sfeile

I don't know anything really about them, but it says on their site that even the 2 burner forge only has 1 inch of refractory in it. It seems to me that it is not going to insulate very well and you will waste a lot of gas trying to keep the heat in there. Not to mention the outside is probably going to get real warm real fast.

So I took a 2x4x1/2 piece of leaf sprig and made this today. Really proud of this one. Nothing very special in looks, but it is my first project and first knife to come out of my coal forge. That's an accomplishment for me haha.

As soon as I saw the better photo, I knew it wasn't a two hole pin. I googled the company name and found an old catalogue. I honestly didn't know what it was until I looked it up but dang it, I had to know. Not a lot of tools that I don't know at least what it's used for, so I had to find that one out.

According to catalogue number 17 from 1940, that is a radiator nipple wrench Das.

looks like some of the two hole pins I've seen for pipefitting Das. Mine are tapered and screw together, but I have seen some that are stepped like that and just slip into the bolt holes. I could be wrong, but that's kind of what it looks like from what I can see in the photo. Similar to these.

You are doing better than I am. I've made a few blades and started the same time you did, but I still have yet to do any pattern welding. Very nicely done!

I was meaning more on an extreme level. Like the people that want to jump right to a 100 layer pattern welded ABS master smith quality knife in their first session. Most of those people are not going to take the time to learn what needs to be done to get to that stage no matter what they start with. But you are correct. Some instant gratification is definitely worth it and helps us to push further into the next project, and it is definitely achievable with realistic goals. Even though I word my points poorly, you are reinforcing them. A proper mind set goes a long way in any venture we choose.

Yes.... The dreaded cardboard cutting. That will be on my list of things to try. I did cut a few strips of some heavy stuff that was like compressed cardboard at my dad's shop to put under some doors we finished. It held up to that, but I only cut two pieces about 38 inches long each piece. Gotta find me some old boxes now...

Thanks Das! I was actually just hoping it was going to hold the edge and not break. I passed that part so I am very pleased!!

I did a test today. Was happy with it and feeling good about being in the shop. Then I started to make a new handle for one of my hammers and my belt grinder's plastic or whatever drive wheel melted and ruined a brand new ceramic belt. Wasn't feeling so happy about being in the shop anymore, so I hung it up before my temper got the best of me. But here is the test though. https://youtu.be/0j4FoQp_jEU

Not that it's worth a lot, but I'll offer my bit. I'm one of those that pretty much jumped into knives. My first project was a pair of tongs then used them to hold metal for a blade. Being self taught, it is easy for me to visualize a knife. I can easily figure out to put this spot over the horn to start making a bit of radius in the grip. I can see when I have the blade drawn out to where I want it. I can just look at it and know if it's where I want it. If it's not quite right, I can cheat and grind it a bit when I get to that point. I've made other things as well, but a simple set of candlestick holders was harder for me than shaping a blade. Did I draw that out enough to make the turn? Did I lose too much length when I made that twist? Did I leave enough for turning the base? Could I have learned more doing 4 dozen S hooks first? I can't say for sure. Have I learned anything by drawing a 1x3x3/8 chunk of leaf spring into a straight razor? Absolutely. Have I made mistakes? Most certainly. But I have learned from them. Some of the hardware, sculptures, and decorative items I see on here just amaze me. I can't even begin to think of how or where you would start with most of them. I enjoy every part of beating hot metal and having something to show for it. I want to continue to grow in my skill set on both sides of it, but some things are harder to visualize or plan for with my lack of experience. I'm not saying everyone that starts with trying to make knives right from the beginning feels the same way, but it is one aspect to consider. I don't consider myself a knife maker, nor do I consider myself a blacksmith. I know I lack the proper knowledge on both accounts to truly call myself either, but I am aspiring to make projects that people enjoy using and looking at. I am proud of the positive feedback I get, and even like the criticism because it helps me grow in something I enjoy. Granted, I had some knowledge of metal from welding and fabricating for a job, so I knew there was more to the metallurgy than just dunking a mystery metal in water and wondering why it broke or didn't harden, but to me knives are "easier". At least from the visualizing and hammering portion of it. Hopefully I can create some more complex pieces in the future as my skill improves. So to me, the most important part is what you start with as a mindset, not what project. Do you have the dedication to learn from the failures you are going to make? Or do you just want instant gratification? If the former, it doesn't matter what project because you will learn as you go. If the latter, it still doesn't matter because you aren't going to take the time to learn to do any project correctly. It doesn't matter to me if you call it blacksmithing, bladesmithing, forging, or lunacy, I just like spending time at my forge making things.

Got some new belts, epoxy, and some axles from a silverado today. Thinking some hardy tools and punches out of the axles.

THnksssss MikE..... YU mAdee me dRoolll N my keBorD....

58er that lamp is awesome! Jclonts you have a very nice toy there!

I'm really liking that bowie JHCC! Nice sleek shape to it. Das those roses are great! Very nice Job.

JHCC that Bowie is shaping up nice! I like it. Das those roses are very nice!

Hans, you are inspiring me to "steal" a few more ideas! Your tooling looks great and I see things that I could really use and should have.

Thanks Das. No particular reason at all really. I just thought it looked good. I use one of those Lansky systems most of the time for anything other than straight razors just because I have gotten lazy with my sharpening. It doesn't interfere with that, but now you have got me thinking. I will have to try it on an actual stone and make sure that it won't interfere.

I finished my 9th knife today. It is definitely no where near professional yet, but it is leagues above the first one that I tried. There are still some fit and finish flaws, but I feel I am improving with each one.

I would say to try and find one around 100 pounds Josh. Again, I have very little experience to draw from, but in that little experience I've found you will outgrow a small anvil (like a piece of track) rather quickly, and a 100-ish pound is fairly decent all around and easier on the budget. If you are making the investment it is harder to outgrow rapidly. I have a 110 pound currently. While I would like a 300 pound German anvil, there is nothing that I am doing that mine won't do. It has sufficient mass and working area, and it is easy to move if I need to.

Actually the last place I worked we did use those all the time. With wire brushes even. You want to add an even better thing to get people going, we threaded some of them onto a pipe instead of the air fitting then a valve at the end to turn it on and off. (those we did have a side handle on though) We have "handles" of varying lengths and used them to clean the insides of built pipe spools to be installed for testing set-ups of multi-million dollar gas compressors. 16 inch pipe up to 48 inch, you can "rock" it back and forth pretty easily to do a linear section then roll the pipe and repeat until finished. Smaller pipe you had to be careful, or it would just take off going around and around the inside of the pipe. So Jennifer's shop isn't the only place you'll find one. They are still used in some industrial applications. It is a tool that was designed for that use. She is doing nothing wrong with it just using it as it was intended to be used. They are bigger than most people would feel comfortable with and that's absolutely fine. But they do exist, and do get used everyday.

My big electric one is the same way. No side handle made or intended. I can't imagine how fast that would break your wrist trying to hold onto a side handle if the big wire wheels caught. Those things do NOT stall when you are hanging on to them. Mine used to see it's main use with flapper wheels for cleaning stainless pipe before TIG welding it. Although it's not as powerful as your Ingersoll it would still put a hurting on you if you aren't paying attention.

Thank you both!

Drew out another billet, then hammered out another knife shaped object. Got it profiled and ready for quenching next time I go out.

Das that 20 gallon would still be a huge improvement. All I have at the moment is one of those little 6 gallon pancake compressors. It will give enough pressure for anything you need, but it has no volume and then can't pump fast enough to keep up. Works OK for a trim nailer or such, but won't run an impact or die grinder worth a darn.