Chad J.

Thanks guys.

Buzzkill, where did you get that handle material from? I love it!

Making something related to where you are is definately a good idea. I did a demo at a distillery recently and made a couple bar spoons. The group that was watching actually got there shortly after I did and stayed the whole time. They also had a couple specials on smoked beverages that encouraged people to hang around. It was a fun day but I made a few sparklers in the forge when I was exchanging friendly banter with everyone.

Well I tried to make a santa hat wall hanger for stockings a couple weeks ago. Trying to decide how to finish it and improve the design for next time. Made it from a tyre.

I'm late getting started on Christmas stuff but this came to me at work the other day. I was hoping it would be able to stand on its own, which it can, but any amount of weight pulls it over the front of the table. Maybe I weld in a flat bar for an adhesive pad.

Twisted, do you clay those?

Why? What would you do when the other piece is warming back up?

Yesterday was actually out of the shop. I did a live demonstration yesterday at a local micro-distillery. I had a hero of people there talking and laughing for almost 5 hours. Met a local Smith who didn't know anyone else in the area and he brought me a double diagnol peen hammer he made for me. I was blown away. It was really a fun day that allowed me to share the craft and give a quick lesson to a group of young beginners on making a leaf. I'll clean the hammer head up a little and get it handled this week.

My little sister is retiring from the Navy as a Chief after 22 years. She's mostly been reserve but had her turn in certain countries. I was originally going to make her a small anchor but changed my mind, for now. I was working on a KA-BAR for her yesterday and got the best set of fullers ground in yet. I need to temper it again and get leather for the stack handle.

Hey Jungle, the knife looks good. I like how it's skeletonized. Even if it's not the best knife steel it'll work well, you'd just have to sharpen it a bit more often. I started work on a new forge last night, the koawool and refractory are getting here on Friday. The tank was sealed when I started so I assumed it had pressure in it in spite of having sat open for a full year. I cut through the brass nozzle to make sure I didn't cause sparks before I water purged it. This is going to be my 4th propane forge since I started, each getting more complex and better performance.

I like the cigar pokers. I may borrow the design if you don't mind. There's a cigar bar not far from here that may like them. Rojo, nice job on the horse heads. I haven't been brave enough to try a figure head yet but I need to try one for the fall challenge. Today I had a paying guest in the shop for his birthday. He had grand ideas for what he'd be able to do but I managed to temper them before he got here. I helped him make a rail road spike knife and camp ax. For the ax I was doing more of the work as he was getting tired but he had a great time and was thrilled with the finished products. I even carved his initials in the handle of the knife in a rough touchmark. As for myself I've been playing with campfire hardware still. Made a quick rotisserie bar today and day before I made a meat hook. I'm fairly happy with the tripod set right now.

Today I made a Trammell Hook, finished a RR Spike Tomahawk, made an engraving chisel, a new round punch, and these on the smoker while I worked. Chilli powder, salt, pepper, cayenne powder, and fresh shredded ginger for the rub.

Love it! It looks great Jennifer. How's your new hammer feel?

Spent almost 2 minutes trying to get a hot slug out of the top of my boot, I got my one off and dump it out and it fell into my other boot. I was about 2 seconds from dumping water into my boot. Was working on a rr spike tomahawk at the time. Also started a new trivet and a spear tip utility knife.

Jennifer. That's amazing. Shainarue, don't get discouraged. Keep trying. Try a little more heat and try 2 to one. 2 hits on the back and one on the side to straighten the cupping.

I'm in. I haven't done any figure heads or anything like that yet. Maybe I'll give it a shot with this. We'll have to see since I normally wing it.

Made a sign hanger today for the first time. This is actually my first ever commission piece. The scrolls I did cold and the twists on the 3/4 inch square stock broke the welds on my twisting v wrench... twice. I'm very happy with it, and the customer has already asked about other pieces. Also I decided to cook a pork shoulder while I was out in the shop. It was fairly large so I decided to test the edge of that last blade I made. Umm, yeah.

Picked this stove up today. 50 bucks. I need to now, build a stack for inside and a tool set to go with it. Going to clean it up and pull it oil it down.

It is...

Aluminum bronze is not a bad alloy, it machines well, tends to be a pale yellow. Factory made there's a small bit of iron, maybe 5%,in there that actually made it magnetic.

Soldered on a guard, glued and shaped the scales, shaped them and took the blade up to 2500 grit on the grinder. Balance is 3 inches ahead of the guard. It swings nicely and is a quick blade.

This is from a rail road anchor. 21 1/2 inch overall length, 15 inch blade.

I need to remember to watch punctuation periodically.

Grabbed a box smoker from the curb the other day. The heating element doesn't work but I'm trying to figure out how to modify that into a bigger tempering oven when I get the urge to make the longer blades. Thinking i may gut a toaster oven and line the whole thing with kao wool with a small cut in the top to slide the blades in.

If I made a second Frosty the name would be A-pair-ent. I'll show myself out after that one.