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Ok so some friendly members here, and some yard sale and flea market shopping has proven very fruitful to the super low budget shop. So far with help from members here, contacts along the way, and some family members, I have $65 in the shop setup. This is everything I've collected so far... This is everything together [IMG]http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/ee356/tnplowboy07/2012-11-24_21-41-13_499.jpg[/IMG] This piece of railroad track is around 35-40 lbs to the foot, and a member, TNcobra, found it for me for $50 for 4 feet of it. This will be made into 3 smaller anvils, including a striking anvil to help preserve my nicer, larger anvil when using an experienced striker and a larger hammer. [IMG]http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/ee356/tnplowboy07/2012-11-24_21-40-16_650.jpg[/IMG] This piece of track was hauled all the way across the state and donated to the cause by DLM, the ever famous reloading guru. Thank you david. This is 60 lb to the ft mainline track, much larger and heavier, and there is about 3 ft of it. This will be my main working anvil. [IMG]http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/ee356/tnplowboy07/2012-11-24_21-40-31_79.jpg[/IMG] This is a brake drum picked up for free at a friends shop, this is from a ford box truck. Asking around some small mechanic shop can land one of these for free, but I'd offer up $5-$10 for their troubles to sweeten the deal. Working relationships net lotsa scrap metal This will be the heart of my forge, the tuyere pot where the air comes in to the bottom of the fire, right under the ducks nest. [IMG]http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/ee356/tnplowboy07/2012-11-24_21-39-48_86.jpg[/IMG] Here are some hammers bought from an older gentleman at a flea market. They were labeled at $10 for the longer one, which is a 10 lber. The shorter handled, larger headed is an 8 lber that was marked at $20, and the smallest head is a 6 lb railroad hammer, also labeled at $20. Talked for a while, shot the ####, joked, made friends. Walked off after 30 minutes carrying all three for $5 apiece. [IMG]http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/ee356/tnplowboy07/2012-11-24_21-39-40_898.jpg[/IMG] In the next few segments I'll be building the forge, and building stands for the anvils, as well as cutting them into different pieces.

Being a police officer requires good judgment. Writing a $2500 ticket for a 3 yr old doing something he didn't know was wrong, was very bad judgment. Seniority doesn't mean you get to coast and do what you want.

[quote name='Broomhead' timestamp='1353599358' post='849453'] I touched up the convex edge using a ~600 grit belt on my belt grinder. It's not shaving sharp but it will slice through a t-shirt just fine (I use old t-shirts as shop rags). I was able to baton through a scrap 2x4, twice, easily without disturbing the edge. I also hacked halfway through the 2x4 with ease, again, without disturbing the edge. Next, I tested the strength of the tip. [img]http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/Broomheads/20121121_153555.jpg[/img] And... (I can't get it to embed the PB video so here's a link.) [url="http://s432.photobucket.com/albums/qq48/Broomheads/?action=view&current=20121121_153722.mp4"]http://s432.photobuc...1121_153722.mp4[/url] [/quote] I'm not gonna lie, that video made my cringe. I didn't think it would break, but thats a lot of force on a tip. I'm glad it performed well, and thanks for the sharpening

Happy Thanksgiving, and Semper Fi to my brothers overseas. I've been there before, make the best of it, and come home safe.

I had one of those, and it served me very very well through the years. Id say you got a decent deal on a good knife.

Dude is a nut who liks to challenge people to a gunfight in remote places. Also a convicted felon, and kicked off the police force. My advice run far and fast from that mall ninja nut job. http://www.tacticalforums.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000326.html

[quote name='peejman' timestamp='1353536321' post='849253'] Nice to meet you. I think there's at least 2 in there that will be useable.... When I get back to work, I'll dig up some info on titanium for you. [/quote] Nice meeting you too. Thank you so much for the files, they are soon to be reborn into something much different.

I know what forum I'll avoid now. Guy sounds like a tool, and if hes locking threads, then hes a mod. Usually if the moderators suck the forum sucks. Thats why I can only stand about 2 forums anymore, one being here.

Hey fauklin, good to see you finally got around to posting. I've made lots of good friends here, and knowing you pretty good, you should fit in very well.

Hes an idiot that makes us all look bad. My main hunting rifle is a semi automatic 30-06. Must be an assault weapon, since you can't hunt with a semiauto.

I can meet you somewhere near you place to pick them up if youd like?

I wanted to add that while this is free, and will be as long as I'm able to make it work, donations are appreciated. They would be used to fund better materials, help cover cost on fuel and other supplies for the forge and just generally being put back into the program. Thanks guys Edit: I also wanted to add, if you think this is just a ploy for me to make money, send me a pm and i can send you a list of what it cost to run the class, and where money goes. I will assure you that I spend much more than I make on the classes, and that I do them to help spread a dying art and keep it alive, and to give forums members a chance to do something unique.

[quote name='sbroomheadsr' timestamp='1353417249' post='848694'] Hey all, I swiped the "[b]Flatwoods Beast[/b]" from Dan to bring into work. i was telling them about it and they just had to see it. Now if i had a printer like in the movie Office Space, I would use the [b]Flatwoods Beast [/b]instead of a baseball bat,. Oh well... [/quote] Now that would make for an intresting video....

