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.

A new pack-able draw knife out of 1095

I had a little fun in the shop making some new stuff for myself.  I don't get to do that as much as I would like.  The idea came from some youtube videos.  There was a few different styles and I liked the way this style packed down.

Roughed out and ready for grind.

Sharpened and ready for use.  It zipped through some poplar like butter. I'm very pleased with the edge.

The pen is for scale reference if you want to make your own.  I wrapped it in some scrap leather and tied it with some of the nettle cordage I made to keep with the bushcraft theme. 

Damascus 04/17 Spiffy new blade!

Fresh from the ferric chloride,  a striking pattern is revealed!  We are very pleased with the boldness of this pattern.   There will another 3 knives made from the billet that this came from.  Enjoy.   1095 and 15N20 if you were wondering about the steels.

First show of the season is at the Pine Tree Plaza in Cloquet, MN (the mall) Friday March 31st 10-5 Sat 04/01/17 9-4

Super One Foods Spring Arts and Crafts Show
Friday March 31 from 10 am to  5 pm
Saturday April 1st from 9 am to 4 pm
Stock will be limited at my booth, but we will be taking orders also.  It's been a rough start to the year but I hope things will improve as the season moves along.

It'll be good to see old friends and hopefully I'll make some new ones.

The machine has not been idle the last few weeks!

Shop Dog #2 says "Please support your local blacksmith it keeps the supper dish full!"