Jim Pierce

The normalizing and annealing worked out.

I had a 1.25 in. 1045 bar and made my first axe drift out of it with a hammer and anvil. Bought the press because of it.

Thanks Jerrod.

No Gerald a press. Soon hopefully though.

No just case hardened.

Thanks Alan.

I have a 2" diameter bar of 1060 from McMaster Carr that is case hardened. Does anyone know if normalizing and annealing would make this viable for forging axes?

I just wanted to to give a shout out to Burt Foster for his excellent videos. As I'm sure most know Burt is a Master Bladesmith with the ABS and makes amazing knives. Last month he started to make some videos and put them out for download on his web site burtfoster.com. I have a secondary job where we are encouraged to watch movies, (to keep us awake), so I'm always looking out for videos about forging and knife making. I also like to financially support makers for their sharing of information by purchasing their books and videos and through patreon. I have learned a lot from videos by J. Neilson, Tim Hancock, Jason Knight and Kevin Cashen just to name a few. Burt's videos not only show the how but also explains the why, which shortens the learning curve in my opinion. There are two videos out currently on forging and rough grinding and I found them to be very informative.

I really enjoy your youtube videos, you explain things very well, thanks.

Very nice.

My wife would kill me if a made a knife that beautiful for someone else before her.

I hear the music from The Spy who Shagged me playing in the background. Very nice.

Congratulations, and beautiful ring, many, many years from now one of your decedents will be giving this ring to a girl and say "My Great, great......... Grandfather made this for his wife.

Always enjoy your work Gary, thanks for sharing.

When I first saw the pattern I though of a seax.