Charles dP

Thanks Bob. Good to know. So (a) don’t forget to stamp, (b) if you forgot to stamp, etch (or straighten again)

Thank you both. I will definitely check those out

Thanks for the insights Aiden and thanks for the link. I’ll have to make some time to read that.

When you do get around to testing, and if you don’t mind; I’d think another post-straightening temper will help with stresses but could possibly lead to rewarping. Would you mind checking that too Bob?

Nice work there Aiden. That is very interesting. I had thought the process of smelting would always carbonise the iron to steel. Clearly I am missing something. Do you know why those are iron?

The wife and kids?

Not seen that before. How do you use them Bob?

Just for a second there I thought you meant an Aston Martin

Absolutely right. Just keep making every knife better than the last. Make sure you read the pinned threads. They are pinned for a reason. Where are you based? Someone on here probably knows of a person or group near you that offer classes or help.

Hi Mathew. Not bad. General advice for anyone who tries bladesmithing and likes it. 1. Take a bladesmithing class. You’ll be amazed how much that takes off the learning curve. 2. Draw a design and try to make the knife you drew. I.e. make the steel do what you want. Left to it’s own devices it will almost always make a sabre/katana/banana. My first was the same. 3. Find something you like about the knife and something you don’t. Remake the knife repeating what you liked and changing what you didn’t. Rinse and repeat. 4. I’m not kidding about number 1.

Nice but… I was kinda hoping for a DeLorean

Congrats Joshua

Niiiice. Congratulations.

Good to hear Gerhard. Really glad for you.

Thanks @Alveprins. Not sure I’m entirely getting that. Could you perhaps, please share a photo of what you mean? Thanks

That looks great. Is that how you get the flats? What shape are you using?

The guy I bought my pillar drill from had 1 VFD and used industrial connectors between it and all the machines using it. Just make sure the VFD is completely discharged to zero V before messing with the connectors.

Hi Gerhard Good thoughts and insights. Just to play devil’s advocate: how does the idea of death at 49? Don’t mess with this stuff. Get it looked at. Good for you. Can’t wait to see the result.

Do you have a photo of the first etch? Are the spots in the same locations or different ones?

Hi Jaro It might not be exactly what you are looking for but maybe this will at least help. You could probably build your own version.

I have an image of that, which I got off this forum. Wish I could find the thread it came off of.

I’ve not taken that one but I took classes with Owen Bush and I can tell you that a course with someone who knows what they are doing will really flatten the learning curve. Good luck and enjoy.

Thanks Joshua. Very interesting.

Thanks Joshua. I’ll try that. I had thought I would need a perfect fit top and bottom die but I suppose not. Now let’s just hope I have the rights bits in my scrap pile. I can only get steel in 6m lengths here or whatever is in the offcut-bin at the supplier; and that is an hour away.

I’ll post some photos when it’s done