keeping it simple--part 2

After the quench I cleaned up the blade some.



Then I wrapped the handle with cotton string.



Over the cotton string, I wrapped hemp twine, which I then sealed with varnish.





Touch up the edge and she's done!







Quick and easy, but you end up with a sweet handy little blade.

keeping it simple-part 1

So the kids are growing and needing their daddy a lot. That in addition to the family situation mentioned previously means any smithing takes a back burner. Of course, then the desire builds up to bursting and you get a little smithing fever. With my time constraints I only had a few minutes, but desperately needed to do something so I slapped a little utility knife together. And ended up being quite pleased with it.

Here are some blanks cut out with angle grinder using cutoff discs.



A little bit of precurve before forging the bevels.



Some quick and dirty forging.



A little clean up with the file.



Decided to add in a lanyard hole.



Quench went well.

buffalo blast

Got a little stir crazy so I ran out and fired up the charcoal forge for the maiden run with the buffalo blower from Jeff. I was very pleased. Puts out a good blast and gets hot!

no end in sight

Well, I was hoping to get a little free time over spring break but that wasn't meant to be. My wife's grandmother is very old, has diabetes, has lost one leg, and the other needs to go too, but she's holding onto it. Anyway, she's in the hospital and is not doing well. So my wife is going to visit her during my break. And I get to be Dad and Mom to our little ones.

Here are two little integrals I've had lying around, and I can't wait to get some time to finish.