BlasterJoe

Das, Sorry I'm late to the party but congratulations. Excited for you buddy.

No I didn't use the quik crete I put in for the stump. I used Rutland castable refactory cement.

cemented up my forge finally. Also worked on getting my new vise set up. Did a stump in a cut barrel with 80 pounds of concrete and lag bolted it in. No pics of the vise yet.

Just got my first leg vise. No markings on it. It’s a 4 inch. It’s in great shape. I need to get it mounted up and give it a go.

That would look awesome as a feather. Great looking billet

There is something about this I like but I can’t put my finger on it.

Wow very cool. I really like the square knot.

Those are really cool and. I made some of those for the craft fair but I make them lucky side up. “ flipped from your design”. With the hook swooping out,down then up. I don’t know if it would work with the heads. Might though.

Great knife. I love the low count layers like that. The handle compliments it wonderfully.

Beautiful knife. Looks like it would be very comfortable in the hand.

Thanks. I don’t plan on it being used for more than some light limbing it’s not very big. Took it out in the hills and did some chopping. I need to change the handle shape with flats on the sides. It likes to roll in the hand.

That looks really cool. Can you take some pictures at different angles.

That’s very cool looking. I really like the ridge of the quill.

I use a piece of 1" flat stock, Shape the feather then draw out the quill. Run a line with a mason chisel and use it as a guide for widening and leave the cut a little proud. Then work up one side and down the other with a cross peen. I also use a hot cut on the edges to give it a little separation look.

Well did a couple more after hammering down prices and such. Thomas being in the desert I’m going with natural patina. Just a coat of beeswax.

Made some feathers for a project and a towel rack for a client. Crazy I have clients and projects now!

Thomas, that’s a good point with the checkering on the scales. It is a little slick. Will, 7” overall1”1/2 on the widest part of the blade. Blade length 4”. It is beveled it’s just hard to see in the pictures because of the polish. Kind of an ax grind more than a hollow. Charles, you are right on the money for what I was going for on this blade. I use the same knife for skinning as I do for cutting meat and cooking. I kept the handle back more on the blade so I could pinch the blade and let the handle push on my palm as I’m working a hide down. Thank you all for the kind words and some great critiques. I will keep them in mind for the next.

Just finished my skinner. 5160 from an old leaf spring I had laying around. Yes I did quenching and tempering tests with some smaller pieces. Paper micarta scales and brass pins. This was my first time with scales and I’m pretty happy. It looks a little spindly but is actually very comfortable. Now I just need to find something to skin. I’m eating tag soup this year.

Just finished up a small belt axe. I make it out of an old loader bucket pin(4140). That stuff was not easy to move by hand only. Quenched in vegetable oil and tempered off the backside until Light straw . The handle is hickory with linseed and turpentine finish.

I was recently asked to make 22 feathers for a cemetery restoration for our town. The graves from the late 1800’s to the turn of the century have been lost or neglected. The historians know that the cemetery was segregated and that 22 of the graves were native Americans. They know the location but very few of the names. The feathers will be attached to the markers made by someone else. Probly crosses. I made this feather tonight as kind of a rough draft. I left it thick because it will be tack welded to the marker. Any critique would be appreciated. Also some pictures of other forged feathers would be helpful. im thinking I could do a better transition from feather to quill.

Thanks for the great advice everybody. a lot of really good stuff to think about. My wife was actually bugging me to print off some pictures and local magazine clippings I was featured in. Should have done it but got side tracked trying to build inventory. geneaika, The fair I went to was just a small local Craft fair. no jury just paid the table fee it was 20 bucks. It was sponsored by the community church. To get started Small town craft fairs and gatherings are pretty easy to get into. This was my first so I don't have much more advice. Adding to what Latticino said about payment you can get an app from your bank for depositing personal checks on the spot with a picture. The "pay me" apps seem to be taking off too where you can just have money transferred directly to your account.

Well, the fair went well. Sold most of my stuff. I definitely got a feel for what people are into. I got a great job out of the deal too. A lady that is refurbishing the old cemetery in town commissioned me to make feathers for the old native Americans graves that the records have been lost to. They only know where the Indian side of the cemetery is and they know of 22 graves with no marking. Another guy in town is welding up crosses. And the feathers will be attached. I’m pretty honored to do it and help preserve the history. I will start a thread when I get the first one done.

Got set up this morning. I need to be a better showman. Looking at everyone else’s tables mine pretty weak.

This was just me putting tags on tonight. The tables will be white. Good idea with the graph paper I will bring some. Thanks for the support.

I have my first craft fair tomorrow. I have sold a few things here and there but this will be the first public sale venture. I’m pretty excited. I have a good inventory built up. Fingers crossed I will sell it all.