Tubalcain2

OK, I just managed to stab myself in the face with a flying 1000deg. knife. Yup. I was working it too cold and it flipped out of my locking pliers and into my nose. Penetrated to just inside my nostril, maybe 3/8 of an inch or so. I am SUPER thankful it was not 2 in. higher or I would be an eye short right now.  Moral of the story? Don't work your steel cold, and use the proper tool for holding your stock. Locking pliers are great, but they are not for all stock shapes. 

My first go at electroetching. Pretty stoked.

Me likey lots. (1000th post)

What is the best kind of animal?

It was definitely wise to check before lighting it. You will need to replace the Galv with black pipe or find a safe way too strip the zinc. Someone may pipe up with advice on that, I just stay clear of anything galved. Also, because the forge has no table, when (not if) coal/charcoal  falls out of the forge pot they will hit the ground, so be sure you are on concrete. They will also fall on the blow drier and that rubber boot and like as not catch them both on fire. I would strongly suggest moving the blower farther from the heat zone and adding a table.

OK, please don't take this the wrong way.  This is meant to be constructive criticism, not trash talk or browbeating. That knife is ugly as the devil himself. The design is extremely impractical. That being said, my first blade was just as bad and i was just as proud of it. Keep that as a memento of where you started and a year from now you can look at it and have a good laugh. OK, now for the constructive part of the criticism. Your blade is actually not bad. the profile is graceful and the grind is pretty good for a 1st. The handle is were we hit a speed bump. Assuming you heat treated the blade before handling, welding it to the handle would ruin the temper, and unless you preheated properly, give you a dangerous brittle spot at the base of the blade. Besides all the cracks left in the weld, the knuckles would make it cumbersome to pick up/draw, and my hand hurts just thinking of all those sharp edges pressing into my skin. I would REALLY suggest starting with traditional full-tang handles and getting good with those before you try something this... different.

A+ for creativity and initiative, maybe an E for execution.  Do some reading up on this site settle on a good, straightforward design, and give it "take 2". Looking forward to seeing what you can do with #2.

Not bad for a first. Just remember that if you never look for perfection you will likely never find it.  Keep it up.

There are some beat up PWs in our area that are for sale for about that much. Folks is crazy.

10 hours ago, Origions of Iron said:

what is the preferred/standard dressing for a new anvil

When on a G-rated forum, all anvils should be fully dressed.

Will do.

21 hours ago, JHCC said:

The bigger the knives I attempt, the smaller the blades I make.

Most of my letter openers start as broadswords.

My Soderfors #10 is 160lbs and has a 1 1/4 inch HH. That is real big for an anvil in this weight, however.

3 hours ago, Daswulf said:

Some people just like what they like.

As opposed to the people who like what they don't like?  

38 minutes ago, Hotshoein4 (Mark) said:

Little keychain for the mother inlaw for Christmas.

"but my false lover stole my rose, and I, she left the thorn wi' me."

Welcome to the Gang! I am probably 2 hours from you, but my humble shop is always open to fellow metalworkers. 

Me want 1 2.

Tail is thinner than those on Colombians I have seen. Doesn't strike me as Swedish either. That dealeo on the side is throwing me for a loop, too. 

Man, nice blades! keep it up!

Vous l'avez assez proche, mon ami.

Dieu merci pour google traduire.

pardon, mon ami.

55 minutes ago, JHCC said:

The first thing I learned in my apprenticeship in the violin repair shop was how to sharpen. I can't say it's quite my forte, but at least it's not my mezzopiano.

Touche, mon amie.

Thanks Guys! C-1Toolsteel was good enough to put an edge on it for me. Sharpening is not my forte'.

Didn't do it today, but here is my latest blade. Quite the hefty 'lil shaver.  I'm starting to improve...

My opinion is concrete all the way. I have had concrete caravel and dirt, and concrete is the best hands down. You can put thick rubber mats  in the places you will stand a lot (in front of the anvil etc.).