Dakao v. 2.0 - The Crooked Cut

Armourer's envy

Ξ February 4th, 2007 | → Comments Off | ∇ Metalworking |

!@#$

Swordsmiths'R Us

Ξ December 23rd, 2006 | → Comments Off | ∇ Metalworking |

So I got us all tanked up on gaseous consumables. Well, liquid, maybe, in the case of the propane. I don’t really know.

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Propane outage outrages armourers

Ξ December 18th, 2006 | → Comments Off | ∇ Metalworking |

Early Sunday evening, the sounds of 14th century industry trailed into tranquil silence. The cause was immediately traced to an exhausted propane tank.

“I’m really disappointed, y’know?” said local metalworking hobbyist Ludwijk Verhaecht.

“I was making good headway on forging my falchion, when the flame petered out. I managed to get one last heat out of it, but it was a real let-down, having to stop early.”

Verhaecht plans to refill his tank in time to make his big push next week.

(I’d rather be) …Right here.

Ξ November 8th, 2006 | → Comments Off | ∇ Metalworking, Philosophy, School |

Amazing thing, sleep.

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I’d rather be…

Ξ November 3rd, 2006 | → Comments Off | ∇ Metalworking, Philosophy |

It’s 1 a.m. Am I doing what I’d rather be doing?

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80-year old feet

Ξ October 4th, 2006 | → Comments Off | ∇ General, Metalworking |

Whoa.. I just got up from my desk to get a drink downstairs. My heels ache like all get-out. I guess walking on all that concrete really takes it out of my feet. Amanda said one time that she (or someone she knew) wore a pedometer for one day at work, and the thing said that they covered 17 miles that day; I wonder if that was one of her crazy 40-hour shifts. Or maybe my memory’s going — this was all quite a while back.

Still, the 15-hour days of being on my feet at work, school, and the shop are cumulatively taking their toll. Dress shoes aren’t the best thing to walk in all day. But I could get some gel inserts for my work boots; they’re pretty well broken in, and there’s enough room for an insole thingie.

Lessons I've learned

Ξ October 3rd, 2006 | → Comments Off | ∇ Metalworking |

Scrap steel is sharp.

Don’t wear pants of synthetic material whilst welding.

Don’t wear ratty old jeans with well-ventilated knees whilst welding.

I mean *really* sharp.

Don’t rub your eyes when working in a metal shop.

Don’t strike an ill-placed workpiece — your wrist or your work will suffer.

So sharp, you could cut yourse– oh, wait.

A forge and anything just come from a forge are hot.

Sanding involves lots of friction. Friction creates heat. Lots of sanding therefore creates lots of heat.

Wear at least SPF 30 if you plan to Jedi weld. Especially on your eyelids.

Cardboard is easy to cut, steel is difficult to cut. Screw up on your pattern, not your workpiece.

Dervishes of steel

Ξ September 27th, 2006 | → Comments Off | ∇ Metalworking |

I don’t usually think in these terms, but I am a blessed man.

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The best gorget in the world

Ξ September 5th, 2006 | → Comments Off | ∇ Metalworking |

Tristan rocks!

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Labor Day

Ξ September 2nd, 2006 | → Comments Off | ∇ General, Metalworking |

Well, not really, being the Saturday before Labor Day.

Anyway, Candice and TJ came in last night and crashed at my place. Today, we had a grand ol’ time of shining armor at the shop.

Picked up Mark, went down to Jay and Lauren’s, and had too much food. Played a silly hula hoop game in the front yard, played Cranium.

I, alas, mixed business with pleasure, and had some armoring stuff to do there: delivering Scott’s gorget, and doing a fitting on Stephanie’s noggin for her burgonet since this was easier than going to Austin.