HammerMonkey

I never got excited about the idea of making one of these, but I finally recognized the value in practicing something simple to develop technique. Ok... So I finally tried making a leaf last night.... it is not very realistic, but it was actually pretty fun.

It's ok...that sudden information is just... alternate facts.

Truth^^

Now it’s up to $725 with 3+ days to go in the auction. (Not including the 15% buyers premium). Like I said, it looked like an ASO to me, but the bidding war was perplexing. I guess there are a lot of inexperienced, that don’t understand the value of doing a little research and asking some questions before bidding..

“Gomes, 51, was charged with felony reckless endangerment and misdemeanor arson.” well, apparently somebody (that knows more about what actually happened than we do) thinks he’s a reckless idiot. I’m just sayin...

I 100% agree ^^. But that will not keep that guy from hiring a lawyer to try and blame & sue the History Channel and that show for this. And likely win the case...

Really?? Wow... In this litigious age that we live in, that truly surprises me! Now the idiot that started the fire will probably sue that television show, saying "I just was doing what they showed on TV."

Ouch! Does that show have a "Don't try this at home" disclaimer? Not that it would have made a difference. There will always be some that "forge ahead" without knowledge or due caution.

So sorry to hear this. Thoughts and prayers going out.

Engaging with a troll is just piddling away your time and a waste of effort.

Are you furnishing air to your fire with a heat gun AND oxygen from your torch setup?? on edit: asked and answered. Glad that I was not the only one to see this.

Because of the raised lettering/numbers vs stamped? That is what made me suspect ASO. But the bidding started at $100 and quickly went to $500 with a week to go in the auction. That made me wonder if there was something I was missing, so I decided to ask the experts... thank you.

This anvil & stand is up for auction near Seattle. 220 lbs, & 22” x 6” is the only description provided. The current bid is at $500 USD. I’ve got a friend looking for an anvil and I wonder if this might be a good one to tell him about, or is it just an ASO? Anyone recognize this? thank you.

Thanks Will W, Medowgrove & genesaika for the feedback. You probably were not being blunt Medowgrove.. I have been on a very limited calorie liquid diet for a week now, and have moved to clear liquids only for the weekend. I'm having surgery on Monday, but I am at work now (Mandatory overtime today and tomorrow). I think I may just be a tad sensitive, and grumpy.. Sorry! Good question genesaika! I hadn't even thought of that. I think your point is spot on JHCC. Thanks. Also, I think that the resin could flake off as the blade flexes, getting into whatever you might be cutting.

Yes, as I said, I've been working on the basics, with mixed success. That is where I started and I am continuing to practice them and I have been adding in simple projects as I progress. But, if you read my previous posts, you will see that I did not feel like I was ready to take on a blade project yet, but I forged ahead (pun intended) in spite of this, because of limited time and the significance of the piece to the recipient. I will continue to learn and practice the basics in measured steps. Stretching and attempting an advanced project has not been a disaster either. I have learned a lot, and I am not disgusted with the outcome, so far.

I guess I should have said that this knife is not my first project. I've been working on a few other things for a while now. I was not ready to start with a knife yet as my skills are still very undeveloped. But when I saw my wife's reaction to the rasp I decided to go for it and try to finish it up before Christmas. I have been doing some bottle openers and meat turners from R/R spikes, some tools, and I have been trying to learn to draw out and taper (and still not quite getting the hang of it yet). I also got together with 4elements and he showed me how to forge weld and I got a link to stick on my first try. That made me very happy! (Thanks again my friend!). I only have a few pics of some of my other projects. I am happy with my progress, in some techniques, and still a bit frustrated with others... These are some bottle poppers I've been making lately as gifts for my brother in-laws. They are very simple. I peened the topmost one like that intentionally. I was trying for a rustic look.

Now that's funny right there! lol

true, I could have.

Do you rent the 500 gallon tank, or did you buy it? Is the cost of delivered propane much different that what you previously paid?

Thank you! No, the bevels are not finished... I don't know what to say about those. I forged in a bevel that starts about 1/3" from the blade edge. I was struggling with them as all I had to work on was a 4" x 48" bench sander. I am hoping that I can do a flat grind and clean up the plunge line a bit. I just bought a 1' x 30" Harbor Freight 1/3 HP belt sander, and ordered a bunch of belts in a variety of grits, that should be arriving soon. Good point about the opportunity for crud/rust, but I want to keep a little bit of the rasp pattern visible because it is actually the main reason I am creating this for my wife. You see, I had this old farrier's rasp in my truck and last weekend my wife saw it and picked it up. I noticed she was crying and when I asked her what was wrong, she told me that her dad had a rasp like that and she remembered seeing him work with it as a child. I showed her what I was making last night and she cried again, smiled and gave me a kiss. Apparently, she seems to think that I am a pretty decent husband... and a great blacksmith! lol.

Here is the knife I am working on right now. I was not really ready to dive into making a blade yet, but something happened that compelled me to do this now, as a gift for my wife. I forged out the shape and last night I did some of the grinding to get the shape refined. I have some micarta scales that I plan to use that I think will complement the raspy pattern that may survive the remaining grinding. I am pretty pleased with how it is progressing, but I fear that I may not be so pleased with the feedback I am asking for... I won't learn if I don't ask, so lay it on me.

I think it is a number/tag assigned to a miner and kept on a board near the mine entrance. When the miner goes into the mine he moves his tag to the side of the board for people that are down below. This gave a quick reference to how many and who were down below in an emergency.

Wow, really nice! Great job!!

I dropped out of HS and eventually got my GED. Then later in life, after my military service was complete, I worked my butt off to battle back and make up for the mistake of dropping out. I eventually saved enough to go to college and get my Bachelors degree (going to school with a full credit load for 4 + years while working full time was not easy). I graduated from college with a 4.0 GPA, so clearly, I am not stupid, but I now know that dropping out was the most stupid thing I could have done... Now I have a great job where I've worked for nearly 30 years, and plan to retire next spring at age 58. But the truth is, life would have been so much easier if I had just gritted it out and finished HS. Like someone else said in an earlier post. Employers don't care if you had bad teachers, or bad school experiences. They only place value the yes or no answer on the job application. "Did you graduate?". When it comes to finding a good job, a GED is not the equivalent to graduating. I know you think you've got it all figured out, but you would do well to listen to the voices of experience here. Good luck.

I use a welding cap that works pretty well. But I seem to produce such a copious volume of sweat some days, where nothing seems to stop it for long. Coal dust & soot in the hair? Not so much of a problem for me any more...