JPH

Frosty.. 50 foot of bar stock is about my usual "production run":..when you are welding 1 1/4" sq by 18" long pieces that already have between 50 to 75 pieces at the start and then you cut into thirds or quarters and then re-weld....it goes real quick. Three welds total and I am usually done with the bar...since each one hammers out to about 6 feet or so I only lay up and weld 8 pieces.. Depending upon the pattern I decide to use I can even stretch that out another 20% or so. Failure rate? Unless it is a fatal flaw like an inclusion there is no such thing as far as I am concerned..it's a design change...How HT troubles when I am doing the Japanese stuff..I am down to like 2% on the hardening..sometimes a little more but since I figured out how to get through that part 2% is about the norm..I just hate hearing that "Tink of Death" .... Profits vary greatly..on making RR spike knives I can make about $400.00 an hour...with minimum costs other than LPG and a grinding belt or two per half dozen or so...on a HC 5160 sword, blued steel/iron fittings and wire wrapped grip..I make enough to keep a roof over our heads and bacon and beans on the table... My set up is good for a one man op.. plus there is minimal time wasted..while I have pieces heating I am doing file-fitting or sanding...while stuff is cooling I am doing grinding...there really is no just standing around my place... Couple that with the equipment I have (which isn't all that much really for a full timer lie me.....but I put it to good use, now someone just starting out with just a hammer and a pair of tongs ?? that's something different) plus all the years I have been doing this...time spent on any given piece is pretty much as low as you can get it without cutting quality. Hope this answers some of your questions...

For some reason I am cforbidden to reply to my own thread so..here we go Frosty: Ok..I admit I have a super-human ability to heal and re-generate thanks to my superior genetics..after all being 1/2 Kurd...oh never mind what Adolf H. was thinking when he sent all those blond NAZI bimbos to get knocked up by my Mum's Kinsfolk back in WWII.. Geeze.. Seriously now I have been very lucky that I heal so quick..guess it's from all the practice I get. Now if I can just keep this GD RRMS under control I will be doing better than good..but I hadn't had a relapse in 9 months so....and according to the VA witch-doctors I may never have another one.. yet..,..then again... Laid out steel for about 50 foot of pattern welded bar stock today..will start welding on that this next week after I get the pieces laid up...just straight lam material for the "raw bars" before patterning..that will keep me busy for 3 or 4 days welding that up.. JPH

Just an update...The sutures are out and I am 100%. The scar while visible isn't as gnarly and ghastly as I would like it to be but "I can live with it" as it is. The Dr said I should be able to get back to full time stuff after the Independence Day weekend and that isn't none too soon. As it is I am pretty much out of stock on my website and now that folks have their tax refunds coming the orders are coming.. At least I am starting off clean and fresh...just that now I am going to have to get my hairy hiennie to Scotland and get meself cloned...geeze.. Well busy is better than NOT busy if you ask me... JPH

I really shouldn't complain about "long term" stuff cause I really am a lucky olde fart...I mean no BP problems..no diabetes..no COPD..nothing like that..yeah I get a gout flair (hey it's a bit twingy but a couple of pills and that's done with) every now and then when I eat something I shouldn't (I love a good bowl of menudo but man...it doesn't love me...) and my thalasemia is under control but that's IT as far as health things.. What got my knickers twisted was the fact that they dragged this on and on and there was no reason for it. Couple that with the fact that they are taking time away from someone else who really NEEDS the PT so a PT tech can watch me make a fist twice a week? Oh that is just wrong. When I was getting fitted for that splint last week..there was this young (well to me he was young) man (had to be a marine by the way he was conducting himself) in his early 30's I'd say..he had 1 leg and 1 1/2 arms and he was trying to get use to using the prosthetic arm.. He was having trouble...GIVE MY TIME TO HIM..He's the hero..he's the man who wasn't as lucky as I was..Sure I got banged up a couple of times and blown up once..but I am still up and about...Here's a man that has had his life forever changed because he loved this country so much that he put it all on the line... I tell ya I am not one to show emotions but seeing him..it broke me down...( I'll be fine with this hand besides I'm not really listening to the Drs much..I am keeping it clean and dry but hey life goes on)......just give him and all the others like him the care he needs so he could live some sort of normal life...We owe them that much at least.. JPH

Noto: I invested 32 years of my life in service to this great country of ours ( the United States) and while I was "in": I got the finest medical care in the WORLD.. PERIOD!!. I have nothing but the highest respect to the medics, Doctors and Nurses in the US Military...I received nothing less than A No. 1 Care..BAR NONE.. Now I am what they call a Mustang Officer..and well..when I retired in 2006 at the rank of O-6..I was placed into the VA system..I was OK with that cause I never had to "use it" other than my annual physical and SLTT .. well not until this happened, and what a nightmare this was... Believe me this was a Charlie Foxtrot from jump .. (All ya old Vets know what that means..) and to top it off..after building that brand new VA Hospital out here at a cost in excess of 120 MILLION taxpayer's $$ and then to be told they do NOT have a Doctor in that Hospital that could do my surgery?? OH COME ON FOLKS.. sigh... but be that as it may... As far as "private insurance" when you invest 30 plus years into a system that sends you out to get killed on numerous occasions ..you not only expect..but you DESERVE what you were promised... Enough on this...I am just happy that this is done and I want to get back to work. After all I have a rep to live down to. JPH

