Chimaera

I don’t understand how you can rationalize such actions. I mean, I’ve caught my shoes on fire several times, but always by accident (typically stepping on a piece of coal that fell out of the forge). Another pro to this method is that you can also lick the 9V to stay awake. Or just lick the lit steel wool.

BB- you could do a wildflower garden instead. Helps the environment, low maintenance, looks better IMHO. Probably frowned upon in some communities...

A while ago, a belt burned up on the riding mower. Asked the neighbor if I could borrow his mower to finish up the job. He neglected to tell me that the thing's brakes don't work... ended up crashing his mower into a tree because it wouldn't stop. The front was busted up (easily fixed with super glue), but more importantly the drive system wouldn't engage. Over the next week, as I prepared to get him a whole new mower, he ended up pushing it into the wall of his garage, somehow fixing it. I suppose all's well that ends well (the only final damages were a couple little cosmetic flaws in the 20 yr old plastic. I filled up the tank as an apology).

That would also work. I just need to find someone to weld, for either cases.

Very Nice, DHarris. I need to make a flatter soon, as I struggle to get my pieces of mokume gane (and everything else) actually flat. I might just have someone weld a steel plate onto a hand sledge head I've got (don't have any stock thick enough to do a flatter, don't have a welder). So many things I want to do and tell myself I'll do soon, so little time at the forge.

Little screwdriver I forged from a garage door spring. Woodturned the handle. Unfortunately, didn’t harden the tip as much as is necessary. Very simple little project.

Crocodiles are typically green or brown (though some are orange or black) have v shaped snouts with teeth showing. Alligators are typically navy blue, brown, or black. They have u shaped snouts with hidden teeth. Caimans are a subgroup of alligators. Gharials are yellow, white, or blue striped and have very long snouts with completely visible needle like teeth. False gharials have elongated snouts, but not as serious as a gharials. They are gray or brown with black spots. But if you want to easily tell the difference, remember this: turtles have shells, crocodiles do not.

MJ- I’ve got a printer and am at least somewhat experienced in OnShape. Been starting air soft recently. Did you design the CAD models? If so, congratulations! They look great! I just might try building one myself...

Congratulations BB!

I was looking into getting something to coat them. For now I’m wearing an n95 respirator while using them. Does that suffice for the time being?

Technically yesterday, but got some good work done. Made an arrowhead necklace from the aforementioned dumpster fire mokume. Made a friend a cross (different billet) that turned out a lot better than I expected (not yet clear coated, so looks like garbage). Still have a couple large billets to use whenever I want. All made possible by my new, handy dandy coffee can forge. Was able to justify doing only 15 minutes of forging to thin out a billet, as it takes only a minute to come up to heat. Also made a friend a little coffee can forge.

JHCC- I’m getting more and more of a habit of putting power tools in the vise. It’s getting concerning.

Murphy's Law- anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Second best governing law of the universe. My favorite- Sturgeon's law. It goes as follows: 90% of everything is garbage.

Goodwill oscillating fans.

Only been to Young's once. It was very good, but I think a little overrated. Sorry to hear that, SinDoc. I still am too scared to try a piece of damascus. Today, I tried to salvage a piece of dumpster fire mokume. It's definitely still a dumpster fire, but I bet I can get at least a set of earrings out of it. Or maybe a pendant. I did make a good piece though. Don't have a pic at the moment.

Bluerooster- I don’t think so. It’s a small railroad anvil. While I could probably make a round hole, I don’t know that I have the capabilities to make it square. I want to upgrade my anvil this summer anyway, so I’ll probably just wait until then.

One of these days, I need to get an anvil with a hardy hole. I got no hot cut and no saw, so all my cuts are done with an angle grinder and are about as straight as a parabola.

Q? Is it Quetzalcoatl????

It is air hardening. It is by no means soft, but I don't believe it will shatter when hit. I've made a few chisels and punches from it with no issues. The only reason I have it is that it was dirt cheap, and I thought it might work for chisels and kiridashis.

Looks great! What wood are you using? I love the different colors between the sapwood and heartwood.

Alright. I’ll just polish up the face a bit (it’s really rough) and call it good.

I made a touch mark! Not the design I wanted, but one I like. A2 tool steel. Need to heat treat and polish. First tests in lead are promising.

I was thinking of making it a roundingchammer. Might do a straight peen though.

Neighbor called to me while mowing. Got me an 8lb sledge, a 3lb cross pein, a 30 oz ball, and a 2-2.5 hand sledge. Excited to get some handles on these puppies.

I’ll take number six.