Hey folks,
I just wanted to introduce myself. I'm Jon Artman from Sanford, Michigan, just west of Midland about 15 miles. I'm a relatively new maker all things considered, starting around May of 2015.
I grew up grinding steel on my dad's bench grinder as a kid, turning butter knives into shanks and whittling wood and such, and had an awesome dad who, as a machinist made me a pair of swords and sai's growing up. I always had a fascination for blacksmithing, bladesmithing, etc, but never seriously considered trying it.
A lot of that changed as I started making Kydex gun holsters for people, and found more and more people requesting knife sheaths instead of gun holsters. I started to see many mass produced blades in my shop, some good, some not so good for kydex work, and I realized that I wanted to start making one of a kind blades, that i didn't see in my shop.
In my infinite wisdom, I went to the scrap yard, got myself some steel, and started grinding away. I had my buddy fire up his acytelene torch, and quenched that baby in some used motor oil!
Long story short, I had about 80 hours into my mild steel 'masterpiece' and it took about 10 minutes in the field to fail in front of all of my buddies during a camping trip. <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//laugh.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' />
I decided I was hooked, hopped on knife dogs, asked a bunch of annoying newbie questions (Thanks Ed for putting up with me) ordered some materials from Wayne Coe, built myself a little forge, and have been messing up steel since (not using motor oil!)
I got onto a few knife makers groups via facebook, and met some other great guys and gals willing to help, namely Ed Braun, George Brackett, Mark Bartlett, and Matt Berkhouse. I've had the wonderful experience of learning a few things here and there from Dellana and Van too, as well as a bunch more apprentice and JS, and even a few Master smiths.
I've learned that there are a lot of right ways, and a lot of wrong ways in knife making, and if I want more of an opportunity to learn the right ways, I need to learn from the people who do it the right way -- the ABS.
Though my shop isn't insulated and running 70,000 BTU torpedo heaters isn't ideal by any means, I've been braving the cold trying to work on grinding skills, etc., and when it's been too cold, been researching metallurgy and various other techniques to learn how to better myself as an aspiring bladesmith.
I'm in the process of joining the Max Carey Artisan Blacksmith Guild (Midland Historical Society permitting) and have learned various things about blacksmithing while watching them work that I've been able to practice in my shop.
Other than that, there's not much else to say I guess that's notable about me. I'm a social worker by day, an NRA Certified firearms instructor on the occasional weekends, and a full time dad to an 11 month old girl. I'm 32 years old, a former Wayne State University epee fencer, come open minded, and hope to join the ABS family and grow in skill.
Thanks for having me thus far.
Welcome aboard fellow newbie! 2 things out of the gate. 1084 is great steel to start with. Easy to heat treat, doesn't break your arm trying to forge it and it is forgiving. Second, going to the Intro to bladesmithing is worth every penny. You will get to hear Mastersmith Brion or one of the others yell at you "get it hot!" and other really important things you will constantly forget. Also, going to a hammer in is a great way to meet other knife makers and you get to watch demonstrations done. Welcome to the addiction
Absolutely. I love 1084. I don't have any currently, but my next order from Aldo will be a bar of 1084, 15n20, and 80CRV2. I just wish 15n20 came in a thicker bar stock here in the states like it does in Europe.
Right now, I've got some low manganese 5160, O1, and some steel from the Schrade factory that closed down in 2004, which ended up being lab tested at high manganese 1095.
Just happens to be what I have in stock right now, but so far good results treating them as the steel they're closest to (5160 and 1095) I'm sure there's probably some temperature difference needed to compensate for lost or gained manganese, but I don't know enough about metallurgy yet to know what those changes would be.
I had considered checking out the hammer in in Troy Ohio in August. I'd have to see how much the cost would be and see if anyone's interested in sharing a room for the weekend. That's the closest one to me, but still about 6 hours away.
Hello Jon. Michigan! In the winter? Are you out of your mind? I can’t think of anybody in their right mind who would want to make knives in winter in Michigan! <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//wink.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' /> Shoot me an e-mail and I will keep you on my list, this year we are planning to have more get-togethers and activities among us Michigan fools, well not so foolish in the summer when MI is pretty sweet (well, except for when the mosquitoes replace the snow). Let me know if I can provide any info on the Mid-America, I will be attending again this year, but can’t offer rooming since the ABS will have special arrangements for me (I might try to escape if they don’t).
Watch out for that Braun guy, as he has probably warned you about that Cashen character. And if you need any info on which of Aldo's steels are the best let me know, if you come up with a steel conundrum that may really vex Aldo, call me, because if it really stumps him my phone will ring either way <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//biggrin.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' />
"One test is worth 1000 'expert' opinions" Riehle Testing Machines Co.
|quoted:
Hello Jon. Michigan! In the winter? Are you out of your mind? I can’t think of anybody in their right mind who would want to make knives in winter in Michigan! <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//wink.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' /> Shoot me an e-mail and I will keep you on my list, this year we are planning to have more get-togethers and activities among us Michigan fools, well not so foolish in the summer when MI is pretty sweet (well, except for when the mosquitoes replace the snow). Let me know if I can provide any info on the Mid-America, I will be attending again this year, but can’t offer rooming since the ABS will have special arrangements for me (I might try to escape if they don’t).
Watch out for that Braun guy, as he has probably warned you about that Cashen character. And if you need any info on which of Aldo's steels are the best let me know, if you come up with a steel conundrum that may really vex Aldo, call me, because if it really stumps him my phone will ring either way <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//biggrin.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' />
Sounds great, will do. In the winter we freeze, in the summer, we sweat so much that the steel dust sticks to our arms and stains our arms rust color. I would be interested one way or another regardless of weather or lack thereof. I just shot Butch an email to find out price, etc.
Thank you!
Oh, and yes, Ed has warned me about you. And warned me to listen to every word you have to say. <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//laugh.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' />
Rightfully so.
Great to have you on board.
(But you 'southerners' don't know what cold is. 
Karl B. Andersen
Journeyman Smith