Thank you all but this is just part of it..The surgery was not performed by a VA Dr nor in a VA facility..you see..that brand new 120 MILLION US TAXPAYER $$$ Hospital out here didn't have a Dr that could do this surgery so I had to navigate through the "Veteran's Choice" system..who in their wisdom, after 10 MONTHS finally OK'd the surgery...HOWEVER they did NOT OK the medications....so I am out of pocket of some serious lucre.. Oh they WOULD of filled the scripts I gave them on the ant-biotics, steroids, antimflamatories and pain management scripts I was given the Thursday before my surgery date but when I gave them to the VA pharmacy I was told 5 to 7 business days... Great way to treat a Vet going in for surgery in 4 calendar days huh?? Well all I can say this is what you get when the same folks send you out 5 times to get killed get put in charge of your health care.. At least I am thankful that I am in NO PAIN at all, with no negative effect on my dexterity.. Mazda provides..Mazda watches... So if i see the chat room with folks in there I will probably pop in for a spell meself.. Thank you all again for the well wishes.. JPH

Well as some of you are aware I have been fighting with the VA since last August to get this tumor removed from my right hand..Well after all sorts of delays, hassles and general frustrations..I FINALLY had my hand surgery on Monday (June 8..) and none too soon..what ever it was (will get the pathology back next week) that was in therewas infected and necrotic..It was a wee bit more complicated than what I was told and they were not able to take WIP pics but here's the aftermath 3 days after..now I can't really count the number of sutures..the suture line is about 3" in length..so if the first one to come up with the correct number gets awarded the grand prize of a High Colonic followed by 40 mile hike with full combat pack...How's that for a deal?? The thing was decent sized as well..about 3 1/4" wide by 5" long and a good 3/4" thick...much bigger than I expected...Had to get put under instead of using a local like we originally planned... Anyways... Also shown is the VA approved way to make a fist as PT..(You have GOT to be kidding right?? But they aren't...) ... Your tax payer $$$ at work here folks...and they want me to make a 65 mile long round trip, twice a week to the VA hospital to sit there and make a fist in front of the PT tech?? (Now there is the the SE VA Clinic out this was which is like 2 to 3 miles from where we live...) ?? Ohhhh K..I may even throw in a few individual finger exercises as well..ya know.."Digit Dexterity" routines..??? (I'm sorry..for some reason my middle one doesn't bend much) Oh come on..I can do this at home...geeze.. So I will be out of work for at least another two weeks until the sutures are removed..I am hoping for a ready gnarly and groovy scar to come out of this whole thing...So for your viewing pleasure... JPH

​The LPG tanks..the what 5 gallon (?) ones...cut them into strips and you are pretty much good to go.. On the frames..I get them as I seer them and then I do a hardening test on each one and go from there...I will say that overall the steel used in these seems toi be a bit "dirtier" than most steels..Ie, it scales a bit on the heavier end... JPH

Frosty: Ref the meathook. I have been fighting with the DVA over this since last August. They just recently built at 120 MILLION US Yankee dollar hospital out here and they do NOT have a hand surgeon that can remove this bloody thing?!!?? So I have to go out of the VA system and get to be seen by a "reconstructive" surgeon to get this thing taken out and that means red tape, delays and more red tape. All I know is that the NVA, the VC, the Iraqi's and the Afghans couldn't kill me...the VA well, they will probably succeed... Well this is what happens when the same folks that send you out 5 different times to get killed get put in charge of your health care. Granted I had a long military career, this old dog face has two stars on my NDSM and even a GCM (Something rare for an Officer..that's cause I was a Mustang)..Still after 36 years of service... you'd think I'd be use to Uncle Sugar's weird ways...but I am not. I tried to talk them into taping the slice and dice but they said no way...I wanted to put it up on my website for grins and giggles..but they will take "action shots" so that is better than nothing. I go back in next week to get a surgery date (FINALLY!!) which is not soon enough cause this thing is having a major impact on my ability to work. I just hope that I am not laid up too long from this. On the special meeting...I already tried that and it didn't work at all..seems that this is a little more complicated than a poke and squeeze sorta thing..At first I thought that is was just a cyst and well..I have cut a few of them outta my hide in the past with no problem..but not this one.. JPH

Hello!! Here are a couple of pieces I just finished and sent down to me E-Vile Minions to sell at RPFS for me... Both are Ladder Patterned PW blades.the leaf bladed sword has a blade length of 22" and the Dag has a blade length of 18". Both have my infamous Bovine Ivory grips... I am basically working with one "good hand" due to this thing I got growing on my rfight hand which should be removed in the next few weeks... Hope these pics turn out... JPH

