Some new hardware for the hearth at TJ's

The pot hook and the adjustable stand both got used the day after this was put in.  They were roasting chestnuts over an open fire and they were delicious! I had to make all the equipment removable in case of thieves or they didn't want stuff in the way.

We also have key chains available.  The other big news is that we should have a proper website up and running in February.  You'll be able to order stock items and we'll have a menu selection for some of our custom stuff.  

Antler tine key chains

More in stock knives 11/29/17

Black handles have black sheaths and the tan handles have tan sheaths.

In-stock Knives 11/27/17

Just use the contact form if you are interested.  I take paypal and can ship very soon.   I have four more with sheaths that will be ready tomorrow and I'll post them ASAP.   They'll be able to ship out after the belt clips arrive and are mounted.

TJ's Kris Kindl Market is this weekend.   Be there or be Square

Show after thanksgiving

Someone's been a good boy.

A Christmas present is en-route to the giver.  It definitely wouldn't suck to find this blade under the tree.  Lots of people who visited the shop while this blade was in progress were jealous. 

1095 and 15N20 Damascus with black linen micarta handle and stainless steel pins.  

A nice bit of feather stick made with the knife

Well balanced

Snow, knives, and more snow

Some lucky person will win this knife at the American Legion raffle.

Some lucky Mom gets this one for Christmas.

Another Christmas present.

Another 2-6 inches of snow expected this evening.  The dogs love to play in it.

Trying to regroup and and make stock for shows in November

There is a mess of custom orders to get out and metric sh*t ton of stock to make.  Been trying to keep up and failing.   More supplies are ordered and on the way.
That is all for now.

Even more knives..I need more epoxy to keep going

I'm trying to  get my knife stock bumped up to a nice level for the start of hunting season.   It's time to grind out another couple of dozen.

Skinners and hunters ready for new homes

One of the reasons to wear a respirator.

Some more knives finished and ready for sheaths

More Damascus Blades

 Fun with etchant and the polishing wheel.  I think the patterns turned out very nice.  Now for the handles....

Working on a BIG anvil was a joy!

At the steam show in Esko,MN we had a blast working and demonstrating our craft.  The crowd enjoyed our work and we had a lot of people stop by.  There were awnings over our "porch" so we had a place for the fair goers to watch while escaping the rain.  There was a lot of rain. 

It was a joy to work on the huge anvil in their shop.  It weighs 400-500 pounds and had enough room for two of to hammer at the same time. 

Heat treat for our swords is ready for it's trial run

A lot has happened this week.  The best news for the shop is we have scored a 50 lb Little Giant power hammer.  It is the big brother to the wee 25 pounder we are using now.  We even got it for a reasonable price.   Yay for us!!

Then I found out we are going to be blacksmithing at the fair in Esko.  We are going to be there Friday, Saturday and Sunday this week.  The heat treat tub for our long blades is ready for it's test run.  That is pretty exciting for us because that opens up alot of new doors.

The hydraulic press is back in action  and has new dies so we can start working with canister Damascus.   Stay tuned for more exciting goings on!

Goins on at the shop this week mid to late August 2017

The burners for the heat treat tank for the swords arrived and is now put together.  Fire is good.

The Wagner's got the new sign post for their old sign.  I forgot to snap a pic after it was painted black.

Here is the mighty Chad doing some noisy work to get the new tank ready for the burners.  Turn up the volume for the best effect.

Goings on at the shop late July and early August 2017

There has been alot of the world famous "Tasty Beverage Holders" going out the door.   Hopefully we'll have the the stock levels up for this weekend at Moose Lake.

We have new dies for the trip hammer.  The old ones were OEM and I really believe they had been on the machine for the last 90 odd years.  A sledge hammer was needed to persuade the pins to move.

