Any interest in pics...

[ouchie]

of a couple blades I've made and some of the equipment I have made/restored?

I am not highly skilled and still learning so it's one of those "don't expect much and you won't be disappointed" kind of things

[J. Armstrong]

Sure, bring 'em on :)
You won't hear any cheap shots from me - if I even THOUGHT about making a knife, my insurance company would drop me and the local ER would padlock the doors :D

[ouchie]

Here's a couple of my first completed knife.
Made from an old 1950's broken bastard file.
Scales are of ironwood.
This one ultimately broke while being field tortured...err field tested.
The breakage occured when it was driven into a seasoned oak log about 2 inches then twisted out with a large pair of Channel-Locks

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/ouchieusa/Knives/myknife.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/ouchieusa/Knives/myknife2.jpg

[ouchie]

Here's some of the second knife I made.
This was made from 1095 and the scales are of burled mesquite.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/ouchieusa/Knives/CIMG0015.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/ouchieusa/Knives/CIMG0009.jpg

[ouchie]

This is a partial tang, hollow ground, 1095 in elkhorn that I haven't finished yet.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/ouchieusa/Knives/CIMG0412.jpg

[ouchie]

Here is my first attempt at a forged blade.
A "spike knife" made from a high carbon railroad spike.
I ened up burning it (and a couple others) so still have not completed a forged knife project.
Hopefully this winter I'll get a couple completed.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/ouchieusa/Knives/CIMG0567.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/ouchieusa/Knives/CIMG0564.jpg

[ouchie]

Here is my second forge following the Tim Lively design.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/ouchieusa/Blacksmithing/CIMG1220.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/ouchieusa/Blacksmithing/CIMG1219.jpg

[ouchie]

Here is my leg vise after it was cleaned up.
When I found it it was seized up and thoroughly rusted.
Those bottles in the background are white vinegar that was used to soak and then scour the rusted vise.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/ouchieusa/Blacksmithing/CIMG0659.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/ouchieusa/Blacksmithing/CIMG0657.jpg

[ouchie]

Lastly, here is my hand cranked blower circa 1906.
It is a Champion No. 40

In the background you can see my anvil and stand. Stand was made from alternate layers of 2x4 studs glued and screwed. It weighs about 60lbs.
The anvil is an old farriers that weighs 75lbs. Works well for small blades.

BEFORE

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/ouchieusa/Blacksmithing/CIMG1114.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/ouchieusa/Blacksmithing/CIMG1116.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/ouchieusa/Blacksmithing/CIMG1115.jpg

AFTER

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/ouchieusa/Blacksmithing/CIMG1301.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/ouchieusa/Blacksmithing/CIMG1307.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/ouchieusa/Blacksmithing/CIMG1302.jpg

[J. Armstrong]

VERY COOL !!
I think your work seems very respectable, especially like the second knife. Handsome, no frills or hoohaw,just looks like an honest working blade - best kind !!!!!
A tip of the hat to your resto work on the tools as well. Nice seeing what other folks think of as junk being put back to work with a lot of elbow grease and TLC. Those old tools are works of art and craftsmanship in their own right. Who'd believe that blower is a century old ?????
:bow: :bow: :bow:

[ouchie]

Wow, thanks very much for the kind words!

Seeing as I am just starting off in the world of forging I'm planning to make several knives with no electricity involved hence the hand powered blower.
I plan on painting the leg vise to match sooner or later.

[J. Armstrong]

You're welcome - I think you should be proud of your work to date.
Personally, "art knives" don't do much for me, and while a high quality custom knofe ( especially a folder ) is a joy to own, I really most appreciate a good working blade solid enough to depend on when you're using it. Funny how those blades often have a beauty all their own.
You seem to have a feel for that based upon what you've shown here.
Keep us posted on your work !

[stimpsonjcat]

Ouchie is a good name for a smith :D

I like the restoration, and the blades look good also, what are you using for grinding?

Re: painting Post vise...I dunno, my primary post-vise came painted, and most of the paint up on the jaws has been burned away...I'd just bees-wax it or maybe some clear-coat, it looks nice as is. Does it still have the ball? Post-vises RULE!

