What Did You Do Today?

[osage outlaw]

I did some knife work today.  They got 3 normalizing cycles and then a heat treat quenched in warm oil.  My little gas forge works but I want to make a new one with kaowool instead of plaster.  I need to move the torch inlet more towards the front opening to allow for longer blades.  Tomorrow I'll temper them twice for 2 hours at 400 degrees.




From top to bottom the steel is an old machete, an old sawmill blade, and an old file.  The machete had a soft tip after the heat and quench.  I heated it up a second time and got it hotter than the first attempt.  That seemed to do the trick.  A sharp file won't cut any of the blades now.  I was very happy with how the sawmill blade turned out.  I was worried it wouldn't harden enough to make a knife.  I have more knife blanks from that steel.  I drilled all the holes in the file knife to lighten it up a little.  It's a thick file and the holes keep the weight down. 

[bubby]

Looking good!!!

[Danzn Bar]

On your way to some cool knives...
DBar

[osage outlaw]

Thanks guys. 

Bill, I think I'm going to take the top knife to the trade blanket at the September Scottsburg shoot.  I might work on that handle shape a little bit before I finish it up.

[lebhuntfish]

Clint,  check out YouTube on how to make a coffee can Forge. 
A couple of things I picked up is,  angle the touch so the flame is swirling inside of the fire chamber.  And try using map gas instead of propane.  Map gas burns a LOT hotter than propane. That might help some with your current setup.  It should get the whole chamber hot for you. 

The knives look awesome though! Can't wait to see the finished product!

Patrick

[osage outlaw]

I've watched a lot of those videos Patrick.  I've got map gas but I can get the knives glowing orange with propane.  Since its cheaper I am using it up first.  On the longer blades I can't get the knife deep enough to get all of the blade in the direct heat.  If my torch inlet was 1" towards the open end it would be perfect. 

[lebhuntfish]

Thats cool Clint,  I figured you have watched some of those videos.  Sounds like you have a plan.

Patrick

[Aaron H]

Killer looking knives Clint

[bjrogg]

Osage we used to get MAP gas instead of Acytelene it last way longer I'm pretty sure it would way out last propane. love your blades allways fun to see what your up to.
bjrogg

[osage outlaw]

BJ, I use Map and propane gas.  My little forge worked OK with the cheaper propane so I'll probably use that.


Today I stopped at a yard sale and bought an old lantern for $5.  I brought it home and looked up the model#.  It's a Preway L43S from the 1930's-1940's. 






I also finished up my trade arrow and got some work done on a bow.  I split a fat water moccasin skin and glued it down.  I'm trying to get this bow done in the next 2 weeks so I can take it to a trade blanket at a local trad shoot.

 

[bjrogg]

I think you got a deal on the lantern Osage looks pretty good shape for its age
Bjrogg

[osage outlaw]

I must be on a hot streak for finding deals.  The other day I found a large cooler on the road with 9 cans of rolling rock beer on ice inside of it.  Today I picked up a good draw knife at an antique store for $10 and found a brand new Mckenzie deer target at a vintage store for $40.  It has never been shot.

[koan]

Clint, you might oughta go buy a lotto ticket 👍... Brian

[osage outlaw]

Maybe I should 

[bubby]

The only bad part is Clint don't drink so the rolling rock qent to waste😳