Tubalcain2

Chill, brother. I don't think anyone was attacking you in the slightest. no one is offended, and nobody hates you. I think you just misunderstood Marc 1's post. He was venting a little, but not at you. As stated, the Nepal guys get posted a lot, usually by people new to the forum. I think Marc 1 was just wondering why it is they get brought up so much. Its a beautiful day in your neighborhood. The sun is shining, the tank is clean. Nobody's out for your scalp.

Finished up on my new EDC. I am pretty content with it. 1080 and micarta.

Hmm. Slow learner apparently. If you rarely get what you want here, why keep posting? its like hitting yourself in the head with a baseball bat repeatedly while complaining of the knots you are getting on your noggin all the while.

I like it!

We don't have many rattlesnake in TN, but I have seen and killed a ton of cottonmouths and copperheads. When I was 14 I got one by jumping on its neck to hold it down and cutting it's head of with my knife. IIRC I was Barefoot too. Little redneck farmboy...

Nice. I love the " Hollywood style safe distance stance". Looks like they're ready for the big screen.

Otherwise known as the " Cross Your Fingers and Hope You Don't Burn the Shop Down Over Your Head Cause It's Not Covered by Your Insurance Plan Forge".

There are a million and ten good proven forge designs out there, just about all of them capable of forge welding. Many designs can be found on this site. Some forge design take more skill to build than others. Some take more money to build than others. Some are time consuming, others can be done in half an hour. A "Model 55" forge shouldn't cost more than 20 bucks and would be super fast and easy to build. When it comes down to it, you just have to stop typing and start working. Here is the 55 forge. Not a heavy duty forge, as the article states, but dirt cheap and easy. If you really want a forge, you now have 0 excuses. Ready set GOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Forge welding what? What is your definition of medium size? As a general rule, a solid fuel forge wouldn't need to be specifically designed for forge welding. Any decent SF forge should get more than hot enough. As far as the fuel-specific design goes, wood forges should have a deeper fire pot than coal, and you don't want constant high airflow level. only when your steel is in the forge. It will save you a LOT of fuel.

Forklift tine or bit RR track set on its end. Find a local scrapyard and see what they have. Mine sells for 15 cents a pound. they almost always have something anvil worthy.

Yeah, a kitchen oven will definitely be hot enough. I would guess you would want a dark straw color. Someone will probably come along and correct me on that any minute.

Its easy to be nice to a guy with a giant soderfors. At least for most of us. JHCC probably wants to kill you in you sleep from anvil envy.

Nice!

95% is fairly common for Swedish steel anvils. Not that you would expect anything less from the worlds greatest anvils.

Gorgeous.

Yeah, I see what you are saying about the stress riser. I admit I kind dropped the ball on that one. The devil's in the details. Weeeelllll, I'll see if i can remember how not to do it next time.

Gotcha. I guess I always called the gap the ricasso. Always learning...

Thanks guys! TP, I get what you are saying about the handle. Personally , I don't care for stag horn, but i do see how a more rustic handle might fit the blade better. The only 2 finishes I had on hand were polyurethane and tung oil. I used tung on my last couple knives, but I don't like how hard the dull finish was to keep clean so I opted for poly, i.e. shiny. the pics make the handle look kinda boxy but it isn't. It is big, though. Intentionally. My hands are on the upper side of humongous. What don't you like about the ricasso, TP?

Ok, folks. Tell me what you think of this one. Criticism welcome. 8" Blade is from a leaf spring (go figure) , handle is walnut and maple burl. Hard to see the burl in the pictures. I did a vinegar steam patina on it, which I really like. Guard is just mild. I think it is my best one so far. Took me way too long to finish, but I am content with the finished product. It got an AHHH! reaction from my mom, which is a first, so I must be improving.

Everything you make is gorgeous. Nice work

I only hope there will be blacksmiths still around in that long.

WOW. WOW. Super nice.

Welcome to the forum! Blacksmithing is an amazing craft. You have the freedom to let your imagination run wild. Learn from experimentation. Screw up. Screw up a lot. It is an amazing and fulfilling way to learn. Just stay safeish. The fewer of you screw ups that involve losing body parts the better. But hey. If you burn your hand off, you can learn how to forge a hook. Every experience is an educational one.

Yeah, I like my tongs nice and plump too.