Driveway Forge

Working on that Damascus billet again this week end. I'm trying to draw it out so I can cut and stack for more layers.

Made some good progress today. I still need to get the guard on the hidden tang knife.

Happy 4th everyone! This is my kind of fireworks. Trying 2 knives at once for the first time. Keeps me moving for sure! Be safe today!

This is an eating knife that I made for steph to use at work. I started from a 3in x 3.5in piece of leaf spring, I should have taken progress pics. This is the most forged out blade that I have made to date. I also made a silicone mold that I dyed and cast the polyester resin scales. I also made a stiching pony to help me sew up the sheath tighter. Very happy with how this one turned out.

Got a start on the balusters for the deck stairs. It's almost like I knew what I was doing. Only 14 more to go.

Summer of 2020 project. The deck was in horrible shape, but even with lumber delays the boys and I managed to get it put back together. It was a lot of work, but a great learning experience.

Progression of ward cleaver basically start ish to finished ish. Very fun project and I was able to add some wood working skills to boot.

Turned a little 1.5 pound sledge into a vertical cross peen. Can't wait to try it out.

A little update on Ward. Still lots to do before quench.

Working on a good start to a cleaver. Since June cleaver is taken I guess this one will have to be Ward cleaver.

Forge is lit. Smithy is open, heat treating a hammer today.

Got some forging done. Love this new propane forge.

Got to play with my new forge a bit today. I really like it.

New gas forge came on Wednesday. Hoping to have it up and running by Sunday afternoon. Fingers crossed.

Saved this from the jaws of the recycle bin. Got big plans for it.

These are the blades that I made for a good friend Jayk Brown. Sorry for not taking pics from the very beginning. It was also the first two layer sheath I have ever done.

Last three picture update. Blade it ground, tempered, and has a handle. Finished about 9pm last night. It was a great weekend!

Driveway Forge updated their business hours.

Driveway Forge updated their business hours.

So the other night we were watching NCIS, and Gibbs was out sniping a sniper. While waiting he began reciting the Marine creed. So I got inspired and rewrote it to make the Blacksmith Creed.

This Is My Hammer.

This is my hammer. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
My hammer is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life.
Without me, my hammer is useless. Without my hammer, I am useless. I must swing my hammer true. I must hit straighter than I have before to make beautiful things that are useful. I will...
My hammer and I know that what counts in smithing is not the blows that we land, the ring of our anvil, nor the heat of our forge. We know that it is the things that we make. We will make great and beautiful things...
My hammer is human, even as I, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strength, its parts, its face, and its handle. I will keep my hammer clean and ready, even as I am ready. We will become part of each other. We will...

Let me know what you think.

Leaf spring knife.

First layer of 2" rock is in! Only one more to go. Then I can top it off with some minus.

Started this hatchet on Memorial Day weekend. I like it. Sharpe as all get out and it will cut. I like it a lot. Not only does it chop well it also will make nice thin cuts like when your trying to square up a log.

Congratulations to Sandra B. Who won the knife raffle. Thanks to all for participating in the raffle.

What the knife did to that poor coconut.... Oh yeah!!!!!!

Made a nice little Skinner out of a file last week. Did the quench yesterday, and tempering cycles last night and today. It cut the nail like a boss. So I put a handle on it. I like it!

So, you remember this knife....yeah that's the one it did the ice chop. Well on a whim I decided to test it a little harder. This is 1/2" cold rolled steel rod. Yep. And the edge held like a boss.

Now with the handle on its almost ready!

After re-quench I wanted to do another ice chop. The edge of the blade held!

After the ice chop I saw where the edge had rolled just a little. I decided to ask a more knowledgeable man than I. J. Neilson helped me do it right.

Knife after quench, and rough grind. Blade is 7" long. Now into toaster oven for tempering.

Well, so far so good. Trying something different. I cut this knife out of a set of leaf springs.

Another productive afternoon at Driveway Forge. I tried something new, in that the knife is made from a rusty file I had lying around. Turned out pretty good I think.

Had a very productive day at driveway forge. The first picture is the quenched knife that I am making for a customer. The second picture is the three bottle openers($15ea.) The wall hook, and the scarf broach. All of this today. Sometimes I amaze myself....