We are another step closer to getting ready to produce swords.  My new quench tank is completed and has been tested for leaks.  I need a bigger shop, we're running out of places to put stuff,

Goings On at the shop this week

More iron work for the stained glass guy.   Fun with radii.  Good thing I paid attention when Pi was being discussed in math class.

A customer brought in a big box of his grandfather's knives to be re-edged.  He was a butcher so there was a nice selection of quality knives that would hold an edge.  Those are the kind of jobs that are cool.  You get to see a little bit of history.

Things that make you go "Holy S*#+!!!!"

I went to reach for my hammer  and meant a new friend.  I've seen him around the farm a few times.  He is quite a large snake for this far north and there aren't too many this big on the place so he stands out..  I used to live where there are snakes that can kill you deader than fried chicken so my hand being this close to a snake was enough to get the old instincts to kick in. I pulled my hammer hand back so fast it went plaid.  After my heart slowed down I laughed at myself and got out the camera on the new phone.  Here you go for your viewing pleasure.   I think he was hanging out there because the anvil stays warm after using it for a while and he had a big heat sink to curl up with.

It's been a bit since the last post, we're still here and working!

After a trip to the ICU and all the follow up appointments I think I may finally be able to put some time in the shop.  

 Meanwhile Chad has been busy.  He has forged a very nice cut and thrust sword.  There is work in progress to get the long quench tank set up and heat treat problems are being sorted out.

We are also critically low on stock for the shows and it will be a few weeks before that will be remedied.   Lot's of things are going on and once things settle down we will be going gangbusters.

Chad's long sword and my viking sword in progress

A long sword in progress

Damascus in Progress

More work in progress at the shop.   Not too much more to report at this time.

Hooks Galore

16 hooks down and another 16 to go.  That's a fair sized order.  I have a customer who is a wood worker and the projects with my hooks usually sell first so he likes to have a few in stock at his place.

I'm not going to be at the barefoot gardens event this Saturday.

Looks like the rain is going to be with us the next few days so I have to cancel my appearance at the event.  So sorry everyone, I was looking forward to it.

A New Venue for HBI

We'll be at the Barefoot  Gardening Day at the Barefoot Gardens Greenhouse. 

It is scheduled for May the  20th from 10 AM to 3 PM

They are located 3 miles East of McGregor on hwy 210.  There are lots of signs so it is easy to find.

The snow is gone and it's time the embrace the spring! Also time to stock up on your bug spray!

I finally got a hamon to show up after etch and polish!!

The clay on the blade ready to go in the forge.

In the fire!

For those of you not familiar with a hamon go here.

After fiddling about with getting a hamon to show up, it has finally happened.  I cracked a few blades getting the water then oil quench method down pat.  I found that if I leave the blades a little thicker before hardening it helps with survivability.  I moved the etchant a little closer to the fire and I think that may have helped with the reaction.   The cold really slows down the chemical reaction.   There is a few more blades in the process of being forged with a hamon.   I'm going to try a damascus blade very soon.

After the etch in ferric chloride.  Reminds me of an Orca

The edge sharpened and a the polish complete.

The Summer Season will soon be upon the shop.

TJ's is starting on Sunday and we'll be there weather permitting.  I love the bratwurst and if you are in the area it is worth the stop.

The flea market at the Mooselake Riverside Arena will be opening on the 27th of May.  We are there every Saturday they are open barring any unforeseen circumstances.

  I'll add more to the 2017 calendar as things are sorted and confirmed.

Heat treat for a friend

A hidden tang drop point

  A fellow bushcrafter was over to the shop last week and made sure I was sweating by the end of the day.   There was a few projects he wanted done and some parts to pick up.  He is learning to make knives and I do some heat treating for him because he doesn't have the facilities at this time.  Here are some pics of his work.  

I also made him a pack-able draw knife, his had a longer blade than the first one and we put a slight angle on the handles.   We forgot to take a picture of it.   He also helped to make his own bottle opener which was blacked in oil.
 

An Otzi style blade out of steel.  He was going for the flint knapped look.