- Joined
- Sep 13, 2001
- Messages
- 816
All this talk about crowning new MSmiths made me recall my test, or at least the events leading up to it. I had some time with all of it.
First, you must realize that when Murphy comes....he comes to stay!!
I was working late nights and long weekends getting everything ready. This particular night was spent finishing my damascus sheath for the dagger I made. Since it was damascus, I was concerned about rust inside later down the road. I decided to melt beeswax inside and press the bass wood lining in the molten wax to secure it. Now the throat of the sheath had four small pieces silver soldered in place, and was rather delicate. The sheath had been hot gun blued as it was nickel damascus with gold wire inlay. Anyway, the wax went in, some ran down the side and onto the clamp I was holding it with, and next thing I know the clamp lets go and a piece of the throat breaks off on the floor. After three or four laps around the building to cool off, I sit and think on how to repair it. The only way is to resolder it, even though it ruined the blued finish. I left that night around 3AM.
Second, ( I am only hitting the high points here, a lot of other stuff happened I still have trouble talking about
)After the "final night before the show" checks and touch ups, I head for home. I had an hour commute home from my shop at that time, so I was looking forward to a nice easy drive home before my 4AM wake up to drive to Atlanta. Well, some nut with a bomb in a van had other ideas. The highway that lead me home was closed. I got in at 1:30AM. Upon arriving home, I noticed a glue seam on a wood sheath for a tanto had started to split. Luckily I had some wood glue and a clamp at the house. I left it clamped until Atlanta and did some light touch up work in the hotel room.
Last, once in Atlanta, I wake up early to rub everything down before going to the room for examination and inspection. Everything seemed in order. I walk out, get in the elevator with a woman who was very intimidated by my arsenal, and promptly get stuck in there for over 20 min!!! A mere two inches from freedom with the door open just enough for the woman to shrilly becon for help. Now I am not a violent man......Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, I turn around to look down at Alan Eleshiwitz making obscene gestures at me. If any of you know Alan, you know to make sure to wear a chastity belt if you plan on passing out around him. If you are down and out, you can count on Alan....to stick it to you (all in good fun of course..Alan is a good friend of mine). Anyway, I finally get out of the elevator, sprint to the room only to find it is the wrong one, then sprint to the right one a mere 20 min late. After pleading for a second or two, Jerry Fisk cracked a smile, shook his head and opened the door. The rest they say ...is now history.
Any other good testing stories out there?
First, you must realize that when Murphy comes....he comes to stay!!
I was working late nights and long weekends getting everything ready. This particular night was spent finishing my damascus sheath for the dagger I made. Since it was damascus, I was concerned about rust inside later down the road. I decided to melt beeswax inside and press the bass wood lining in the molten wax to secure it. Now the throat of the sheath had four small pieces silver soldered in place, and was rather delicate. The sheath had been hot gun blued as it was nickel damascus with gold wire inlay. Anyway, the wax went in, some ran down the side and onto the clamp I was holding it with, and next thing I know the clamp lets go and a piece of the throat breaks off on the floor. After three or four laps around the building to cool off, I sit and think on how to repair it. The only way is to resolder it, even though it ruined the blued finish. I left that night around 3AM.
Second, ( I am only hitting the high points here, a lot of other stuff happened I still have trouble talking about
)After the "final night before the show" checks and touch ups, I head for home. I had an hour commute home from my shop at that time, so I was looking forward to a nice easy drive home before my 4AM wake up to drive to Atlanta. Well, some nut with a bomb in a van had other ideas. The highway that lead me home was closed. I got in at 1:30AM. Upon arriving home, I noticed a glue seam on a wood sheath for a tanto had started to split. Luckily I had some wood glue and a clamp at the house. I left it clamped until Atlanta and did some light touch up work in the hotel room.Last, once in Atlanta, I wake up early to rub everything down before going to the room for examination and inspection. Everything seemed in order. I walk out, get in the elevator with a woman who was very intimidated by my arsenal, and promptly get stuck in there for over 20 min!!! A mere two inches from freedom with the door open just enough for the woman to shrilly becon for help. Now I am not a violent man......Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, I turn around to look down at Alan Eleshiwitz making obscene gestures at me. If any of you know Alan, you know to make sure to wear a chastity belt if you plan on passing out around him. If you are down and out, you can count on Alan....to stick it to you (all in good fun of course..Alan is a good friend of mine). Anyway, I finally get out of the elevator, sprint to the room only to find it is the wrong one, then sprint to the right one a mere 20 min late. After pleading for a second or two, Jerry Fisk cracked a smile, shook his head and opened the door. The rest they say ...is now history.
Any other good testing stories out there?
. Bailey that really was a special weekend for you. Even I was excited. Your dagger and damascus bowie were drop dead stunning. Looking forward to spending a little time with you in a couple of weeks and seeing the surprises you have "cooked up" for this year. (Shoot we may even get to see a few guys around us get a little excited when the new Master Smiths are anounced.)
