What's going on in your shop?

It's alive!

Just got this Saturday and was finally able to run some test coupons today on the knife for the KITH. Test coupons are 1084 stock .160 thick.
The first test I tried to run at Larrin's recommendations from his book (1475 F for 10 minutes) except when I put the test coupon in at 1475 I expected the temp to drop. Instead it kept climbing to over 1500 in a matter of minutes. So I lessened the time to 8 minutes and quenched in AAA at room temp (forgot to heat it up).


Very grainy and my second test coupon was even worse.

Anyone who has one of these I'd appreciate any input you might have.
With a propane forge the temperature is going to keep rising unlike in an oven with a thermostat. Here is a very non technical explanation of what has worked for me, your milage may vary. Cycle the steel three times by bringing it to non magnetic and let it cool until the red is not visible in a semi dark room do that twice and quench on the 3 time. You should see much finer grain.
 
With a propane forge the temperature is going to keep rising unlike in an oven with a thermostat. Here is a very non technical explanation of what has worked for me, your milage may vary. Cycle the steel three times by bringing it to non magnetic and let it cool until the red is not visible in a semi dark room do that twice and quench on the 3 time. You should see much finer grain.
Thanks Fred. I'll give that a try.
 
We’re heading to the Mississippi delta this weekend for our annual family and friends squirrel hunt. This is one of the first knives I made. It’s just been sitting on a shelf. Cleaned and sharpened it. Put in service. I’m gonna carry it and use it for what it was meant for.
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A couple of kitchen knives in the works. The one with the round tip was a request from my wife. Looks strange to me...

Both are AEB-L harden to 62-63 HRC still need the scales finished, some polishing and a final edge put on.
The rounded one reminds me of a Japanese vegetable knife. I have 2 and wouldn't trade them for anything. the wood handled one I picked up in Okinawa 30 something years ago and use almost daily

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I’ve been working on some new dies for the forging press.


I made a set of full flat dies, ladder dies, rounding dies, squaring dies and dies to split damascus for a feather pattern.

Ive gotten to use a few of them and wish I would have made these way sooner
 
I’ve been working on some new dies for the forging press.


I made a set of full flat dies, ladder dies, rounding dies, squaring dies and dies to split damascus for a feather pattern.

Ive gotten to use a few of them and wish I would have made these way sooner
Nice. I'll take a set of those squaring dies. :D ;)
 
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