Trying to keep the Grandson interested.

L

lcs37

Joined
Jul 31, 2002
Messages
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My youngest grandson, Brian, going to be 16 the day after Christmas. He has shown a verbal interest in making knives. He has gone as far as getting some leaf springs, cutting off a length for a knife, THAN TRIED TO DO HIS THING.
He figured he could grind it, bevel it etc without doing anything else. He is very impressed with the HI knives and swords.
SOOOOOO , for his Birthday, I bought him a knife making Tutorial http://www.livelyknives.com/tutorials.htm

The one on the bottom banner. 2 hr DVD. At least he will have the basics.

I just finished watching it. Although, I have read the HI Web site and seen the pictures of the kamis making the knives, I now have still more appreciation for the kamis .
This gentleman, shows you step by step, alot of pounding going on, the heat treatment process, etc. He makes a Bowie/Campknife for demonstration.
He also describes the colors during the heat treatment, but nothing like Bura once told Uncle, IIRC.

Hope my grandson enjoys the Birthday present. Trying to start him young and keep him out of trouble. Give him something to think about.
 
That's really cool! If I and when I get a forge, I'll definately have to get some of their stuff!

Way to go Grandpa. He'll appreciate this his whole life, I recon.

Namaarie
 
namaarie said:
That's really cool! If I and when I get a forge, I'll definately have to get some of their stuff!

Way to go Grandpa. He'll appreciate this his whole life, I recon.

Namaarie
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I am not affiliated with this company at all. My first contact was for the video .
http://www.livelyknives.com/knifemakingvideo.htm

I just wanted to clarify that. I don't see anywhere on the site for buying a forge, but in the video , he stated he sold the basic tub for the forge and explained how to procure and set up the handcrank blower. Looks like you might be able to set up a forge for little of nothing.
 
Cool! I like the word "cheap!" Especially when I know I can make it right. :)

Namaarie
 
namaarie said:
Cool! I like the word "cheap!" Especially when I know I can make it right. :)

Namaarie
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Sent you an email. He no longer makes the forge for sale, but tells you where and how to.
 
What kind of forge does he use? I am only familiar with a propane concrete cylinder forge, and a wood ash forge.

I have two things keeping me from converting my dead bbq into a forgebq. The lack of a bellows, and ash for insulation. I can get some ash but it requires a little playing with. But I have no idea where to get a bellows (preferably electronic).
 
For a bellows (that will last a little while) try a hairdryer. I've heard that it works. I use propane myself though.

Another option for a bellows is a Shop-vac style vacuum.
 
yoippari said:
What kind of forge does he use?
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Tim uses a kitty litter forge the last I knew of. Kitty litter is nothing but ground clay and when properly soaked with water is formable and dries hard. You have to watch for surface cracks though which can go quite deep.:grumpy:
I have/had Tim's instructions for building a kitty litter forge around here somewhere that he sent to me gratis. They're probably in my notebook I keep of khukuris and other knife related goodies.:D
 
Yvsa said:
Tim uses a kitty litter forge the last I knew of. Kitty litter is nothing but ground clay and when properly soaked with water is formable and dries hard. You have to watch for surface cracks though which can go quite deep.:grumpy:
I have/had Tim's instructions for building a kitty litter forge around here somewhere that he sent to me gratis. They're probably in my notebook I keep of khukuris and other knife related goodies.:D
Click to expand...

http://64.176.180.203/washtubforge.htm

He now calls it a washtub forge. Link tells you what to use and how.
He does mention first couple of times the mortar will possibly crack , add a little water and massage the crack. After a few firings it is very hard.
From the video, a hand crank air pump seems like is all that is necessary.

If you are like me, I skipped over most of the tutorials from the first link I gave and went straight to the video.
I have gone back and started reading the list of tutorials. Interesting stuff!
 
There is something about a grandfather sharing anything with knives with a grandson that is precious. I think that's one of the most positive memories that I have about manhood growing up.
 
I heartily approve. One, there will maybe be another great knifemaker out there. But I think maybe more of it is that he is being supported to learn a trade. I think our public school system does a bad job of teaching kids this kind of thing. Guidance counselors just push academics and going to college and kids who opt for Vo-tech are looked at as failures. Out of all the guys I went to highschool with and was buddies with, the one who went vo-tech for cabinet making makes the most money now. He is his own boss, does what he loves and the rest of the guys are still paying off college loans and working jobs they hate. I kind of fall in the middle. Trades are good to know, even if you never use them. Kind of rambling here and don't mean to knock education, but not enough kids are learning to work with their hands.
 
lcs37 said:
... for his Birthday, I bought him a knife making Tutorial...
Click to expand...
That's really thoughtful Grandpa. Something to fill in the time until he gets his driver's license and discovers girls.
 
Building a forge is very easy; propane or char coal...I would suggest staying away from coal. Send me an email if you're interested and I'll point you in the right direction.

Matt
 
LongRifle said:
Building a forge is very easy; propane or char coal...I would suggest staying away from coal. Send me an email if you're interested and I'll point you in the right direction.

Matt
Click to expand...

Tim is of the opinion that natural wood charcoal is the best due to lack of impurities. Store bought Charcoal has impurities along with other fuel sources. He definitely agrees with you, don't use coal, too many impurities. He shows you how to make natural charcoal and suggests you may be able to buy some natural charcoal from a local restaurant supply house.
 
Thanks for pointing out the web site. I've been thinking of giving forging a try and this looks like a great place to start. :D :D
 
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