On the way back from Denton Hill, my family spent an afternoon with Karl in his shop.  As you know Karl is very pasionate about his trade and readily shared his expertise and philosophy with us.  Truly a student of the trade.  He is very knowledgeable and presents information very well.  Thanks Karl for a great "field trip".

Karl forged up a blank of Damascus and then a blade for us.

layers of the 2 different steels preped to be welded in the forge




Making the initial weld, avoiding any air pockets in the layers.


Grinding off the tempory welds thoroughly so the do not contaminate the steel.  Check out the heavy duty saw horse.

Hydrolic press. Karl uses different thickness spacers to maintain the thickness he wants in the blank.

Forging a blade!




 

 

Looks like a great day.  I have total tool envy.  His tool is way bigger than my tool.

That press and air hammer rock!          

The colors of the steel tell a story that the smith must read.  Karl explained in detail what the colors meant and what was happening internally.

Trying to get a couple more pictures on this thread but photobucket is not cooperating.  

I could not have asked for more enjoyable guests than Chad and Amy and their two wonderful kids.
As well, their son, Jacob, must have really liked it there, too. I told him he could stay if he wanted.
Before we knew it, he was unloading his stuff from the trailer and was gonna move in!!
We had a great day and I look forward to visits like these.
It was hot, but, oh well.
Now, Amy is a Science teacher and wanted to know more about what I was doing than I know! I hope I pulled it off without making any mistakes.
Then Chad and I got into the Isotropic phase transformation during the recalescence period of stress relief and grain reduction.
Oh, my.
I got to meet Chad and Amy at the Compton's Rendezvous this year. We had spoken on a few occasions before that, but am thrilled to be able to call them my friends.
I do not speak of it often, but it's Traditional Archery that was the major guiding force that lead me to knife making almost 14 years ago now. And it's Traditional Archery that is - without a doubt - my most powerful outdoor passion.
It was nice to share a little of both with the Holm family.
I was honored to have them spend time at Andersen Forge.

Karl,
I finally got to meet Chad at Denton...quite a craftsman.  I can only imagine how much fun you both had!  Doc

Photobucket just isn't letting me resize pictures so this will be the last one.  I was hoping to share a picture of Karl's finishing room.  Chad

Karl - Please keep those glasses on all the time.  I would love to have the oportunity to see a real knife smith at work someday - I am sure I could learn so much from and expert vs. my banging around with steel.  Very cool.

Bob Urban

Well if you want to learn from an "expert" maybe you should ask Lin.
I'm lucky to find the shop door on some days.

Karl,
     I blush when you say that.    

No kidding, I love watching how other folks forge and to see their shop. I'm sure you will agree that no matter how long you have done this kind of stuff, it can still make a monkey out of you. I'm gettin used to it.  Lin

This is really cool ,I'm just worried about my friends legs and getting that hot metal in his sandels  
I have used that press and its one of the best I'm seen and used.
I'm taking a tape recorder next time I go,he says so much important stuff can't remember it all!!

Cool thread!  Like Lin, I love to see this STUFF!

Steve
--------
Potomac Forge

I luv this site! Awesome I get so much out of this site and it shows in every knife I do. This is where it really started for me. Thanks to guys like Lin and Karl

Chad, thanks for the post. The pictures are great. Wish there where more.

Thanks for sharing the field trip.  I bet that was fun!

That is cool Chad, Thanks for sharing this. Thank you Karl for making it possible as well. The transformation is amazing.
And to think, I don't like wearing shorts in my bow shop. Thanks.
Chuck

I really did enjoy the afternoon spent with Karl.  While Karl works he shares his philosophy of steel, business, finances, hunting, women, gun control and just life in general.  I have the feeling I've known Karl for a long time, rather then just a few week.

well where is the rest of the pics, come on - stop teasing