howdy folks,

i am very new to bladesmithing. i recently took a local 2 day intro type bladesmithing class where we forged a knife.

the entire process is magical. i was hooked right away. as i attempted to finish the knife on my own, i realized that

i would have to build a workshop. so i did that and now i'm finishing up that knife.

this past weekend, the same instructor taught an "advanced" class where we made damascus steel. then did some quick and

dirty stock removal. that knife is still in progress and hasn't been heat treated yet.

by day i am an electrical engineer. the process of creation is what keeps me going. i like how bladesmithing draws on

my study of chemistry and materials science. when i was in HS, my step-dad taught me about metal; primarily in the context

of auto body repair. it is fascinating to see those same concepts apply directly here.

my short term goals are to forge a few different knife shapes and complete about a dozen knives.

i plan on hooking up with a local blacksmithing group to get some fundamentals down.

my long term goals are to make some super high quality knives ( and also to understand what that even means ), make some

cool swords, make some kitchen utensils etc, and to make a supreme quality straight razor ( that shouldn't be too difficult right? ).

i am really looking forward to learning and sharing with this group of experts. this is such a great knowledge resource and i am

looking forward to, one day, being capable of helping others.

oh yeah, i am 38... live in beautiful Austin, TEXAS... i also recently started leathercrafting, brewing beer, and making cheese.

i hate making cheese.

regards,

jonathan kim