I have a hand blower just like yours, though not in as nice shape. I had plans to make a portable rig for it, but alas...I always have too many irons going as they say.

[Temp]

Yeah!,... you steelsmith's go on with ya work.

I'm a toolmaker who deals with steel every day,... but not the way you guys do. It's inspiring to see people firing up a forge and making steel conform to their desires.

Ferrous metal is a fascinating material. I appreciate seeing the artsy side of it.

[owlcreekok]

Damn Mike ! You got a lot to brag about. Why you keep yer yap shut last weekend about his ?! I know we touched on the subject. I would never have shown you the knife I made at 14, had I known who I was braggin to !

:sad:

[ouchie]

Good God owl, what'er ya talkin' about?
That knife was a beaut! Simple, clean and functional....still cuttin well after what...80 some odd years? :biggrin: Seriously, I hope to make a blade that lasts a long time. I'll get there eventually but ain't there yet. I still have scads of learning to do!



stimpsonjcat- Does it still have the ball? , do ya mean the ball on the crank handle? If so yes it does...I got real excited when I found it cause it appeared to be complete. Somewhere on it there's a date, I think it's 1901 or something. Also there is a large number 2 on the underside of the bolt bracket. I think I stole as I only paid $50 for it. The jaws had to forced open by hand....wouldn't open under spring pressure so I thought I was going to have to re-harden/temper the spring (which made me a little nervous) turned out it was just so gunked up at that pivot point that the spring couldn't open the jaws. I will definitely reconsider the painting.

Oh and the hollow grinding is done on a 6" grinder for now. Rough clean up on a 4" belt combo from Ryobi...I plan on making a real 2" slack/platten grinder ....probably this spring....I ain't got the $ to buy a decent real one.

The first knife was made with a jigsaw to rough cut the tip and then an assortment of files, sandpaper (80-4000 grit) and then buffed....LOTS of elbow grese to get that finish. If I only knew then what I know now!

Thanks guys...I'll post some more pics as I make more stuff...weather is cooling down to where forging will be fun!

[BlackCat]

Nothing to be ashamed of here, Ouchie. Nice work!
Kudos on that second knife, the essence of "EDC".
Keep on rockin'.
:beer:

[stimpsonjcat]

Most post-vises started life with a ball on the bottom of their post-leg. Some have been so abused and left to rust that the ball is gone, one of mine has it, one doesn't. The one missing the ball also has an S-shaped handle, doubtless from someone tightening it with a hammer or what not.

Sheesh, don't abuse your tools and they won't abuse you.

I bought a Bader BM-3 years ago with the cash from a stair rail project I did.

It is one thing I like about this hobby, it has pretty much paid for every item I have in the shed except the anvil, which I bought outright when I started. Everything else is made from scrap or bought from profits from projects.

Keep at it, you're doing great.

[FTW2012]

In high school metal shop we used to make knives out of old rail road spikes.
Back in the days when it was OK to have a knife in school.
They knew we would be using it for fishing or hunting not
robbing or stabbing each other like kids do today.
We would cut the spikes in half length wise on the band saw
then heat & hammer away until we got something resembling a blade
After a little grinding and filing you had a pretty nice hunting accessory


Good work ouchie!

[ouchie]

stimpsonjcat,

Are you a working blacksmith? That is too cool!
I'd like to get myself to the point where I could supplement my income with bladesmithing or general blacksmithing...not there yet by a long shot though.

Here's a pic of the "foot" on my vise...guess it's missing the ball, eh?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/ouchieusa/Blacksmithing/CIMG1337.jpg

[ouchie]

Here's a couple pics of tongs I am making....5/8" round stock

the only tongs I have are a small jawed set made from rebar....

This is my first attempt at making them so we'll see where this goes....

having a bottom (or top for that matter) fuller would really help but I'll make do somehow....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/ouchieusa/Blacksmithing/CIMG1361.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/ouchieusa/Blacksmithing/CIMG1362.jpgl

[ouchie]

Well CRAP...my forging is temporarily suspened due to rampant stupidity....
A smith I really respect suggested that forging with a GALVANIZED container might not be the healthiest way to go about it....
Now I need to create another vessel....damn.

