hammerforged

Like I said - I don't know a whole lot about air compressors. When the little lever is depressed the intake of the air from the compressor raises the ram on the bottle jack and then a T-handle must be turned to lower the ram and the process repeated for each "Squeeze" of the press. with the compressor I have I can only get at best 4 squeezes per heat, which as the billet is drawn out becomes problematic causing more re-heats of the billet and leading to carbon loss due to subsequent heats. Just wondering if a compressor with a larger storage capacity and higher hp would give me better performance from my press. Here is a pic of the press I built. Beer is just a size reference.

Reminds me of Art Linkletter's show "Kids say the Darndest Things". Anyone else old enough to remember that show?

Best of luck Tim - looking forward to tagging along with you.

I know this is not directly hunting related but it is related to making my life easier in making knives. I have built a 20 ton air over hydraulic forging press to aid in the forging of Damascus billets. My question is what type and size air compressor would anyone recommend to run the press. The press utilizes a 20 ton air over hydraulic bottle jack like you can find at Harbor Freight with a recommended operating pressure of 110 to 120 psi. I know that this press will not be as quick on the cycle as a full hydraulic press but I was able to build this for the cost of the bottle jack. I have a small 20 gallon 3.5 hp air compressor rated at 125 max psi that barely gets the job done. Would I be better off with a gas powered aircompressor or go with a higher hp larger storage capacity electric? Wish I knew more about air compressors but hopefully someone on here who works construction can educate me.

Outstanding Ruth - CONGRATULATIONS!

Very nice. Who do you get your stabilized wood from?

Yikes! Prayers on the way for a speedy recovery.

Get your orders in early. I have several knives available for immediate delivery. I will not take any orders for Christmas after October 20th. This is to assure that I have time to get the knife made and to you in time for Christmas.

I use 100 grains of the Blackhorn 209 - sorry for taking so long in getting back in here. Been busy in the shop.

So sorry for your loss Gary - my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Dang - wish I had the skills to apply!

Who are you getting your Damascus from? Nice work on both knives.

OUTSTANDING! Way to go Chris. I know your Grandfather is smiling down on you and jumping for joy over that beautiful harvest.

Congrats - I shoot a CVA Kodiak magnum in stainless and I absolutely LOVE it! I use the Blackhorn 209 powder and the 245 grain Powerbelts. Excellent combination.

Nice buck - Congrats!

Sweet blade - did you make the Damascus? What is the mix in the Damascus? Nice filework as well. Beautiful Maple scales - are they stabilized? Love the Mosaic Pins - did you make them? What is the overall length and length of the blade?

Thanks everyone - Steve, sorry for the mind blank when we went through Gillette.

Phone woke me up at 6:00 am this morning. Not too happy about that since I didn't get in from the shop until 3:00am. But my demeanor changed as soon as I was awake enough to cogitate what the caller was talking about. I have been chosen to make the SHOT Show Knife for 2012. This will be the 4th time for me. So, who is going to be there and where are you staying?

Congratulations to both you and your Dad Ben. I know the hunt was hard but the memories will be cherished forever.

Congratulations Chris - a wonderful windfall indeed and very well deserved.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family Gary.

Dang it! Now you got me drooling all over my keyboard. I hate it when that happens. Nothing better than fresh hunted or homegrown.

Leo - I want to be able to make DVDs that I can share with family to run on their TVs. We all took so many pictures and each from a different perspective that it will make one heckuva travelogue if done right. Picked up a great instrumental CD interspersed with Elk bugling, Coyotes howliing, Moose bellowing, etc. for the sound track.

I need advice on a program to help me create a slideshow DVD with soundtrack of my trip pics. I would like to be able to time the rotation of the pics with the soundtrack.