Frosty: I have a tumor growing merrily on it's way on my right hand between my thumb and fore-finger that is being removed in the next little bit once the VA decides to do something about this...Once they get in and see what is what they will be able to tell me how long I will be down for... Being that I make my living with my hands..the less time down the better for us... JPH

JK: As far as the bed frame..it is made from bed frame steel...what exactly I have no idea but it behaved like a medium C 10XX series but a bit "ditier" to work..Ie, it scaled a bit more than say 1060/70 would. LPG tanks are made from a pressure vessel steel which could be A203D/E..which is a Ni bearing steel. Etched out on the bright side so I am happy.. The coils spring is probably 9260..sure acted like it. oil hardened..srping tempered..All in all..came out pretty good.. JPH

Hello: Something I made from recycled/scrap materials..the only new thing used as the solder that I sweated the fittings together with. Blade is a 3 core twist/.counter-twist interupted pattern welded from an old bed frame and a old LPG tank. Edge steel is an old truck coil spring. The brass started out as old cartridge cases that I melted and made into barstock. The Cu pieces in the guard and pommel were once a Cu Buss bar. Old bone that I gave my special treatment to.. All in all it didn't turn out half bad if you ask me...Especially when you consider I am working with just one good hand at the moment.. Hope thse pics turn out.. JPH

I use two sloitted sticks of Ask and tweakl/torque them in..sometimes i need the Cu block..sometimes just the torque does it, depends upon how bad it is warped or worse yet twisted.. (This is in book IV BTW) JPH

Yes..Lake City is the Plan.well Ft White actually...we already have the place and as soon as we sell this one in NV we will be packing up and moving. Moving the household stuff will be a walk in the park compared to moving the Studio and the fire-arms and artillery/crew served will be a challenge but hey..this will be the LAST time I ever move..ever.. As far as my teaching goes...I don't know...with my health being as it is..it's hard to say..besides there are a lot more (I would say 90%) folks out there that are better at that than I am...I have a very low tolerance for a few things that will come into it as far as teaching goes..... JPH

that is a great day indeed..now either your forge is really high or your son is really short.. JPH

Here's one I hammered out a little while back..1095 and SS heat treat foil. Guard is forged from 1 puece of mild steel..NO welds to break that way... JPH

Hello: Ok here's the output from this last week. a bunch of welded cable blades and a few high carbon 1095 Electrite boot knives. THese are up on my site and then off to RPFS with my E-vile minions for that 6 weekend show. The stag is again treated using my propriatary process (will be discussed in book IV..which is still being finished...need a photographer and a graphic artist..anyone??).. Anyway here's what I whipped out in the last 6 days... JPH

Thos: Ok teh drsin snakes I got all had a SS cable running down the centre..if yoyu don't know how to weld SS to HC it's gotta go..then again even if you do know how..the grade of SS they use has very little C in it so it really brings nothing to the table.. I remove the center cable..straighten oput the coils and I go from there...weld the ends, heat, flux a bit and twist it up tighter than a Scotsman's purse strings... JPH

Yes..Moving..I am getting out iof this place..the kids are grown and outta here..(YYYEEEHAAAA!! all THREE of them..) and well..too many people in the area.. Moving to Florida..Lake City area..already found a spot..on 10 acres with a small woprkshop and a really nice spot for a larger one... JPH

Thank you for the kind words......as far as the drain snakes..I have a couple of friends that are in the plumbing trades and they dropped off 5 of them that broke...and now I am up to my neck is 10XX spring steel rod/heavy wire that welds wonderfully easy...so I am a hammering fool trying to get work done before we move... As far as doing this before..no..I am just a beginner..yeah.aa ahh a beginner, yeah that's the ticket....that's my story and I am sticking to it. JPH

Well after a whole bunch of persuasion, talking and imploring from several folks on here who shall remain namless..I have came back to see what has changed. Hopefully the situation that caused my departure has been corrected... So I will be popping in every now and then. In the mean time here is what I did last Monday...Hopefully the photos work out all welded wire/cable/drain snake...in stag with phosphor bronze..on my website at the moment JPH

<<TEACH ME MASTER!!!!>> Huh?? Seriously I wish I could find some youngster (<30) that was in my general area and was serious about learning and had that fire in the belly that is needed in this craft..Sigh... As the wizard said in "Willow": No apprentice this year... JPH... I just signed the contract with Paladin Press for book IV!!

Hello: Ok it's not that heavy..under 4 lbs, due to the shape of the cross section and the distal taper..it's just so gawshawful looong that if you aren't use to a blade of that length you get tangled up quickly. Not many of these surived thanks to the Supmptuary Laws that the Shogunate passed limiting the length of blades.. Most were either cut down to Katana or given as temple offerings..as religious offerings were excluded from the limits. It is a nasty sword, and the polish was a bear and I am still not done with it..I am going to re-wrap the grip with a deeper blue Ito....I think it would match better... JPH

on the guard..fill it with braze rod and re-slot...that's what I would do if I didint want to redo the guard... JPH