(yep, I was thinking that smell was familiar!.....D'oh!)

[owlcreekok]

Once the Zinc burns off the danger is over. If you have ever had zinc poisoning, you will never forget it. I had it a few times. Only once REALLY bad. One minute you feel okay, next minute you feel like you do when you are coming down with Flu. Hour later you wish that you were just having Flu. Few hours later it is over.

My guess is that your trouble with that "vessel" is going to be burn thru. Rather soon.

PM me if you want a custom fabbed one out of steel. Any shape, any size, any kind of holes. I got some 1/4 mild steel plate around for cheap. Shipping WON't be. Now if we have to involve the regular shop production floor, I have to put on my "official" MRSM hat !

:biggrin:

Later bud !

J

[ouchie]

Thanks Owlcreekok, I may take you up on that offer!
I am about to run up to the scrap yard and see what I can dig up.
If it looks like it will be more project than I want to get into I'll shoot ya some specs.

thanks again!

[stimpsonjcat]

Originally posted by ouchie
stimpsonjcat,

Are you a working blacksmith? That is too cool!
I'd like to get myself to the point where I could supplement my income with bladesmithing or general blacksmithing...not there yet by a long shot though.

Here's a pic of the "foot" on my vise...guess it's missing the ball, eh?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/ouchieusa/Blacksmithing/CIMG1337.jpg

That leg is complete. Some have more of a ball than that, but that is complete. Good find for what you paid!

I do this as a hobby. I am actually an electrical engineer by trade. My mom bought me lessons from a local smith 8+ years ago and I was hooked instantly. During the course all I wanted to make was tools...it drove the instructor nuts. Interestingly, the entire class except me and the instructor were females. They were making artsy stuff.

Anyway, I started with 3 hammers, 2 homemade tongs, my homemade forge, and an anvil I bought new for $450. Since then I have used as much of my 'profits' as possible to upgrade the shop. I now have:

-vert/horiz metal bandsaw (harbor freight)
-drill press
-post vice (and a spare)
-MIG welder
-stick welder
-a few fancy hammers and tongs
-Bader BM-3 grinder w/piles of attachments
-Oxy-Acetylene torch with the BIG bottles
and I'll be adding 220VAC out to the shed with the cash from my first knife sale soon so I can put a VFD on the grinder.

It just takes time. If you were to add up the amount of time I have spent out there getting it WRONG, I doubt I am breaking even :D

But this is a journey for me, not a destination. Electricity and smithing...I guess I like the 'magic' stuff :D

[ouchie]

I'm right there with ya stimpsonjcat!

I'm an electrician by trade....had some metals experience in school and worked for a time with a field millwright so to speak....lot of conveyor work, air cannon installations and stainless/carbon pipe. Was mostly industrial shutdowns where we worked....cement, waste disposal and paper factories...ah the glory days! :rofl:

I've got a Victor Oxy/Acy cutting rig....need to save up and get a decent set of bottles and ultimately a welder. I'm a fairly patient sort so no hurry...I'll get there.

[13th Warrior]

I think the knife pics are great. It brought me back to a time when my father was on a knife making kick. His were very much the same, some very crude but effective. He got to where he was really good and the home made knives were just as good as the knife kits he tried.
What really interests me is you guys that are using forges. are there any links that someone might be able to access to figure out how to get started?

Thanks

[ouchie]

Well 13th...you asked for it so here goes....!

http://www.knivesby.com/knifemaking.html lots of plans on forges and such

http://www.primitiveways.com/pt-knives-1.html Will probably remind you of your father.

http://www.primitiveways.com/pt-knives-1.html Stellar forum to check in with, many helpful folks!

http://64.176.180.203/sitedirections.htm Tim Lively has some good tutorials

Hope this helps to get you started!

[stimpsonjcat]

Also the ABANA homepage:

http://www.abana.org/

check the links page and get comfortable.

Careful, there's no getting the coal smoke out of you once it gets in.