Feels like a huge step...

[Skeaterbait]

I am sure it's a pretty small thing to the veterans but to a newb it feels like a huge step. I finally got my two brick forge up and running, it's pretty crude looking but it does get hot. I picked up a piece of pipe to make a muffler since I didn't know better than to buy 1095 for my first round of steel. I bought enough to make 4 blades and I don't have a spare $130+ to have them professionally heat treated so I will do the best I can with this. Next order will be 1084.

None of my buddies are much in to this type of thing so I thought I would share my little bit of progress with folks who get it. The first knife is a pattern made available on D. Comeau's site (thank you). The next two are copies of a Dave C. knife and an SRK. I have actually gotten the bevel ground on the SRK copy but don't have any pics of it at that stage.

 

[Irony314]

Nice, looks like it works better than my first couple forge attempts, lol. I have that craftsman grinder too, I've been meaning to make a better rest for mine like you did

 

[Skeaterbait]

Thanks. I like the grinder and when I learn to use it right it should save a lot of time. The first knife I did with a file jig and spent quite a few hours getting it filed down. The second one (SRK) I did on the grinder using a jig but I didn't like the outcome so I finished it on the file jig. The last one I took more time making my bevel jig and was able to get it to the stage shown in the first pic in a couple hours.

Now I just have to learn the real magic of heat treating and tempering.

 

[Cactus Kid]

Looks like you are doing great and well on your way to making some pretty cool knives! And, I bet your buddies don't get the forge thing. Most people when I tell them about my forge, they give me a stupid look and say; "Forge, what's that?" It's just not a common thing in this modern day world. Have fun with it and keep up the good work mi amigo! It all is looking superb!!!