Do I need theropy?

R

rlinger

Joined
Mar 29, 2002
Messages
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Only five blades I have ground and the first became so thin I subjected it to destructive testing, which lasted long enough to snap it in a vise on the first attempt.

It is the heat treat that turns my cranck. That is what I look most forward to and enjoy the most. Even the 1 hour round trip to pick up dry ice is a trip I look forward to with each grind. I mean, its like in between knives while I'm thinking of what kind and how I want it I am saying to myself 'hurry up' because I can hardly wait to heat it.

There is a magic to the heat treat that makes the blade and I relish my time waiting on the steel to cook into knife. I get excited about whether I will warp it during removal and hurry to often check for proper freezing temp before tempering. I find myself on pins and needles to get the timing right. Even though all of it is rewarding, it is the heat treat that challenges me most because I know without it there will be no real knife.

Do I need therapy???

RL
 
was not sure that you had found a new age one called theropy? i look at it this way. knife making is not only my livelyhood but it is my therapy! to deal with life.:)
 
Well if you do so do I because I know exactly what you are talking about. All I can think of is knives, knives, knives, pistol/knives, knives ect. Even though my body gets exausted my mind keeps thinking of new designs and patterns I want to try. I would rather hang out in my shop than anywhere else, almost hermit-like.

Another thing Ive noticed lately is I hate K-Mart.
 
Thanks to you, I fixed my spelling. I'm a hillbilly so I am supposed to be allowed that. I am not at all suprised you can make a living at this. I have followed your work since visiting this forum.

Roger
 
I agree with every one of you. There's no knife without the heat treat, the soul of the knife is indeed in the fire. There are definately "grades" of heat treat too, some much better than others. And like Bruce all I can think about is knives knives knives - to the point I bore the life out of everyone else! I love knives and everything about em. My shop time is therapy for me, I'd rather sit idle in my silent shop than go out with friends; I'd rather make something than anything else in the world. If I couldn't make stuff I'd need more than therapy!

Dave
 
I remember your pistol knife when you first posted it some months past. I thought it unique and something I had not heard of before.

Roger
 
read the book, undaunted courage by steven ambrose, its about the lewis & clark expidetion. lewis would spell the same word five ways on one page in his journal. hey if it was good enought for him its good enought for us :) fantastic book!
 
I'm talk'n my obsession with the oven. I mean I even heat my kydex in it. I can't wait to grind the blade so I can wrap it in foil and cook it. Its like a fix for me. Once I do it I feel like I might get a knife. After profiling I don't feel anything special. After grinding I don't feel anything special. Its only after the first two tempers and I get it out of the foil that I see what I want. I am eat up with it. When I do the heat treat its like a ceromony. I don't want anyone around me. I set down and drink a beer while I consider when I will start the oven and I turn televisions and radios down so as not to be too disturbed. I place all tools I'll need in there particular spots. I take care that the vise is exactly as I want it, etc., etc. To me this is the last part of the fourth quarter. The handle stuff is something I've done a lot of in the past with firearms. That type of thing I am used to. It is the excitement of 'is all that work on the profile and grind for nothing' if the heat treat is a bomb. I love it.

Roger
 
Aah, liking that kiln I see? See, see, I knew you'd like doing your own heat treating! Just like they all do, mwaa haa haa ha ha !!

Are you forging at all Roger? If not... you will see... its a wonderful DISEASE!. Hmm, now I have an urge to go hit steel. Think you like heat treating eh? Wait until you can manipulate steel with fire and hammer, then heat treat as well on top of that! Its such a cool feeling, the forge fire, the hammering, the anvil ringing, the smell and feel of warmth. Aaaaah. Its trance-like. Never quitting. I'll quit grinding before forging. :cool:

-Jason
 
I would suggest a good session or two pounding hot steel for a couple of hours each...Then I guess we will have to figure out the therapy about being hooked on Forging...
When you forge from a bar then heat treat you have really put your soul and spirit in the knife...Be careful forging and heat treating is very addicting and there hasn't been a cure found yet for the disease...;)
Good Luck..
Bruce
 
Whatever you do, I mean WHATEVER you do, DON'T start forging, ESPECIALLY WITH COAL!!! You think that oven is bad??? Once you forge, its over!

Forging is kinda like gettin' religion - Some are drawn because they see the light, others feel the heat!

C Wilkins
 
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