Metal Working

This isn't my thing, but it is the man's thing, I want to share what he has accomplished and what I have learned by just being around it.

He built his forge using an old propane bar-b-q, he made the ash infused cement which, to my understanding, acts the same as heat brick. It is a coal forge and he rigged a blower from an old air mattress pump and a light dimmer switch so he can adjust the air flow appropriately. He is on the hunt for an old wine barrel or whiskey barrel so he can quench the metal after heating it. He has yet to forge a knife, however, he cut, shaped, sanded and sharpened a knife from an old chunk of metal he had. It was a painfully intricate process. Haha!

This weekend was the man's birthday and I was supposed to allow him time to tend to his forge, I failed. We spent the whole weekend doing other things. This was also supposed to be my time for glorious learning so I could give you all these wonderful photos and knowledge. (The photo provided is our kids, and family playing in his work space)

Once he has the quench barrel, he has several leaf springs that are, apparently, excellent forging metal. His next project is a knife made from an old lawn mower blade.

Do any of you awesome readers partake in metal working? Do you follow specific techniques, free hand or by the books? Is it a hobby or are you taking commission for pieces? It's a lost art I would say, but it is a very awesome thing to know, ya know for the zombie apocalypse.

Thanks for reading! See ya next time.