Chad J.

Was working on a few knife handles still.   Mostly just need to clean off epoxy from where it shouldn't be and get the micarta handle sanded to 600 grit.

Got a custom hat and a couple shirts with my touchmark made,  also got a pair of micarta scales a friend made delivered yesterday.   First sets he's made and is very curious how they work. 

Was doing some finish grinding on several knives and got handles on 3.  I'm expecting some micarta that a friend made in the mail tomorrow and I'll handle 2 more, because I need more knives laying around the house and shop but I can't help myself sometimes.  I'm getting better at forging in bevels and it has cut my grinder time down significantly. 

My oldest came down for Father's day and I talked her into slicing a water jug this morning before she headed home. 

Stopped by a mechanics shop today and got some half shafts and a junk yard and got 6 coil springs to make punches and other tools.  

Welcome a Board, great to see another new face.  You've got some nice first time projects going there.  Great first steps.  I did the scrolls the other way at first too on my hooks.

Like most things,  I go by eyeball.   I've done 1 inch square stock.   To forever to chisel through but that was a while back.  Do yourself a favor and draw it on first, cold chisel it in so you can see the design hot,  and build a good holddown of some type.

My little sister and her boyfriend came over to the shop and each made a leaf.   While I was working them through that i decided to forge a little 5 inch utility knife.   My they had some fun and almost everyone remembered my shop rule #1; everything is hot.  Anyway here's me and my sister at the end of the day...

I just realized I never posted in here again.  It finished off at 2 pounds 4 ounces.  I did a leather wrap on the handle and then string wrapped it for texture.   Not happy with the leather on the seam but it was a first time and it cuts very nicely. 

Not going to be in the shop today.   I'm going out and doing a demo at the same Distillery I was at last year.   It'll be fun but it seems like a different style of demonstration because last year everyone came specifically to watch me work and they stayed the whole time.   So playing off of that I have planned several simple projects, starting from leaves for warmup and working up to a cutlery set with a Blacksmith's knife.   I think my next upgrade is going to be an hand cranked blower to replace the ratchet blower on my rivet forge.

Armed Rooster Studio, I like it.  You can always adjust it later too.  

Duckwalk, what do you use to such your knives?  I currently don't have a reliable touchmark for my knives and need to get one soon. 

I got to my first craft fair of the season Sunday, didn't do as well as I hoped but I covered the booth fee.  I spent so much time in the last week finishing up items that I didn't get pictures of some things.  Anyway I had redesigned my roses and played around with how I set them up.  Standing,  laying,  leaf number, and heat colors.

That's a good looking leaf Gewoon.  Nice clean lines.   I finished a second orchid tonight but had to abandon shop for a few moments when the orchid heads started shooting out some funky flame and developed a yellow soot on my.   I didn't think I bought galvanized sheet.  Anyway here's #2.  Didn't have nearly the fight I had with the first.   No welding, got the rivet right this time.  I have 5 more shaped to go.

My work table is buried right now, just like every other flat surface in my shop. 

I have my first orchid done.   It was a fight to get the head on.  I had planned on riveting in place, but my first attempt broke,  my little torch didn't work, and the stick welder wanted to disintegrate the sheet metal.  I got it though.   I used a hot beeswax on this one.   Next one I'm throwing in the oven at 500 to see if I get colors.

I couldn't pick my favorite here. 

I'm starting to see reviews of that anvil and they are positive.  I may try and pick one up later as I need a good anvil that's easier to transport than my 200 pounder. 

Thanks George!  It was just the shadows, I'm going to try to get some heat oxidation on some of them in the toaster oven and catch them in the blue ranges.   Also going to go black and v hot bread brush a couple.  Here are the blanks...

This week marks the 3 year anniversary of my getting into the hobby.   I've gotten to spend a lot of time on this in b that time.   Anyway I've been working on spring related items.  Shepard hooks of various designs,  a simple decorative chain,  fire pit tools,  knives, and I've started in on some orchids that my girlfriend, who is a horticulturist at a botanical garden,  helped me design for relatively realistic looks.  I've got them cut out and started shaping them last night. 

Jason welcome back.  I don't have much advice like the other fine gentlemen here on what to do, but I'm glad to hear you've recovered from what sounds like an extremely nasty accident and you aren't letting it stop you.   Good l luck and I'm looking forward to pictures. 

Thanks George,  for the steels I was thinking of the handles for more control, but I don't have much expirience using for steels.   If they get it the way then  by all means, I'll simplify the design. 

That looks great!  Make sure you take it easy on that elbow.  Maybe a but of ice and stretching tonight. 

I was playing around with little stuff again today,  made a towel hanger for kitchen cabinets,  a couplr different designs of fire steels, and worked on a pattern welded billet.  Making a seax it of it.

Definately, that's going to help me work my design for the striker. 

Those all look great Ohio Rusty.

I can't remember,  do the fire steels  need to be hardened?  My neighbor just opened up a gun store and has an open cabinet for me.   I'm thinking survival and outdoor related items might be a good fit.  It should also force me to reduce my pile of partly finished knives...

Thanks, if you have questions about making your first short sword dm me.  I've learned a few lessons that I'm happy to share.