[quote name='peejman' timestamp='1353416028' post='848686'] Ah. Knives from worn out files. I may have a source for a few of those. [/quote] Or sell them all to me and I'll give broomhead his half on the 8th when he comes up for some more forge time.

By all means, Im not saying a cheap knife doesn't have its place. I was more correcting the "properly tempered" comment because mild can't be hardened, or therefore tempered by its nature. When most people ask me for a good work knife for stripping wire, cutting boxes, etc etc. I point them towards the folding box cutters. When it dulls throw the blade away. It doesn't have to stay sharp for long, or be tempered against breaking, edge roll, etc. But if I planned to get a knife that could be used for cutting wood, leather, bone, meat, and anything else, I'd be looking for a well made, high carbon knife. It can be resharpened easily with a medium Arkansas rock, will hold an edge much longer than most cheapo's, and if you ever have to use it in an emergency it will hold up well beyond that of any $6-$10 el cheapo special. Case in point are the small 5160 utility knives I just made. Cheap, they will stay sharp for a long while, and if pressed I wouldnt hesitate to baton or even hammer them through oak to get a fire going, skin game, carve out a bone arrowhead, and take general abuse, as well as being reliable, concealable, and staying sharp. All attributes that can make a big difference in everything from work, to survival, to last ditch self defense.

[quote name='graycrait' timestamp='1345172933' post='801762'] Don't get too hung up on how your carry EDC fixed blade is made. Pakistani 55 gal drum steel will cut pretty good if tempereed and sharpened well enough. It is more about how the knife is carried and how it flows into the hand than the actual material of blade and handle. [/quote] I know this is an older post, but this is NOT true. Blade steel, hardening and tempering are the difference in junk and a good knife. Even if your cutting cardboard, a good high carbon steel will cut cardboard easier and longer than a bad one. Its all about edge retention. I can make a butter knife shave for about 3 swipes. A cheap knife, or an improperly tempered knife will never work cut as cleanly, or as well as a good one. And considering you can get a good production or even custom knife for a decent price, save your money and buy one. Btw only good steel like high carbon 1084, 1095, 5160, Damascus, or some of the better cutlery grade stainless can be hardened and tempered. Mild steel like barrels as you mentioned can not be hardened enough to be used as a knife, it will not hold an edge. Just my two cents, most of it from my experiences as a blacksmith and knife maker

Do you want to replace it with another dagger or just a similarly sized fixed blade? What kind of price range? Custom or production? Theres thousands of options, so Im just wanting to narrow it down to give you a better answer.

[quote name='peejman' timestamp='1353357309' post='848331'] Cool. I need a kitchen pass. What's the story on the pattern in the bowie? [/quote] Well get that pass cleared and come on out. Brromhead is correct, the pattern is from the teeth that were left on the rasp we used for the bowie and the hawk.. and looking forward to having you out Broomhead.

[quote name='cknight98' timestamp='1353297379' post='847992'] is there any way i could get in on the pass around? [/quote] Sure thing, Ill get you added to the list.

[quote name='Lumber_Jack' timestamp='1353295982' post='847977'] Good idea. I was able to view some posts and get an idea but that can be difficult if someone posts a lot or not enough I have posted some interests under the "profile feed" section [/quote] I did the same, seems like the best idea.

I'm really glad you and your son had a great time. You were both awesome students, and workers, very quick learners, and well mannered guest. You guys are welcome back anytime. Btw thats the first time anyone has every compared me to John Henry lol. And you son better get an A on the forge welded triangle.

See full review by unclejak here. Then send me a pm and schedule your weekend today http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/topic/55210-make-your-own-knife-class-a-review/#entry848144

Way ahead of you man. My cousins wagon and mules say no to GPS. [IMG]http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/ee356/tnplowboy07/2012-10-07_10-45-00_90.jpg[/IMG] As do Big.John and.myself [IMG]http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/ee356/tnplowboy07/2012-09-01_08-23-21_891.jpg[/IMG]

Well another wonderful class weekend has drawn to a close. Unclejak and his son visited from Portland,TN and spent two days learning to beat, twist, hammer, weld, and work hot steel. We made several knives, with Unclejak making the best first knife Ive seen from a railroad spike, as well as several smaller blanks and a horseshoe blade. As a grand finale we all worked together and made his son a 12" plus bowie and a wrapped eye tomahawk as a war set. Id would like to thank them for coming out and being the best stundents as well as friends you could ask for. Here are some pics Unclejaks son learning to file a blade [IMG]http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/ee356/tnplowboy07/2012-11-18_10-00-02_668.jpg[/IMG] Unclejak guiding his son on filing bevels [IMG]http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/ee356/tnplowboy07/2012-11-18_10-00-22_588.jpg[/IMG] Unclejak and son with several forged pieces, including knife and hawk set. [IMG]http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/ee356/tnplowboy07/2012-11-18_15-41-39_47.jpg[/IMG] And myself after two fun days of heating and beating. [IMG]http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/ee356/tnplowboy07/2012-11-18_15-42-02_891.jpg[/IMG] Thanks for a good time guys, I hope you learned alot