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  1. Fred Rowe

    Hunter with Redwood Burl

    Paul, They are coming along nicely. Nice grinds and the handle shapes are user friendly. Redwood burl is one of those woods that benefits from being burnished, it makes the burl pop. I use the edge of 10-12 oz stiff leather. Press hard and use a...
  2. Fred Rowe

    Bubble Jig

    Yes, you should! Otherwise I'll feel guilty :)
  3. Fred Rowe

    Bethel Ridge Forge saying hello.

    Fellow KnifeMakers! What a year this has been. The citizens of Houston and the 50 surrounding counties got hammered first; no pun intended. Then Irma tore a path through all the islands to the south of Florida, before finally slamming into the Keys and then taking a path...
  4. Fred Rowe

    What's going on in your shop?

    Cowboy leather sewing machine. We have worked hard to produce the best products we can produce here at Bethel Ridge Forge. We make upgrades and buy machinery when we can afford it. This year we purchased a Cowboy 4500 leather sewing machine which will help to reduce production time and also...
  5. Fred Rowe

    How long you been making knives?

    I made the first knife in 1999, it was a gift for my young son. My first grinder was a Pro-Cut machine from Mick Koval. These days I mostly make products for knife makers and users, that have come out of my experiences in making knives. I've met a lot of great people. The top one is my first...
  6. Fred Rowe

    Platen

    Put it in the oven at 500fh for an hour, it will pop the glass off. Scrape the surface of the platen while it is still hot from the oven, the old JB weld will peal right off. Now your ready for the new glass. Fred
  7. Fred Rowe

    scotchbrite vs cork?

    Hi Ken, I don't do any hand sanding if I'm going to do a scotchbrite finish. Once its touched with a hand sanding block, the work begins. If you don't touch the 400 or even a 600 belt finish the scotch bright looks great. I will sometimes hand sand the ricasso an the top edge of the...
  8. Fred Rowe

    scotchbrite vs cork?

    I use cork in 150 to 600 to sharpen edges on a wet 2x72 machine. Scotchbrite is best for matt finishes. If you finish at 400 on a green gator belt and remove all previous scratch patterns you can go right to the scotchbrite belt to put a matt finish on. The technique got started when people...
  9. Fred Rowe

    New ERU kit with dual sided strop.

    The ERU sharpener has been a work in progress, based on a sound basic idea. We have made numerous changes to the package over the last two years. This kit is for the person that likes using stones or diamond plates, but is not satisfied with the results they are getting totally free hand. With...
  10. Fred Rowe

    Platen

    They can be purchased fairly inexpensive at your local glass shop. The last ones I got locally were 8 dollars a piece, I bought 4 and put three of them away for future use.
  11. Fred Rowe

    Final Edge

    I use a Bubble Jig and a wet 2x72 belt machine, its a VS. The benefit of using a BJ is you can put a specific edge angle on the blade. Acute for kitchen cutters and more obtuse for heavier work. It's a nice addition to be able to inform the buyer of the blade that the edge is a specific angle...
  12. Fred Rowe

    Outlet location in shop?

    If you think your shop will expand over time, placing a 4 grounded outlets per location will pay off in the future. They have several pluses, one is they are easier to wire and if MC aluminum clad 12/2 with ground is used the entire system will be grounded. The aluminum clad is much safer in a...
  13. Fred Rowe

    Grinding shoulders on a belt machine.

    If we want to stay in knife making we have to adapt as we age and use whatever is necessary to keep us going. The idea of sitting around watching the tube is not agreeable for me. How does it work, forging sitting down? Fred
  14. Fred Rowe

    Grinding shoulders on a belt machine.

    Hi Doug, My mother never told me that long angle lath b-a-s-t-a-r-d file was foul language. But then Mom could swear like a sailor, God bless her. :) I would agree about the filing with hand tools thing if I wasn't 72 years old and dealing with degenerative spine disease. I...
  15. Fred Rowe

    Grinding shoulders on a belt machine.

    Of the 1,000 plus knives I've made over the last 17 years, nine hundred and seventy five have been hidden tang knives. I just like the looks of hidden tang knives. This means I've filed the shoulders on a lot of knives. I have a filing jig that I clamp the blade in and using a long angle lath...
  16. Fred Rowe

    Finished just in time.

    This knife is a surprise for our local VFD fire chief. It will be presented this Saturday at the TWP fireman's parade The certificate that goes with the knife is inscribed with Firefighters Dress utility tool. The chief has been with the department for 33 years.
  17. Fred Rowe

    What's ahead of you....

    Hey Brother! We haven't hung out much lately; lifes paths cross and shift and we move along with what is taking place. I know you have had a lot on your plate, keeping your wife up and about, having to work thru the cancer will challenge you, but damn, you survived our campouts so this will be...
  18. Fred Rowe

    Knife as a Retirement Gift

    I second the engraving.
  19. Fred Rowe

    Greg Cimms ~ Damascus Kiritsuke

    I love maple burl that has been dyed. Such interesting wood; it compliments the lovely damascus.
  20. Fred Rowe

    what to buy when setting up a new shop

    The Bubble Jig is an excellent investment; it will pay for itself many times over just in steel. It will also move perfection much closer to attainable by several years. My very best advise is to enjoy learning to be a knife maker. There are volumes to learn; endless I say, after 17 years...
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