What's going on in your shop? Show us whats going on, and talk a bit about your work!

Ron Raducanu said:
This makes me sad. I just hope it's educational debt and not credit card stuff.
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I say no to credit cards. The plant I work at runs 24/7 and my position (Plant Technician) requires around the clock monitoring. Right now my department is running on a skeleton crew so we are having to pull extra hours. Our debt is mostly necessities like the house, the wife’s car, my college, etc. I do appreciate your concern.
 
TheEdge01 said:
I say no to credit cards. The plant I work at runs 24/7 and my position (Plant Technician) requires around the clock monitoring. Right now my department is running on a skeleton crew so we are having to pull extra hours. Our debt is mostly necessities like the house, the wife’s car, my college, etc. I do appreciate your concern.
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That's good to hear!! Yeah, that's all what I call "good" debt. Stuff you can't avoid. Gotta work hard to play hard. I know the feeling.
 
TheEdge01 said:
If it’s any consolation, I’m pulling close to 70 hours a week at a desk job, and I’m up to my eyeballs in debt at the age of 39. I’m a hobbyist knife maker and it can be difficult to find time to spend in my shop to keep orders moving. However, I like to stay on top of things so I had to learn to prioritize.
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Keep it up, I have been looking at your work from when you started posting and you are constantly improving imho. I can't imagine working that much and still having the energy for knives.

I am not feeling bad in particular about anything, it's just about making a conscious decision what kind of life and work I want for myself. I am very lucky to have the privilege to be able to even think and choose what I want to do (and hopefully still make a living). I try to be aware of it. I don't think I will be a full time maker, but you never know :)
 
FredyCro said:
Keep it up, I have been looking at your work from when you started posting and you are constantly improving imho. I can't imagine working that much and still having the energy for knives.

I am not feeling bad in particular about anything, it's just about making a conscious decision what kind of life and work I want for myself. I am very lucky to have the privilege to be able to even think and choose what I want to do (and hopefully still make a living). I try to be aware of it. I don't think I will be a full time maker, but you never know :)
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Thank you! You do a great job also and I wish you the best.
 
HSC /// said:
Nah... that’s ok. I’m good
Still waiting for someone to show me hard evidence of the dangers.
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Fair enough!

Abstract
OBJECTIVES--To review the scientific literature on the health effects of refractory ceramic fibres (RCFs). The adverse effects of exposure to asbestos has led to concern about the potential for other fibrous materials to cause diseases. For this reason the human populations most heavily exposed to synthetic mineral fibres have been examined for any adverse effects and many types of fibre have been studied in animal experiments. One type of man made vitreous fibres (MMVFs), refractory ceramic fibres (RCFs), are principally used in thermal insulation at high temperatures--up to 1400 degrees C. As manufactured RCFs exist in a glassy, non-crystalline (sometimes called amorphous) state, they have various compositions, physical properties, and sized fibres. METHODS--All reports on the health effects of RCFs available up to the end of 1994 have been examined and the scientific literature reviewed although all publications have not necessarily been referenced. CONCLUSIONS--In recent inhalation experiments conducted with both rats and hamsters at the Research and Consulting Company, Geneva, at the highest dose tested (30 mg/m3) there was an increased incidence of tumours in both species. Lower doses were only examined in the rat and at these doses there was no significant excess of lung tumours. Epidemiological investigations of workers engaged in the manufacture of ceramic fibres have shown a small excess of pleural plaques. This phenomenon is being further investigated but could be due to confounding exposures. The populations available for study are small and their exposures fairly short, but it is considered prudent that they should remain under surveillance for some time to come. This is despite the fact that present exposures in the ceramic fibre industry are low (< 1 f/ml) and are being reduced.

From this paper:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1128261/
 
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A.McPherson said:
Fair enough!

Abstract
OBJECTIVES--To review the scientific literature on the health effects of refractory ceramic fibres (RCFs). The adverse effects of exposure to asbestos has led to concern about the potential for other fibrous materials to cause diseases. For this reason the human populations most heavily exposed to synthetic mineral fibres have been examined for any adverse effects and many types of fibre have been studied in animal experiments. One type of man made vitreous fibres (MMVFs), refractory ceramic fibres (RCFs), are principally used in thermal insulation at high temperatures--up to 1400 degrees C. As manufactured RCFs exist in a glassy, non-crystalline (sometimes called amorphous) state, they have various compositions, physical properties, and sized fibres. METHODS--All reports on the health effects of RCFs available up to the end of 1994 have been examined and the scientific literature reviewed although all publications have not necessarily been referenced. CONCLUSIONS--In recent inhalation experiments conducted with both rats and hamsters at the Research and Consulting Company, Geneva, at the highest dose tested (30 mg/m3) there was an increased incidence of tumours in both species. Lower doses were only examined in the rat and at these doses there was no significant excess of lung tumours. Epidemiological investigations of workers engaged in the manufacture of ceramic fibres have shown a small excess of pleural plaques. This phenomenon is being further investigated but could be due to confounding exposures. The populations available for study are small and their exposures fairly short, but it is considered prudent that they should remain under surveillance for some time to come. This is despite the fact that present exposures in the ceramic fibre industry are low (< 1 f/ml) and are being reduced.

From this paper:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1128261/
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Right. I get that. But that’s not hard evidence....that’s a lab rat experiment

So what does it mean from a practical perspective? I think if you scrunched up the fibers and held them in your hand and inhaled .... you might have a problem.
But i think it’s fine if you forge for 2 hours 5x a month and the fibers are for the most part, intact.
I don’t put my nose or mouth near the fibers. I’m an arms length plus tong length away.

nevertheless I appreciate your concern.
Your point is well taken. But I will be fine
 
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Haven't posted anything in a while, but I have been busy! Still looking for a milling machine and I ordered a HRC tester on Thursday, so things are moving along. If all goes well, I will be buying a pantograph tomorrow, for a whopping 280€ (that includes two alphabets, and it is a 3D model) :)

I finished my first proper flipper with bearings yesterday, and I could not be happier. I have failed oven and over for a year, and finally making it work feels absolutely amazing.

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Mark van Elteren said:
I finished my first proper flipper with bearings yesterday, and I could not be happier. I have failed oven and over for a year, and finally making it work feels absolutely amazing.
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That handle is wild, man. Am I seeing carbon fiber or micarta on the bolster? Couldn't even guess what the scales are but I dig the pattern.
 
HSC /// said:
Your point is well taken. But I will be fine
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Maybe...

But for the folks new to the hobby/trade, I will second (thrid, fourth, etc...) the suggestion that many makers will make to coat their Kaowool with refractory cement. Forges and money are both easily lost and replaced, but your lungs and the ability to breathe effortlessly as an elder adult are NOT easily fixed, if possible.
 
Last time I checked, the clinical evidence on flame resistant ceramic fibres causing disease wasn't overwhelming. And it has been ecaluated for 40 or so years now I think.
Still, where I am, if you're exposed (at certain levels) at work for more than 50 hrs per year: your employer by law must arrange for regular medial check ups.
 
Spent the last 2 hours cutting and shaping some piping to make a knife making vise. Had to use an angle grinder. That was tougher than I expected. Made a mess, too. Used a 12" piece of ID 2.5" nipple piping and a 12" piece of ID 2.0" nipple piping. Cut off the threading on either side. The 2.0" slides easily into the 2.5". Cheapest piping I could find. Grand total for materials so far, $30. And 2 hours of labor. Next, to get a drill and tap set, some screws and a wood dowel. Got some Dykem for marking my blade, as well. Way better than Sharpies, LOL.
 
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