[TheForge] Re: Powder Damascus

[Andrew Vida]

Mike Spencer wrote:
> Chuck Robinson wrote:
> 
> 
>>Knife smiths have been developing this process for several years now.
>>It's not real easy to do, but the results can be quite dramatic.  I
>>have a nice pile of very expensive trashed billets that attest to the
>>long learning curve.
> 
> 
> Do you mean that knife makers are doing powder metallurgy in their own
> shops?  If so, I'm further out of touch that I thought.

	Yes, they are, AFAIK.  The stuff they're coming up with is wild, as you 
might imagine.

> 
> I've made a number of trashed billets and couple of blades in the
> traditional way myself, including the one I gave to Peter Happny that
> made by welding together an antique 1-1/4" open end industrial wrench,

	Speaking of which, the Maxwell House coffee plant in Hoboken was just 
torn down.  I was cruising the site in search of wrought iron about two 
weeks ago.  No wrought, but I did find a wrench there, perhaps a 2" open 
end, or perhaps a bit larger (still sitting in bed of truck waiting 
patiently for me).  Many of the people in Hoboken are rather upset that 
this landmark has been demolished.  I'm wondering if this wrench could 
be made part of a memorial piece as a gift to the folks in that area. 
There is a club in Hoboken called Maxwell's.  Been there for ages and 
named after the plant.  Lot's of good shows there... would have seen Joy 
Division's first US performance there had the lead singer not committed 
suicide a few days prior. :(  Anyhow, when I spied th wrench I 
immediately grabbed it up as a memento of the plant and have been 
wondering what I might do with it to best effect.  Any ideas?

	And speaking of Hoboken, the firehouse around the corner from the 
buildings my stefather owned there in the 70s has some fetching wrought 
iron work including a very nice hay crane, left from the horse drawn 
engine days.  Further speaking of Hay cranes, Seshat and I were walking 
past her late aunt's place at 1 W. 67 street in Manhattan and on the 
building next door there were three different ones.  Beautiful, if 
simple work, all three.  We will make images and post.

> half a pair of wrought iron tongs and the cover from my rusted out tin
> wood stove.  (Oddly, that mess worked better than some of the more
> carefully planned attempts. 

	Funny how that happens at times.  Happens to me more often than I care 
to think about.


> BTW, does anybody know an email address for Peter or Lisa?  Or are
> they strictly off-net folks?

	LAst time I saw him, we were hanging out at Sky Harbor airport after 
the 2000 conference while he awaited his flight.  Jeeez... four years 
already.  It's flying... no pun.  Speaking of which, anyone have Bill 
Roberts address?  All I remember is the "pig.net" part.  I need to tell 
him something.  Thanks.

	-Andy


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