Mecha's forge burned down

Like many others here, I too, have multiple advanced degrees and some more than modest business successes in my 74 years on this planet. All of these accomplishments, like Cushing H says, constantly drive you to another push, another step, and yet another completion. Keep at it, allow it all to help you refocus and take time to energize. Re-directs are not always idea killers-sometimes they are nurseries for "AHA!" moments. I enjoy your posts, your humor, and certainly appreciate your constant search for the "way" to make your Ti works of art function at an atmospheric level. It is refreshing to watch your progress along these lines, and especially pleasant having you share your ups and downs with all of us. The camaraderie of the posters and members is quite rewarding as well.

Calvin Coolidge once said "Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan Press On! has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race".....'and also the problems of Titanium forging'...I think he forgot that part.

Press on, Lad!
 
dsw0557 said:
Like many others here, I too, have multiple advanced degrees and some more than modest business successes in my 74 years on this planet. All of these accomplishments, like Cushing H says, constantly drive you to another push, another step, and yet another completion. Keep at it, allow it all to help you refocus and take time to energize. Re-directs are not always idea killers-sometimes they are nurseries for "AHA!" moments. I enjoy your posts, your humor, and certainly appreciate your constant search for the "way" to make your Ti works of art function at an atmospheric level. It is refreshing to watch your progress along these lines, and especially pleasant having you share your ups and downs with all of us. The camaraderie of the posters and members is quite rewarding as well.

Calvin Coolidge once said "Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan Press On! has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race".....'and also the problems of Titanium forging'...I think he forgot that part.

Press on, Lad!
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Thanks much dsw0557. What’s interesting to me about the ti sword pursuit is that within it lies an endless capacity for generating the next grand folly. There is no final conclusion to it, and each step in advancement forks into many possible paths to take next, forcing a constant refinement-by-omission by requiring a choice on which path to take next. I’ve began and concluded quite a few long-term goals, but nothing is like this one because it doesn’t end, it just keeps gaining dimension and getting more crazy.
 
I should read more forums. just heard. glad no one was harmed but still absolutely awful news. so sorry. I donated some money to help rebuild or pay deductibles etc.....in the go fund link. hope y'all can turn this around to be better and stronger and get back to life. also hope ya find your cat alive and well and safe.


edit part: I should have read every post before I posted...didnt see the cat didnt survive. very sorry on your loss.
 
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Mecha said:
There was something I didn't quite notice, though, until now. One builds up a sort of momentum when pursuing a big project or intense goal, and it was't completely noticed until it was gone, that I had a lot more momentum going than I thought. I'm attempting to apply energy and fortitude, but keep ending up muttering and trying to remember what I'm supposed to do next as things are slowly organized. It's frustrating to have it dawning upon me that getting momentum back is going to take a lot of pushing, like getting a huge flywheel spinning again.
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Sigh....I hear you, feel for you, and hope you have an easier time than I've had. I recently experienced an out-of-the-blue; life-changing event (that happened when I was working and renting a place in Longview, believe it or not...hopefully it's not in the water) and now trying to rebuild my life. If I can offer a positive, it can let one clear out a lot of the clutter and focus on only the important stuff....
Good luck.
 
jbmonkey said:
I should read more forums. just heard. glad no one was harmed but still absolutely awful news. so sorry. I donated some money to help rebuild or pay deductibles etc.....in the go fund link. hope y'all can turn this around to be better and stronger and get back to life. also hope ya find your cat alive and well and safe.


edit part: I should have read every post before I posted...didnt see the cat didnt survive. very sorry on your loss.
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Thanks much jbmonkey. It’s gonna be ok. Almost back in business. :)




weo said:
Sigh....I hear you, feel for you, and hope you have an easier time than I've had. I recently experienced an out-of-the-blue; life-changing event (that happened when I was working and renting a place in Longview, believe it or not...hopefully it's not in the water) and now trying to rebuild my life. If I can offer a positive, it can let one clear out a lot of the clutter and focus on only the important stuff....
Good luck.
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Well that’s a crazy coincidence. Although the situation is rough, the clearing out the clutter part is true. I hope you’re rebuilding, in whatever form, goes as well as it can.
 
We get it and feel your pain. Haven't we all started fires in our shops at some time? I set my vacuum cleaner on fire when i was using it to vacuum while grinding (yes it was at the beginning). I had a mask on so all i knew was that my eyes were stinging and i had no idea why. I never thought to stop. My wife came in screaming. Funny story now but, like Nathan, I have also gotten up in the middle of the knight to look for quiet sparks. I contributed a bit (and i hate go fund me) but please don't be shy if you run into a block my shop will do more.
 
Oh man I am just now seeing this. 2020 just keeps on giving :( I am so sorry for your loss, but so glad that you and Miss Oye are safe. Thank you to the folks that posted the GFM info :thumbsup:
 
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Mecha said:
right before heat treatment


BsxjktY.jpg
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20210306_183011~2.jpg
 
Mecha is slowly getting back to production. It has been four months since the fire. I suspect he will chime in and give us an update.
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
Mecha is slowly getting back to production. It has been four months since the fire. I suspect he will chime in and give us an update.
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Sure thing.

Almost all back work is completed, with the main one being this titanium san mai ring dao:


xDmyyV9.jpg


uj42IFC.jpg


ApPZ1Cq.jpg


The details are in this thread:

https://bladeforums.com/threads/forged-titanium-san-mai-ring-dao.1777064/

The billet was at Keffeler's place when the fire happened, and was thus saved. It was finished using the tools I was able to replace using that fundraiser money.

I just had to turn down or otherwise put off a big commission because I'm not going to be able to make a 30" blade sword until I get my mitts on a small trip hammer and large blown gas forge I have my eye on, in the early summertime.

Much of the warped Russian BT23 ti alloy is still fine, it turns out, and I've come up with a way to be able to use it for more swords. It takes a lot of processing (work and money) to use it, and must still be thoroughly tested.

Until then, I have a 3 step plan to get blades rolling again, now that back work is about finished, but it required cutting off all custom orders for now.

That bronze knife did get finished, also:

lCp2VeE.jpg
 
Mecha said:
Sure thing.

Almost all back work is completed, with the main one being this titanium san mai ring dao:


xDmyyV9.jpg


uj42IFC.jpg


ApPZ1Cq.jpg


The details are in this thread:

https://bladeforums.com/threads/forged-titanium-san-mai-ring-dao.1777064/

The billet was at Keffeler's place when the fire happened, and was thus saved. It was finished using the tools I was able to replace using that fundraiser money.

I just had to turn down or otherwise put off a big commission because I'm not going to be able to make a 30" blade sword until I get my mitts on a small trip hammer and large blown gas forge I have my eye on, in the early summertime.

Much of the warped Russian BT23 ti alloy is still fine, it turns out, and I've come up with a way to be able to use it for more swords. It takes a lot of processing (work and money) to use it, and must still be thoroughly tested.

Until then, I have a 3 step plan to get blades rolling again, now that back work is about finished, but it required cutting off all custom orders for now.

That bronze knife did get finished, also:

lCp2VeE.jpg
Click to expand...
20210310_123253~2.jpg
Official verdict on the "1st generation" bronze knife prototype: Total Badass
 
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