Will Terra Cotta destruction replace rope cutting?

There is a large fire extinguisher next to my quench tanks. If I got a flame like can be expected on FIF, I would turn the extinguisher on it. There has to be a layer of flammable liquid suspended on the top of the quench oil. I can think of no other reason for an experience, that might just set one's face afire.
I'm safety conscious, prone to pick up a fallen broom, an attempt at removing a safety hazard before someone falls over it. The thought of a major fire every time I hardened a piece of steel. would through me into action at removing the varmint.
Its hard for me to watch, at times, i'm always expecting there to be case of third degree burn or at least the removal of a finger.

I watch anyhow, I'm a sucker for the unexpected, Fred


PS What is this "retirement" of which you speak? Is it something you eat? A traditional knife pattern Heaven!!
 
I have heard whispers that there is a layer of white gas "Naphtha" poured on top of the oil for the effect. Its pretty dumb to think that a knife that size could heat up an entire tank of oil hot enough to bring the whole surface of the liquid to the flash point in a second...
 
I don't know about you guys, but my Parks 50 will erupt into a pretty good flame if I edge quench a 1475F blade. I imagine that most oils will. Looks like the majority of smiths aren't plunging the whole blade in, and I'd expect a flare up or two.

As for this second episode, I had some mixed feeling about it, though I enjoyed it overall. I'm wondering why there were only two final tests, as opposed to the normal three. It felt like they edited something out. Personally, I think there should have been some kind of tie breaker, as I'm not sure I agree with the final decision. I will say that David Roeder by far had the nicest preliminary blade (which possibly played into the final decision), though I think the "incorporation of parts" into the handle was pretty weak, and poorly done at that. I know they're on a time limit, but I'm not sure that blobbing some parts onto the handle with superglue should really count. :rolleyes: As I said though, he killed it on the rest of the knife.
 
Rick Marchand said:
Yeah, but why would anyone want to edge quench, anyway?:p
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Fred.Rowe said:
:thumbup:+1
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I tried it once to see if I could get a decent hamon without smearing clay all over a 1095 chefs knife I was working on. The only thing I had big enough in my shop was a plastic bin. As soon as the knife hit the Parks 50... WHOOOSH. The plastic bin full of quenchant was a plastic bin full of flaming quenchant. As I saw the sides begin to sag in from the heat, I both recounted my stupidity, as well as mentally visualized a river of fire flooding through the shop as the bin melted down.

Somehow I was able to blow it out like a giant birthday candle before the oil started to leak.

And that, ladies and gentleman, is the last time I edge quenched, or used a plastic bin for a quench tank. On the bright side, I did get a relatively decent hamon.
 
I make sure I never have food or drink in my mouth when watching FIF. Anything can happen. I've embarrassed myself a couple of times.
 
afishhunter said:
What is this "retirement" of which you speak? Is it something you eat? A traditional knife pattern?
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I have done this once... where the government still sends you money because you took a breath that month. Not enough to live on but allows me to make beer for a loving now.... and spend money on knives and guns...

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk
 
Rick Marchand said:
Knives are knives dammit! They are for slicing apples and whittling whistles. ... that's it!

You want to smash terra cotta, use a sledge...
You want to breach a door, use a big crowbar
You want to cut a pig in half, use a Cold Steel product(seriously... any model... I saw the proof)
You want to cleave tatami mats, use a katana
You want to split firewood, get a hatchet
You want to cut rope, find yourself a... er... rope cutting tool thingie

While you're at it, get a larger backpack or duffle bag... cause you're gonna need it to carry all the right tools for the job!

It is what it is. They can test how they want. It is all in good fun to entertain the masses. I say it's better than a series dedicated to finger knitting.(not that it too couldn't be extreme. )





That was my passive aggressive way of stating that I really don't follow one camp when it comes to how knives should be used. Go FREEBLADE and leave your hang-ups at home.
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I second that Rick; FREEEEEEEEBLAAAAAAAAAAAADE! You need to picture a william wallace scenario... kilt, facepaint and all. lets start the freeblade revolution. one chop, smash, cut or pry at a time!
 
There is conflict in producing Forged in Fire. WE, the knife makers have one voice, not one opinion or one viewpoint, but the perspective of knife makers. Most all of us here understand, to differing degrees what is involved in making carbon steel hard. Most of the people that watch the show know little about actually building a knife. They don't know how a 1600 degree blade will react to being dipped in water. PING! But we do.
The judges on FIF understand the process, but that is not what they get paid for; the producers want viewers so they want the judges to be entertaining, knife makers want real world reality. Some where along this line is what we see on air.

I know the producers and directors hear our voices, those of us who make knives. While watching the show last night they reviewed the episode with the terra cotta test, last weeks episode. The show had been edited where several things had been removed and some things added, the most obvious was the winners comments after winning, "really, your kidding" this has been removed and some footage added where they showed the blades being tested for straightness, using a large straight edge; It was pointed out by J. that the losing blade was bent slightly, where as the winning, terra cotta smashing blade was still straight, again using the straight edge.


I believe this is a good reaction by FIF. They do hear us out here in knife making land. I don't think it's we, the knife makers that the show is made for as much as it is just those who are interested in the process of making a knife and taking a look at what "WE" look like, some of us scarier than others. Not talking about you Rick Your not that scary.
If we keep giving our feedback and the show makes the money it takes in advertising to keep it going; we may yet see knife making shows that are realistic, exciting and interesting for the entire viewing audience.
 
Greenberg Woods said:
I have heard whispers that there is a layer of white gas "Naphtha" poured on top of the oil for the effect. Its pretty dumb to think that a knife that size could heat up an entire tank of oil hot enough to bring the whole surface of the liquid to the flash point in a second...
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Ignite the vapors on the surface ..............
 
knife to a gunfight said:
I tried it once to see if I could get a decent hamon without smearing clay all over a 1095 chefs knife I was working on. The only thing I had big enough in my shop was a plastic bin. As soon as the knife hit the Parks 50... WHOOOSH. The plastic bin full of quenchant was a plastic bin full of flaming quenchant. As I saw the sides begin to sag in from the heat, I both recounted my stupidity, as well as mentally visualized a river of fire flooding through the shop as the bin melted down.

Somehow I was able to blow it out like a giant birthday candle before the oil started to leak.

And that, ladies and gentleman, is the last time I edge quenched, or used a plastic bin for a quench tank. On the bright side, I did get a relatively decent hamon.
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If you reduced the oxygen to near 0% in the room, there shouldn't be any more fires.
 
Slightly OT.

Has anyone watched the History Channel series Iron and Fire? Some of it is pretty cool, a lot is pretty Hokey, and some is just plain stupid (and often wrong).

Daniel Casey is clearly very talented, but some of his descriptions of the why and how are bizarre.

His history of Damascus would put Rick into convulsions. IIRC, France and Europe play prominently in it.
His explanation of the magnetic flux of the earth bending a blade if the quench tank is not quenched facing magnetic north is hysterical.
Another thing is they depict everything being done in his primitive smithy, but many short scenes are in a large machine shop if you look at the background.
The crazy neighbor is so phony that is becomes funny.
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
Has anyone watched the History Channel series Iron and Fire? Some of it is pretty cool, a lot is pretty Hokey, and some is just plain stupid (and often wrong).
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So it is kinda like bladeforums :)

I have had so called "experts" give dead wrong answers and then back peddle to pretend why they said the wrong answer was not to confuse people LOL

Now that is always entertaining :)
 
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