First blades.....

[kim breed]

good work for your first try. when you can spend time your finish will improve. but I like them the way they are now. frontier.

 

[P.B.Walsh]

I pretty excited, I now have a summer job (currently in college) that can let me afford to buy the stuff I need! First is to build a propane forge, does this look right: http://www.zoellerforge.com/simplegasforge.html

Then to buy a bench grinder, then the other stuff. As far as an anvil, what I have will do until I can trade for a railroad one.....

 

[TimboKhan]

Dude, you just got a compliment from Kim Breed. Being familiar with Kim's work by merit of having a Breed knife about three feet from me right now, I can assure you that you should be giggling like a baby being tickled by grandpa. High praise indeed.

 

[P.B.Walsh]

Slap me slilly.... I just realized that that was Kim Breed (on my phone I only see the text). Thank you Mr. Breed, high comlliments indeed!

 

[OH_Spartan]

My first knife was one that only a father could love, so I gave it to him for Christmas.

 

[P.B.Walsh]

Thats funny, tried making a kydex sheath but the spine of the knife is a bit twisted because my strikes did not give a straight spine. Therefore, it takes way too much force to take in and out of the sheath. So I guess I'll have to use an older leather sheath.

Any thoughts on the forge link?

 

[Sam1911]

That's a very nice little forge! I should probably bite the bullet and make something like that myself.

Here's what I use for now:



Coal fired, with a perforated pipe at the bottom fed from the blower side of a shop-vac.

It's done all I could ask so far. I've had fabulous heat-treat results with 5160, W2, and 1095. I leave anything more exotic to the professionals.

 

[P.B.Walsh]

I plan on using 5160 as my primary steel. Are those bricks as the walls?

 

[Sam1911]

Yes, those are the refractory bricks sold as woodstove lining.

 

[P.B.Walsh]

You know, if I had a good source of coal, I might would do that setup, looks much more simple than building a propane one... or maybe I am over thinking it.

 

[Sam1911]

Most makers say they're much more comfortable working with a gas forge as it's a whole lot easier to see what you're doing, control temps, and its just a lot simpler to make go.

Having used a coal forge for my stuff, I'm inclined to agree strongly!

 

[P.B.Walsh]

It is easier to work with, and I did not get any "sparks" from getting the steel too hot, which I did with the coal one.

Just gotta get my mind wrapped around the propane forge building, I am not too mechanically inclined.