Jeremy Blohm Posted December 16, 2017 Share Posted December 16, 2017 (edited) So i think i understand how this whole thing works and i would like to be in on the 2018 KITH. Q1: what if i feel my blade isn't up to the standard? Q2: deadline june 30th 2018? Q3: what if i feel im receiving a better blade than im giving? Im sure i will have a few more questions. Edited December 16, 2017 by Jeremy Blohm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Blohm Posted December 17, 2017 Author Share Posted December 17, 2017 (edited) Maybe Q1 should be is this open to all members of the forum or do you have to be invited? Edited December 17, 2017 by Jeremy Blohm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Keyes Posted December 17, 2017 Share Posted December 17, 2017 Forged dividers g "The worst day smithing is better than the best day working for someone else." I said that. If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly. - - -G. K. Chesterton So, just for the record: the fact that it does work still should not be taken as definitive proof that you are not crazy. Grant Sarver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pieter-Paul Derks Posted December 17, 2017 Share Posted December 17, 2017 As far as I know the KITH is open to all members of the forum. I have been participating in the KITH of this forum for a few years now, and certainly my early entries were nowhere near my current standard of quality. No one has ever been negative, as long as you try your best to send in a knife made to the best of your abilities. To me the best part of the KITH is getting a knife from a more experienced maker and being able to see how they did things. I have certainly learned a lot from having another smiths work in hand, there is much more to a knife than just seeing the photos on your computer. It is also always appreciated if you do a WIP thread about your build, I know I always love to follow a knife being made. When it comes to deciding the deadline and theme of a KITH there is a thread made in the sub forum where members can brainstorm freely until a decision is made. 1 http://mefecit.nl/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted December 17, 2017 Share Posted December 17, 2017 So are you guys ready for a new subforum for 2018? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Blohm Posted December 17, 2017 Author Share Posted December 17, 2017 Im ready. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Crawford Posted December 17, 2017 Share Posted December 17, 2017 1 hour ago, Alan Longmire said: So are you guys ready for a new subforum for 2018? Yep- I’m hoping I’ll be able to get something made in time for this year- new job has limited my time in the shop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Blohm Posted December 17, 2017 Author Share Posted December 17, 2017 Axe/hawk this year? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted December 17, 2017 Share Posted December 17, 2017 Here y'all go. Have at it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Blohm Posted December 17, 2017 Author Share Posted December 17, 2017 14 minutes ago, Alan Longmire said: Here y'all go. Have at it! Thank you Alan, First year in the kith and im excited to be doing this. I have looked through some of the past years KITH's and i have seen some amazing work i hope i can create a piece worth giving to someone and i hope they are happy with the end product. Looking forward to seeing what everyone has up there sleeves for this year. Let the 2018 KITH begin! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Keyes Posted December 17, 2017 Share Posted December 17, 2017 I've seen some very cool stuff this last year. Grace Horn reviving the idea of hand made scissors, for instance. Dividers/calipers are a tool that every bench ought to have, and there are some wonderful examples of hand made dividers out there. This one, for instance, is simple, yet very elegant. It also has an interesting level of complexity, since you have to make and fit two of something. Just my .02 Geoff "The worst day smithing is better than the best day working for someone else." I said that. If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly. - - -G. K. Chesterton So, just for the record: the fact that it does work still should not be taken as definitive proof that you are not crazy. Grant Sarver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Blohm Posted December 17, 2017 Author Share Posted December 17, 2017 okI have never done anything like that. Seems simple enough but like you said has a level of complexity. I was just looking through The past years KITH and it seems there has been a lot of different blades. I was kinda hoping to do was an axe. Or something i would use on a regular basis. I like the kitchen knife. There was some exceptional blades made last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pieter-Paul Derks Posted December 17, 2017 Share Posted December 17, 2017 Ooh I like the idea of dividers, I have been wanting to make one (or a pair?) for some time now. My own idea for the Kith came to me while taking a shower, the best place to think in my opinion. I thought the theme could be magic, a very broad theme that can have endless different interpretations so that every participant has a lot of freedom. There are a lot of blades connected to magic and rituals, think of athame or keris or runic inscription on saxes. I think it would be fun to create something with a bit of meaning, even if just from your own imagination. But those are just my 2 cents. http://mefecit.nl/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Crawford Posted December 17, 2017 Share Posted December 17, 2017 Has a theme been done based on a certain country or region? Places like japan would have an absurd amount of possibilities. Maybe throw a dart at a map and work with what is traditional or commonplace there? (Exclude Pakistani Damascus from the list) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles dP Posted December 17, 2017 Share Posted December 17, 2017 A KITH and a DITH? "The way we win matters" (Ender Wiggins) Orson Scott Card Nos qui libertate donati nescimus quid constat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted December 17, 2017 Share Posted December 17, 2017 You should see the dividers Tom Latane made in a class with Peter Ross (I know, next-league smiths, but still). Wrought iron with steel points, multi-leaf hinge, and handmade wing nut pivot lock. And I have a pic somewhere of a set Elmer Roush made based on an 18th century Irish version that, when closed, doubled as a dagger. Grace Horn's shears are incredible, as is she. And there are good instructions on those in Alex Weyger's books, which we all should have anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted