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Someone's long lost Bowie is getting closer to reality...
- Thread starter stimpsonjcat
- Start date
Yes, I do also, kinda. Makes me wanna kick myself in the butt, for just leaving all my Forging tools and anvil just gathering dust in my shop. I need to get off my azz and build a propane forge, to start doing this kind of amazing forging. Knife looking great Stimpy!
"Coolest" Thread on the forum!
Hot Stuff!
:thumbsup:
Hot Stuff!
:thumbsup:
Technical answer - scales are stabilized Cocabola...'buyer' request.
Mike,
I think I have discussed this at pains, but...
It is not my intent to make knives in four hours at a strange forge. I am not training for forged in fire...though I do intend to try to play in that sandbox. I dearly hope whatever I make on that show is a pale shadow of what I send to anyone I truly attempt to make a knife for.
My intent is to enjoy, as much as possible, every aspect of this craft. Or maybe all crafts.
As an engineer that means accepting the fact that there will be FAR too much thinking before acting and metric tons of doubt in the plans I make. But also FAR too much acting before thinking, as this is a dynamic hobby, where indecision can be failure.
Assembling things like FALs and jet skis is one thing...and while that thing is therapeutic it is not making. I could (and do, it is my day job) just 'fix' things and that makes me reasonably happy.
The things I want to make in the forge are...different...entirely. I want to make things *I* want made. Not to spec. Not to order (mostly). I want the owners to hold them in their hands and mumble words like "How?" and "Why?"
I don't want to make anything twice, if I can help it.
No.
That's a lie.
The very day I decided to be a bladesmith I did so because there were two blades I wanted to make. The same? Yes and at the same time a resounding NO. One for me...and one for...well, you will have to wait...
Simpy, I recall that conversation and that was the reason for my little jab. No offense meant.
You are such a perfectionist; in both the processes and the final product. I marvel how you can take something that is plain and turn it into a masterpiece. I am awed at your skills and at the same time jealous that I could never come close to matching you. I just use you as a guidepost in which I can engage in my hobbies.
That made me LOL.
My engineer brothers consider me impulsive. I certainly don't see myself as a perfectionist. You don't have to be a perfectionist to look at something and know it's done wrong or just not done yet.
I just want to make some quality pieces, and I want to be happy with them.
If I go on FIF I know time will be my enemy, but trust me I can turn off the perfection filter. You've seen the 8mm FAL...you know this.
Paladin, FYI, some very critical work I have been worrying and wondering about for some time happened today.
I then found out I didn't have any decent files in the sizes/shapes/grits to finish the piece.
Those have been ordered.
I have some tedious hand-fitting to do...then the last bit of terrifying welding...and after that it will just be a matter of quench...temper...final grind...and handle finishing.
Some forward steps, but more importantly, none backwards.
I then found out I didn't have any decent files in the sizes/shapes/grits to finish the piece.
Those have been ordered.
I have some tedious hand-fitting to do...then the last bit of terrifying welding...and after that it will just be a matter of quench...temper...final grind...and handle finishing.
Some forward steps, but more importantly, none backwards.
First pic here is the current state of the Bowie. I just never seemed to be in the mood to grind it to pre-quench/temper shape. Grinding blades is a very moody thing for me. I have to be willing to stand there at the grinder, in a good mood, for at least an hour to get anything useful done. It helps it was 60 degrees...because this much grinding means a mud-tray worth of water is going to go from 'cool' to 'warm enough to make bread from' over the course of the grind session. Not fun when it is 35 degrees. Not fun when it is 90 degrees. And flat grinds are terrifying things as you approach the spine...and happily, I haven't messed this one up yet.
The next two pics are of the current state of the pattern of the damascus of this blade. It was supposed to be a sort of flame pattern up from the edge, but I left it extra thick when grinding the valleys and it looks like it is much more random than I hoped for. The pattern will have quite a bit more 'pop' to it after the blade has been quenched/tempered.
sudo apt-get bourbon
The next two pics are of the current state of the pattern of the damascus of this blade. It was supposed to be a sort of flame pattern up from the edge, but I left it extra thick when grinding the valleys and it looks like it is much more random than I hoped for. The pattern will have quite a bit more 'pop' to it after the blade has been quenched/tempered.
sudo apt-get bourbon
apt?
........
apt-get bourbon is very functional code.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/56dfGvLgK3U" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
No, just orifice burners.
Oh yes!
I usually run two burners when welding.
In the vid you can see me kill the second burner. I did that because the tip got up to temp faster than the ricasso area. Then a little painting of that area, and quench.
Ignore the guard, which is way too big.
But the blade is making me very happy.
But the blade is making me very happy.