- Joined
- Feb 17, 2007
- Messages
- 3,375
Well, I have seen several and I realized that I just read here saw that it was a great site and just jumped right in. Never been bashful and have found most metal guys to be down right friendly. Thanks for all the advice and friendship so far. Now about me.
My name is Jim Viall (like file only with the v sound) I am 56 years old live by Puget Sound north of Seattle, I work as a metal skills craftsman at a refinery. I do weld but, mainily I am a fabricator. I have 6 years to go before I retire and take the 38 ft boat I am rebuilding and retire to my land on an island in Southeast Alaska, where I used to spend my summers seining salmon commercially. I have built things and worked metal most of my life (my dad had a lathe in the basement and we all helped built our own muzzleloaders, even rifle a few barrels) and about 5 years ago while I was undergoing interferon therapy I couldn't work and needed something to do. I asked my brother to borrow a big 2x 60 belt sander he had built to try and built some knives and the bug bit me hard. Took some blacksmithing courses when I got better and been pounding, grinding and learning ever since. I love to see a knife take shape and become a thing of beauty. Have made about 60 so far and can see improvements in every one. I find it very rewarding and I hope that it can be an supplemental income when I finally turn in all my big steel tools and let the younger guys beat themselves up on it.
My name is Jim Viall (like file only with the v sound) I am 56 years old live by Puget Sound north of Seattle, I work as a metal skills craftsman at a refinery. I do weld but, mainily I am a fabricator. I have 6 years to go before I retire and take the 38 ft boat I am rebuilding and retire to my land on an island in Southeast Alaska, where I used to spend my summers seining salmon commercially. I have built things and worked metal most of my life (my dad had a lathe in the basement and we all helped built our own muzzleloaders, even rifle a few barrels) and about 5 years ago while I was undergoing interferon therapy I couldn't work and needed something to do. I asked my brother to borrow a big 2x 60 belt sander he had built to try and built some knives and the bug bit me hard. Took some blacksmithing courses when I got better and been pounding, grinding and learning ever since. I love to see a knife take shape and become a thing of beauty. Have made about 60 so far and can see improvements in every one. I find it very rewarding and I hope that it can be an supplemental income when I finally turn in all my big steel tools and let the younger guys beat themselves up on it.