Knifemaker Ways

peter nap

peter nap

Joined
Nov 27, 1999
Messages
3,745
Damn!!!!I was just reading the "you might be a knifemaker" thread. This week Ive done a lot of profiling with the angle grinder. I set my coat on fire 5 times and tonight while grinding a guard with my foot on it to hold it in place, ground a hole 3 inches long in my shoe. Funny thing was I didn't realize it until I smelled rubber burning!

I may be taking on knifemakers ways...:o :o :D
 
peter, you already have a advanced case if your setting yourself on fire and grinding off your shoes. this is level 4 behavior, :D
 
I've set myself on fire before Laurence, just not as often as this week. It is the first time I ground my shoes though.:D
 
Now this sounds like my kind of luck..I believe you are hooked already..
You know you have definatly been bitten when you look down and see your clothes on fire and decide to light a cigaret with it before putting it out:D
Or your doing a weld on a billet of Damascus when you set yourself on fire and finish the weld first then put yourself out;)
Be careful now we would hate to have to send you get well cards instead of talking on the forums.
Bruce
 
I guess a little flame is worth it. I'm making a rough reproduction of a 1770's era hunting sword. When I was looking at your site the otther day I realized that one of your larger bowies looked an awful lot like a picture I had. The handle was different but it was really just a longer version of the same blade. It's been a tricky little devil to grind and I'm doing a lot of things I never did before like a framed handle. I'm down to detalils now and spend a lot of time going back to reference books I have and your web site and adding the changes I like.

Next project will get me burned also I think. It will be an English plug bayonett and requires some Brass casting. Never done that before either.
 
Peter congrats! You are a knifemaker! Have you singed your hair off from a propane explosion yet? One of my dumbest things was to weld damascus with sandels on. Made me do the ow-ee dance.
 
Bruce...I did the propane burn the very first time i lite a gas forge,I was looking in the end real close to the opening so I could see what I was doing:eek: It didn't light like a torch that you could watch,I watched it hit me in the face and tait took my eyebrows almost all off and alittle of my hair.But being the Crazy knifemaker I am I just laughed,decided not to do that again and lite it the proper way the next time..:D
Peter I wouldn't suggest you try this,kind of hurts for a few days,
Bruce
 
This is a laugh! I set myself on fire while using the angle grinder to cut up a big mill saw blade for a damascus billet. First time I lit my propane forge I singed all the hair off of my hand and forearm. I also branded my leg with tongs while forging in shorts but the best is for last. The venturi burner for my mini-forge is held tight in it's mount by three thumb screws. When you shut this down you have to yank the burner out to prevent it acting like a chimney. Well after the first successful test of this forge I shut it down and grabbed those thumbscrews to loosen them, of course they were about 500 degrees or so! :eek: I couldn't work on knives for a week and had to go to the local ABANA chapter meeting the next day with a gigantic blister on my thumb and the first finger of my right hand. Looked right smart I did!:D
 
Sure Bruce. I get a little singe each time I forge . I light the thing by spreading a little rubber cement on a dowell rod. Light the dowell, stick it in the forge and hit the gas. That works OK and I donn't normally get burned but........my favorite burner is a mini mongo. It works great but in my ffreon can forge it will chimney while I'm working. The easiest way to correct this is to close the ball valve and wait a second and cut it back on. ...No problem...unless the forge is still cool. Then you get a hang fire from the gas buildup. One time the forge took off like a guided missle, shooting a ball of flame behind it and getting a good part of my beard .:D



AHHHHH...what I won't go through to have fun!!
 
Peter,I just wad up a couple of pieces of paper and stick them in the forge and light them,now..It works great but you do have the burnt paper float around the shop for a few minutes.I make mine do a loud almost explosion every once in awhile myself..
Good thing the neighbors arent watching or they would laugh there butts off at me sometimes.
Bruce
 
The knifemaker's credo(s).

"If we were intelligent, we wouldn't be playing with fire".

~or~

"We aren't doing this because NASA wasn't hiring."

~or~

"How much snap does it take to pound (or grind) on hot steel?"

~or~

"Fire is my friend."


Any more???

C Wilkins
 
Bruce your sandal story brought back painful, non knife making, memories. About 1974 I decided to build a still. I guess the fittings weren't strong enough because it blew a fitting and dumped about a gallon of hot, white-lighting-to-be, on my right foot. I hobbled around for about 6 weeks with the worst blisters you can imagine.:o
Bruce E. what were you saying about doing crazy things in your younger years, and I wasn't all that young when I did that!:o
 
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