To those with knife orders

[Ray Hammond]

Been challenged by some issues of late- time constraints, guiding hogs, a very cold shop, lack of ability to create leatherwork on a par with my meager knife skills, and most important lung problems created by not using proper dust collection/remediation/protection methods.

Particularly troublesome are dust from stabilized woods, G-10, micarta, and IVORY.

I urge all of you who are working in a shop and using power tools especially to get yourself and your family protected by using a dust collection system properly installed, and wearing personal protection as well.

If you do not know what that means just google dust collection and a million hits will come up, including free plans for constructing your own system using ordinary items like blowers from dryer motors etc.

You only have one set of lungs and you don't get too many chances with them..I'm OK, but its just dumb luck. You can bet I have my system in place and you should too.

I've finally gotten the sheath situation worked out- I'm getting someone far more talented than I to do that part of my product and those waiting only for a sheath will be completed very quickly and my balance of orders should be done by the end of turkey season- May 1 latest.

If you have questions about your particular order contact me at [email protected]

[mwmwmb]

great reminder. Ray hope all is well.

[kbaknife]

Thanks for posting this Ray.
And, I'm going to point this out - I DO NOT GRIND HANDLES!!!! Just for that reason.
NO DUST!!!!!!!
When I have a handle on a knife, I MIGHT - I MIGHT - take it to the grinder and with a brand new sharp 36 or 40 grit belt, knock the corners off. The sharp and coarse grit takes off BIG pieces of material that do not create dust.
Then, I take the knife to a knife vise and finish the remainder of the stock removal with cabinet maker's rasps and files.
No dust flying around in the air. It all just falls to the floor.
Now I don't mean the chincy-butt rasps you get at the hardware store. I'm talking about the real-deal cabinet makers rasps or gunstock maker's rasps. They're about 50 bucks a piece, but a heck of a lot cheaper than dragging an oxygen tank around!!!!!!
Take care of yourselves in the shop boys.
Glad you're ok, Ray.
And I'll get that steel to you one of these days.
And, by the way, how can a shop get cold in Georgia??

[skullworks]

Hope things get better Ray! I always wear a respirator...not dust masks. The real deal cartridge mask. Be safe out there!

[Doug Campbell]

Cold shop, I'm with Karl    it was -5º when I fired the forge yesterday Ray, heck it must have been all the way up to the 30's when I quit    

All kidding aside Buddy, ya can't be too careful! Can't even remember what it was but some exotic wood bout put me under years ago. Now I use a resperator, shop vacs, exhaust fans, filter system...  At the very least everybody please run a fan while your sanding to blow the dust away...

Sorry Ray, don't mean to hijack your post but you brought up a good point and glad your getting things worked out.        

[Ray Hammond]

believe it or not, my basement is only insulated on the ceiling ( it's unfinished) The weather here has been wayyyy below the normal temps since early November....the temp in my basement has been down as low as the low 30's..and since I still do not forge yet it doesn't warm up.

Our blood isn't very thick here...we may not get all those inches of global white warming you guys get but our cold is a very wet cold and it cuts to the bone. And where I live the altitude is 1200 feet- it's near the mountains north of Atlanta so its quite a bit different here than 250 miles south in places like Savannah or Albany where its always warm and sunny.

All kidding aside, I'll be glad when Mike gets my forge done if for no other reason than I can keep the shop warm till I get it insulated (3100 floor SF of room)

Karl, why don't you just bring that with you to the Blade Show and save the shipping costs? Mike will have my forge done by then and we will be all set to use it by then as well!

[OconeeDan]

Ray, glad you are OK.  Sounds like you are working the bugs out.
Look forward to seeing you soon.
Dan

[Kevin Evans]

Stay well Ray!!!
I gotta come and hunt hogs someday!!  

[Doug Campbell]

Don't forget lots of ventilation when you get that forge going Ray, C02 can get ya too!  

[d. ward]

Ray hope things clear up for you soon.I know what you mean about working in the cold temps 22 at my place this morning and there ai'nt no way I will be in my 30 degree shop eather buddy.At my age I can not work fast enough to keep warm anymore.bd

[kbaknife]

Originally posted by Doug Campbell:
Don't forget lots of ventilation when you get that forge going Ray, C02 can get ya too!      

Listen to Doug, Ray!
Wait a minute, byt "the shop" I hope you mean ssomething outside - right?
Those forges create so much CO2 they can be leathal.
I would NOT consider using it in the basement.
Not at all.

[madness522]

You hang in there Ray.  Making a purdy knife isn't work the health risks without proper ventilation.  Hope you get all healed up soon!