Woody

Rich: That knife is superb. Woody

This is a Cutlass I just finished. It is a special order for a friend's son for Christmas. Woody http://www.iforgeiron.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/1781/cat/500

I think the Boy Scouts have a Metal Working Merit Badge, check with your local scout office. Woody

Jeff: The reason that a flash arrestor or blow back valve is needed on O/A equipment is because of two factors. 1. The fact that Oxygen is supplied to the system at a higher pressure than the Acetylene which can allow oxygen to be blown back into the Acetylene side. 2. The inherent unstable nature of Acetylene which has a flammable range from 2.5% to 100%. There is no danger of sucking air back into a propane bottle by running it empty. Once the pressure in the bottle is equal to the air pressure outside the bottle, flow from the bottle will stop but there is no way that outside air could be forced back into the bottle. Therefore a spark arrestor is not needed on a propane forge. Woody

Be sure to check the laws of the state you reside in. I live in South Dakota and have a concealed carry permit. This allows me to carry a concealed pistol if I so desire, but does not allow me to carry a concealed knife. Go figure. I used to live in Texas and may again soon, I think I once read that it was illegal to carry a sword there. Double edged knives, dirks daggers etc, arr illegal in some states and as Thomas said, each state has their own definition of what they are. Woody

Rich, once again, teriffic work. woody

Mooch: Welcome to the site. Thank you for your service to our country. God bless and keep you. Woody

no it is 2/100 of 1% difference. the numbers refer to points of carbon, each point = 1/100 of 1%. For example 52100 has 100 points of carbon or 1%. Woody

Elf: Texas Knfemaker Supply has knife steel and everything else you would need to make your knife. They have a web site and also will send you a catelog. Woody

HeavyHammer: you can file the head off the rivet and then drive it out with a punch. It will take a while but you can do it. You could also cut it off with a cold chisel but that may be a bit difficult. To get a good head on a rivet, you need a length of metal equal to the diameter of the rivet stcking out beyond the hole. Then put the head end of the rivet down on the anvil, give the other end one good hard swat with the hammer to swell it in the hole. After that use a ball peen and with light taps form the head of the rivet. Woody

Remember that the price of you freedom was not free. The check that paid for it is chiseled on stone in many graveyards and signed in blood on battlefields all over the world. If you are reading this thank a teacher. For the fact that you are reading this in English, thank a vet. Woody

Uri: My prayers are with your son, you and your family. Woody

I was asked by a flintlock maker in Custer, SD if I could make him a "damascus" barrel, I told him I thought it was beyond my capabilities but I would check with some of the people I was associated with and see if anyone was interested. I asked Jim Hirshoula one night in the chat room if he was interested and he like all others backed away because of the liability involved. Woody

Buddy and his family are in my thoughts and prayers. Woody

Rich: Pretty, Pretty, Pretty!!! Woody

To make a wood grain pattern, assemble a billet of about 25 layers, bandsaw blade and steel banding works well and gives a nice contrast. Forge the billet out to about 1 inch wide and 1/4 inch thick then taper both ends. Now start rolling the billet up welding it as you go like a jelly roll. when you have finished it, you should have a cylinder about 1 1/2 inch in dia and one inch high. Now hammer it down from the end and forge it into a blade. The link will take you to a blade with that pattern. Woody Woodgrain or Jelly Roll Pattern - Blacksmith Photo Gallery

Jens: It was the same link you found. Woody

Hey Jens: I just came back in to post the link I found it too. I see he also has some articles on damascus blades, but they are published in a scientific magazine and you have to buy the book. Bet they would be interesting too. Woody

Jens: I downloaded the documents a while back and I don't remember what site I got them from. I will do a little searching around and see what I can come up with. Woody

Down and dirty forge cleaning (no pun intended). I made myself a hook about 18 inches long out of 1/4" square, for fishing the clinkers out of the fire. When I am done with forging and the fire is out, I use a small coal shovel that I bought for $2 at an antique store to clean out the firepot as best as I can. Toss the stuff into a metal bucket for sorting later. Then I use the shop vacuum to finish cleaning out the fire pot. Woody

I bought a 97 lb Wilkenson for $150, roughly $1.50 a lb This one is priced as $23 and change a lb. Seems to me that you should be able to find a much bigger anvil and a much more reasonable price. Woody