Loading #4 now, looking good Karl and I meant you were a natural in front of the camera...     :rolleyes:  

You really should get you some safety glasses and ear plugs though...    

I have a dozen pair of glasses.
The shop is only about 1/3 as loud as it seems on these videos.
I'm normally more conscientious than on these videos, but I need to talk here and hear my videographer and see what I'm doing, etc.
When I'm alone it's different.

Karl, are you going to take us through the hole knife are just the forging, I'm hoping for the hole thing. Thanks
Dana

Dana, until it goes out the door.

I'm just jealous, can't get by without my bifocal safety glasses and optivisor any more...  

This is a great series of videos! I really enjoy them!!
Thank you for  taking the time.

Thanks for taking the time to do these videos. I have picked up many little things from them. I like all of the various tools, jigs, holders, etc that you have made- like the double rebar extension to the knife steel.

I am still learning forging and how to get the metal to go where I want. I only have hammers and muscle at this point.

I was having trouble visualizing where the steel was going on this one as you refined the drop and ricasso. When you used the ricasso smacker I visualized the bottom of the ricasso mushrooming. The you put it on the press and flattened it which I would think would push the bottom of the ricasso back down. Can you help me rethink this?

QuoteOriginally posted by gables:
Thanks for taking the time to do these videos. I have picked up many little things from them. I like all of the various tools, jigs, holders, etc that you have made- like the double rebar extension to the knife steel.

I am still learning forging and how to get the metal to go where I want. I only have hammers and muscle at this point.

I was having trouble visualizing where the steel was going on this one as you refined the drop and ricasso. When you used the ricasso smacker I visualized the bottom of the ricasso mushrooming. The you put it on the press and flattened it which I would think would push the bottom of the ricasso back down. Can you help me rethink this?

It will push the ricasso back out - SOME! - from time to time, so you just do it again! A little at a time. Sometimes I may do it three or four times before I get it where I want it.
Sometimes the spine mushrooms as well, so you just keep knocking things around until they go where you want them to be.

That re-bar extension is still welded to the Mother billet of Damascus that was welded to it to make the billet. Why take it off?
I hate tongs - with a passion!!!!
When you have your knife steel welded to a bar, you can knock that piece of steel anywhere you want and as HARD as you want.
Get the blade portion of the knife completely DONE!! and then cut it off and do the tang.

Just the way I do things.

I think I understand what Gabriel is asking and saw Karl do something specific to push the steel in a different direction than back downward. Go to video 4 and to minute 6:00 where he makes some refinements of the ricasso on the power hammer.Notice that he is across the dies drawing the "mushroomed" ricasso backward toward the parent bar insted of just a mere flattening.

One thing that we often assume is that the steel mushrooms when hit in such a way as Karl was hitting the ricasso bottom. If the steel was not hot enough, it would indeed mushroom. But this is where an experienced smith will heat it hot enough to move the core of the steel too not just the "skin" . It will all move at the same time effectively thickening it. Upsetting is the proper term. I suspect that is exactly what Karl did. Then when he turned it square across the dies, the flow of material went completely another direction.

That's a good dissertation, there, Lin.
Everything in forging is not chiseled in stone - things don't always come out the same or work the same.
Some blades are longer, or wider, or thicker. You just have to see how this one wants to move, pay attention to where you want it to go, don't get in too big of a hurry and just keep nudging it that direction.
I try to get my blades forged in as big a hurry as possible. I am of the firm belief that every time you stick that blade in the forge - it's burning up.
This blade in the videos took much longer to forge than I normally do as a result of the filming process and time I spent talking and not wanting to make mistakes, etc.

Quoteso you just keep knocking things around until they go where you want them to be.

That is some great advice there, no need to panic, heck if you go too far just make a little smaller knife...    After a few blades things will start falling into place and you'll say "that's what he was talking about".

Again, great job Karl, thanks      

Just watched #4 ,Great job  

You are much smoother than me!

I'm looking forward to seeing this knife through to the end.  Very informative.  Thanks Karl.

Pretty boring for the most part:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6bncbUpzhU

There is nothing Boring about it, i enjoyed every min.
Dana

GOOD STUFF!

Thank you for your effort Karl.

Steve
--------
Potomac Forge
ABS Apprentice

Part 6 is on the air:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PT5TfyoY3U

Karl, just watched Part 6 of your video series.

I find them very informative and worthwhile watching.  While you are talkng about who you are and your philosophies of knife making, you are providing both the new and experienced knife maker with a tremendous amount of advice and how-to tips.

Right at the end of #6 you talk about good grinding and sanding.  Right after the light went on, I said to myself....geez!....how bloody basic, been sanding till I was almost sick of it.     Thanks for making me feel like the amateur that I am,     .

I appreciate the insight into your knifemaking as well as the many pointers that will help me with mine.  Thanks very much and keep them coming.  

Don't forget part 6!

http://tinyurl.com/7fva6rc

Just watched 7...

Nice to meet you Mr. Andersen!