The wife “smashed” Father’s Day with some “coal iron” happiness!

[civilsmoker]

Just sharing future scales.....
This is palm, if you cut it at and angle it looks like fish scales, it has to be stabilized but is unique!

This is spalted timarind (full respirator stuff till stabilized and finished). Off the chart cool! It will polish glass glossy....

Mango...just not something you see every day........perfect for a fruit knife!

Bubinga....it’s got a cool name and cool grain.....it is also hard to get!

Olive from Bethlehem....again not something you see every day....

Chechen....nice colors and character!

Katalox....looks a lot like African Blackwood (but not $$$$&$)

Not wood but the view from the Sunday drive today!

 

[civilsmoker]

That one piece makes both sides of one handle ?

Yes, I usually stabilize it as a block then clean it up and cut it down the middle....the grain flows through the handle seamlessly that way

 

[bauchjw]

What an amazing gift for an accomplished craftsman! Your work is awesome, thank you for sharing!

 

[civilsmoker]

What an amazing gift for an accomplished craftsman! Your work is awesome, thank you for sharing!

Thanks Jed! Its a fun and rewarding "hobby" that can be done all year long!

 

[civilsmoker]

So today was the day to break in the new coal iron.....

This billet is for a special knife..... it started out as 7 pieces of 1084 (dark etching) and 6 pieces of 15n20 (silver etching) for a total of 13 layers...... very fitting for Independence Day!

Fireworks up close and personal!

I can’t explain it but there is something magical about smashing a 1900 deg stack of steel..... it’s very addicting!!!!

I’m totally blown away with how quick this thing is......bingo it’s just grows steel!

And after a short fun filled Independence Day activity and the 13 layer Damascus billet is ready for 2 knifes.......

 

[Ringer]

So today was the day to break in the new coal iron.....

This billet is for a special knife..... it started out as 7 pieces of 1084 (dark etching) and 6 pieces of 15n20 (silver etching) for a total of 13 layers...... very fitting for Independence Day!
View attachment 636656

Fireworks up close and personal!
View attachment 636657

I can’t explain it but there is something magical about smashing a 1900 deg stack of steel..... it’s very addicting!!!!
View attachment 636658

I’m totally blown away with how quick this thing is......bingo it’s just grows steel!
View attachment 636665

And after a short fun filled Independence Day activity and the 13 layer Damascus billet is ready for 2 knifes.......
View attachment 636659

Very nice work. Have you decided on a damascus pattern yet? I'd think ladder would be pretty dramatic in a low layer. Or twist

 

[civilsmoker]

Very nice work. Have you decided on a damascus pattern yet? I'd think ladder would be pretty dramatic in a low layer. Or twist

Thanks Ringer, this one will be simple 13 layers....ie 7 dark stripes and 6 light stripes....ie 13 total even layers with a slight wave pattern (thirteen states, & stripes on the flag)...... it will have American Black Walnut scales and 3 AL star pins outlined in black..... for the 3 branches of government..... ie will be the Independence Knife, forged on Independence Day! It will be donated to a scholarship fund raffle for rural Idaho engineering students.

 

[Brokenhandle]

Looks like you had a fun day! Can't wait to see it finished! It's gonna be a beauty!

Ryan

 

[Bearcarver]

Nice Stuff, Civil!!
Looks like a Mini-Steel Mill.
My Brother Jim (RIP) was a 42" and Combo Mill Roller for over 30 years, in Bethlehem.
I'm real glad to see you're using SCUBA when working deep with Spalted wood. That can be bad stuff!
There was a story in "Fine Woodworking" about a guy who used to "turn" Spalted wood from Roots. He developed a Lung disease & had live creatures in his lungs. He went to SCUBA, but too late.

Bear

 

[civilsmoker]

Bear came across this pic of Bethlehem steel during WWI

 

[tbern]

^^^^^^^^^^
Great old picture!