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For anyone in the Malta NY area I wanted to mention that I have an open forge every Tuesday evening at 6pm. Usually 2 or 3 guys show up, some just interested in blacksmithing others like to talk knives or even forge one. This week one of the guys was interested in damascus so we made a 10...

Now that winter is over, I find that my gas forge is heating the shop a little too much. So I fabricated hinged front and back doors. I made it so it closes down as much as possible even with a handle sticking out. Now the billet handles don't heat up and the steel gets up to welding...

Now that the weather is warming up it's time to cut and split firewood for next year. Take a walk past the woodpiles down to my shop and see where I spend my days. ernie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fi7i0tPvqzY&context=C4e5caedADvjVQa1PpcFP-yFBh8ZlqaOgpoPbMCHOW3ahx9ETw9ug=

Any tips on getting the weld lines to disappear when doing a Ferry flip? I've been using a press but the billet cools down so fast I think I would do better with the little Giant. You can see the problems I'm having with lines between every repeat. ernie

I had an old tool grinder that was just too slow and took too much cranking to use as a surface grinder. It occurred to me that it might possible to convert to a belt sander type. I gathered up some scrap laying around the shop and found that it was even easier that I imagined. I had to drill...

I stopped by Bader Co to pick up a few belts, Doug asked me to try out the 3M Cubitron II belts. They are supposed to be better than the original Cubitron belts. Wow .... I won't be buying those orange belts any more. I am really impressed with the cutting speed and how cool the belt runs...

For someone living here in the North winter is never far away. I need to replace my old oil furnace and I wonder what is the best way to heat my shop? I will be working there most days so I need some cheap method to keep the shop about 60 degrees. I heat the house with wood but I need...

I found a company near my house that will do small water jet jobs. After trying to get jobs done by 2 other companies that could not be bothered to even quote on my files I was very happy to find a local company. They cut my parts in 2 weeks! My mind is spinning with all the things I want...

I made my first basket weave pattern using the Ferry Flip method. The steel is 1084 and 15N20 from Aldo.

I just signed up for the linerlock course at Montgomery college in Troy, NC. Anyone else going? Custom Folding Knives - Ed VanHoy April 28 - May 1, 2011 Cost $375 Design and craft a custom liner-lock folding knife. The instructor will show the basic principles and methods of...

This is 1084 and 15N20 with a twist pattern, Ti liners and micarta scales. This is my 6th folder and I am starting to get a little faster making them. After taking the photos I etched and polished the blade so the the pattern stands out a lot better. Next I have to sharpen it, (guess how I...

My first folders since 1994. I am thinking about grinding a big curve into the handle so the knives don't look so rectangular. any comments? ernie balch

I can't believe it's been a year already. I don't want to forget earplugs this year, that bunkhouse gets loud with all the snoring. Any knifedogs going? ernie

Does anyone sell replacement arms? The threads stripped off one of the arms making the nut and spring fly across the shop. The arm is a straight piece with a T on one end and threaded on the other. Ernie

Yesterday I got so dizzy I couldn't stand up. I shut down the gas forge and sat down outside. I think it was carbon monoxide poisoning, even though I had two fans running, the doors were open as was the window. Today I bought a CO monitor with a digital display and found that CO level 20...

Don Fogg is listed as an instructor, I'm thinking about driving up from Albany NY area Anyone want to ride along? July 23 through 25, 2010 Offered by the American Bladesmith Society, Inc. Hosted by the New England School of Metalwork Location: New England School of Metalwork 9 Albiston Way...

I'm Ernie Balch from Ballston Spa NY I have lurked for a while and posted occasionally. I pound hot steel on weekends and am getting my shop fixed up so I can use it every day after I retire in a couple years. My big interest right now is in using photoresist to pattern and etch knives.

I made this knife with some W2 and 203e. The bolster is wrought iron from Aldo.

I forged knife out of 52100 roller bearing. And made the sheath from select spalted maple firewood. It was stabilized with epoxy and a vacuum impregnation process.