December 17, 2017 Share Posted December 17, 2017 Couldn't find my photos, but here's a link to them on Elmer's site: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted December 17, 2017 Share Posted December 17, 2017 And here's Tom's: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshua States Posted December 18, 2017 Share Posted December 18, 2017 Jeremy: Q1: what if i feel my blade isn't up to the standard? Answer: There isn't a "standard" other than do the best you can at whatever the level of your ability allows. Q2: deadline june 30th 2018? Answer: I love deadlines. I love the whooshing sound they make as they fly by..........KITH deadlines are notoriously fluid. Q3: what if i feel im receiving a better blade than im giving? Answer: Then you will have something to spur you to become better at the craft. It really doesn't matter whether the one you get is as "good" as the one you give or vice-versa. The KITH is a form of gifting and gifts are given with no strings or conditions attached. My vote is for an edged tool of some sort. The dividers are a really cool idea, but may require forging abilities well beyond some folks and therefor would be limiting the participants. I would vote for any type of edged bench tool or something specific to the craft of bladesmithing. A chisel, (hot cut or wood) a handle broach, a blade scraper, etc. Along the types of knives, I wouldn't mind doing an Ulu. 2 “So I'm lightin' out for the territory, ahead of the scared and the weak and the mean spirited, because Aunt Sally is fixin’ to adopt me and civilize me, and I can't stand it. I've been there before.” The only bad experience is the one from which you learn nothing. Josh http://www.dosgatosdesignsllc.com/#! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdJMFMqnbLYqv965xd64vYg J.States Bladesmith | Facebook https://www.facebook.com/dos.gatos.71 https://www.etsy.com/shop/JStatesBladesmith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Blohm Posted December 18, 2017 Author Share Posted December 18, 2017 11 hours ago, Joshua States said: Jeremy: Q1: what if i feel my blade isn't up to the standard? Answer: There isn't a "standard" other than do the best you can at whatever the level of your ability allows. Q2: deadline june 30th 2018? Answer: I love deadlines. I love the whooshing sound they make as they fly by..........KITH deadlines are notoriously fluid. Q3: what if i feel im receiving a better blade than im giving? Answer: Then you will have something to spur you to become better at the craft. It really doesn't matter whether the one you get is as "good" as the one you give or vice-versa. The KITH is a form of gifting and gifts are given with no strings or conditions attached. My vote is for an edged tool of some sort. The dividers are a really cool idea, but may require forging abilities well beyond some folks and therefor would be limiting the participants. I would vote for any type of edged bench tool or something specific to the craft of bladesmithing. A chisel, (hot cut or wood) a handle broach, a blade scraper, etc. Along the types of knives, I wouldn't mind doing an Ulu. Thank you Joshua everything you said makes me feel better about entering the KITH. The Ulu would be cool to make and it is something that could be used on a regular basis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ Simon Posted December 19, 2017 Share Posted December 19, 2017 I'm all about dividers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshua States Posted December 19, 2017 Share Posted December 19, 2017 OK, I have a couple of pairs of dividers in a toolbox somewhere, and I haven't used them in years. What do y'all use them for in the shop? “So I'm lightin' out for the territory, ahead of the scared and the weak and the mean spirited, because Aunt Sally is fixin’ to adopt me and civilize me, and I can't stand it. I've been there before.” The only bad experience is the one from which you learn nothing. Josh http://www.dosgatosdesignsllc.com/#! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdJMFMqnbLYqv965xd64vYg J.States Bladesmith | Facebook https://www.facebook.com/dos.gatos.71 https://www.etsy.com/shop/JStatesBladesmith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vern Wimmer Posted December 19, 2017 Share Posted December 19, 2017 30 minutes ago, Joshua States said: OK, I have a couple of pairs of dividers in a toolbox somewhere, and I haven't used them in years. What do y'all use them for in the shop? Spacing holes/pins in a tang. Locating the position for a pin in a hidden tang. Copping the proportions of a knife from a photo. A lot of things where relative proportions are needed without the OCD side effects of getting three digits to the right of the decimal point with a micrometer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Keyes Posted December 19, 2017 Share Posted December 19, 2017 I'm really taken with the dagger/divider. This reminds me of scissor/daggers I've seen. I'm also thinking that you could include a measuring scale on the legs, maybe disguised as filework? I'm also thinking about a wrought body with steel tips. Oooh, and the box joint! Lots of ideas Geoff "The worst day smithing is better than the best day working for someone else." I said that. If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly. - - -G. K. Chesterton So, just for the record: the fact that it does work still should not be taken as definitive proof that you are not crazy. Grant Sarver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ Simon Posted December 20, 2017 Share Posted December 20, 2017 I use them for measuring forged parts. Especially parts that have to be duplicated. If I'm forging guard quillons for instance. Just set the divider and forge to the length. Same with doing blacksmith projects. You can also lay out pin holes perfectly spaced from one another by drawing circles with the divider. You can also lay out guard ovals by laying out circles large and small next to one another. You can also find center by approximating half and using the divider to measure half +/-. Do this from both ends and whats between will be center. I've been told you can lay out an entire building with a pair of dividers a square and a plumb. They are very useful and as far as a smithing project goes they have some of the basics. Tapers, half face blow. Maybe welding if you do a three leaf divider. I've made a dozen of them and they are not that simple. The simplest kind are just two legs with a step in the same place on each one. I will tell everyone the best thing you can do for your riveting is get a tapered reamer. It is the correct angel for the rivet capture vs using a larger drill bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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