Hello everybody. My name is Bob Herr. I am currently in Washington State, about 13 miles west of Seattle, in Bremerton. I have worked for the last 30 years or so in a tool and cutter grinding shop, and had made a few runs of woodworking blades over the years, but mainly sharpened industrial and machinist tooling.
I went with friends , a few years ago, to Dave Lisch's blacksmith swap meet, and saw some of Dave's early work. It looked like something I wanted to try someday. Then my kids sent me to a basic knifemaking class from Dave, at Studio 4, about 1-1/2 years ago, I guess. Came home with a nice small kitchen knife, 1080+ steel with a Maccasssar ebony handle. Had to rescue it from use, as I hadn't put a finish on the wood yet. Cut tomatoes great, though..... Did a couple utility shop knives next. Got to do a damascus bowie, a couple folders with Mike Vagnino as visiting instructor, another kitchen knife with blackwood handle (now the wife's knife) and have a w-2 bowie and hunter in the works...somewhere in there i guess I got hooked!
I have been intrigued with the differences of the sharpness of milling cutters and knives, feeling like an old dog at trick school...not to mention the artistry and techniques I have seen from some of the top notch folks you all know, as well as some of the fellow beginners that also make some amazing knives. I am thrilled to get to see and learn more, and am very glad I have joined up, just from the few hours I have had looking through the forum, and look forward to meeting more of you folks!
Hope you folks can put up with a lot of questions!
Bob
Welcome Bob!
Sounds like you have an excellent background and skill-set and are off to fantastic start!
Have fun and be safe!
Aloha, Phil
Bob
Welcome to the American Bladesmith Society and the ABS Forum. Please join in our discussions and ask questions which I know will be answered by our knowledgeable and in my opinion remarkable and giving ABS members.
Dan Cassidy
Journeyman Smith
Send an email to Dan
Welcome Bob. I look forward to seeing your work. You are lucky to have Dave near you. He is a good guy and excellent bladesmith. If you have questions, we will do our best to answer them.
Brion
Brion Tomberlin
Anvil Top Custom Knives
ABS Mastersmith
Thanks for the welcome, Phil, Dan and Brion. I have already found several answers to questions I had yet to ask, and am sure I will have a great time here. Hoping to get to meet you folks in the future, in person. I notice there's a hammer in in California, late in the year...had a blast about a year ago, at Lyle Brunkhorst's (Bronk's) Hammer in. I am hoping to be less west coast oriented in the future, as it seems most of the big shows and events are to the East and South. In time, I still have to finish setting up the shop and rebuilding the camper for the trips, and a couple other projects, then I am told I may retire...!
I very much appreciate that there are folks all over in the organization willing to share information, and put up with newbies! It is a much better time than when this was all secrets to be kept from the competition. Here, such folk are more likely to be friends than rivals!
Thanks again!
Bob
Welcome Bob it is great to have you here. It is always to get and hear new perspectives on how to approach things.
Welcome Bob!!!
I'm sure that you got a good start from Dave. Post all of your questions up and we'll do our best to answer them!
It has been a blast working in Dave's shop over in Seattle. He has an infectious attitude when it comes to knifemaking, and the enthusiasm is catching. Have tons of ideas, and have already had a bunch of questions answered just from checking out the forum. I've read so much my head is getting fatter.
Welcome to the ABS, Bob!
Hey Bob, I'm so glad you have decided to join. All your questions are welcome here. I'm pretty sure we will be able to help you with any thing knife related. We are a wealth of tips, tricks and techniques. I sure do hope you will be able to attend the hammer-in this year in CA. It's the third weekend in Oct. If you have any questions regarding the hammer-in or knife stuff give me a call.
Take care and hope to see you soon
Michael
Michael Vagnino
Master Smith
Thanks, Mike. I have been looking at October, definite possibility! Haven't been able to get that far south in the U.S. for a few years, dying for a road trip! Will probably see you next time you are up at Dave's too! I guess one issue I have is I don't yet know the questions I need to ask....
Talk soon
Bob
