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.