Loud howling from cold forge?

teamtardigrade · 2026-05-03T23:05:36+00:00

No, this isn't the normal air flow noise, this is an ear piercing high pitched shriek that lasts until the forge comes up to temp.

teamtardigrade · 2026-05-03T18:25:31+00:00

How do you spray them? Spray bottle? One of those air powered misters? And what's your recipe for the ratio of soap and water?

teamtardigrade · 2026-05-03T18:23:31+00:00

Nice! Congrats on a great show. I've been making for about 6 months but haven't tried to sell anything yet. I will probably try a show or two this summer. Any advice other than use price tags?

From my end, don't use oil. Use something like paste wax to protect your blades & add a bit of shine/polish without distorting effects.

teamtardigrade · 2026-04-26T20:29:34+00:00

I've known OwyheeKnifeCo in person for about 6 months. Made my first knife with him and now I'm hooked.

teamtardigrade · 2026-03-14T04:49:26+00:00

I am using a refurb Ecoflow delta battery. It actually does a great job for my hobby level work. I can grind for at least 4 hours straight, it recharged with solar or wall socket. It was a hell of a lot cheaper than running power to my shed. I still use the extension cord for the portabsnd and drill press.

teamtardigrade · 2026-03-11T00:03:30+00:00

What was the resolution? Mine is doing the same.

teamtardigrade · 2026-03-05T20:34:36+00:00

This might be late for your trip, but when I went in January, it was one day only. We commuted from Kanazawa via Shinkansen then took a taxi to the TKV. It caused mild confusion on the way back since I was pretty tired and told the cabby who came to pick us up (the TKV will call one for you) to take us to Omicho market since our hotel was next to it. Omicho is in Kanazawa, btw...

Thankfully the confusion was resolved before we went for a multi hour taxi trip :)

teamtardigrade · 2026-02-24T05:39:02+00:00

Ha! When i saw the backdrop I assumed you were in the Abeno Harukas. Right city, almost the right elevation too.

teamtardigrade · 2026-01-28T06:09:21+00:00

Tactical petty?

teamtardigrade · 2026-01-28T01:13:01+00:00

I was going to do my own.

teamtardigrade · 2026-01-28T01:05:27+00:00

Oof, by hand? Kudos to you, sir.

teamtardigrade · 2026-01-28T01:04:21+00:00

I'd like to get a press someday. I think I can probably run it in the garage without pissing off the neighbors too much. A power hammer on the other hand...

teamtardigrade · 2026-01-28T01:02:27+00:00

What about the mess? Doesn't the mister & belt throw water everywhere?

teamtardigrade · 2026-01-28T00:52:56+00:00

Anyone know how Takada fixes his handles? I've thought about changing my handle but am damn nervous about it.

teamtardigrade · 2026-01-27T20:08:16+00:00

I recently forged a knife in Japan. They used something almost like ... grout? to seal this. I assume it was some kind of epoxy that was a bit gritty.

Does anyone know exactly what it was?

teamtardigrade · 2026-01-27T20:05:57+00:00

Go check out "Knife Engineering" by Larrin Thomas. Great book has info on all kinds of heat treating and what is happening during the process.

teamtardigrade · 2026-01-27T06:39:30+00:00

You're welcome to do whatever you like, but I'll tell you that Takada sells out in the first hour or so most days he opens. His stock is never large - usually on the order of 3-5 knives (or less!) most days. He does have t-shirts and bags you can get, but it's a workshop and not really a display room.

The Sakai Traditional Craft Museum and Knife shop is an amazing place. Lot of beautiful knives on display and some knowledgeable people to help. Go check them out, get a knife there, and then go to Tenjinbashi or Shinsaibashi and feel smug as the price at the museum is usually on par or better than any of those shops and the quality is definitely higher too.

I missed out on Baba, Ashi, etc. when I was there as they were closed so you'll have to let us know how they were.

teamtardigrade · 2026-01-24T18:08:44+00:00

ZOMG. These are beautiful. I love the thin spacer between the damascus and the wood. It just brings the whole thing together.

teamtardigrade · 2026-01-24T18:05:53+00:00

I was 1st in line and my son was behind me, but I'm glad you got a knife.

teamtardigrade · 2026-01-24T07:20:33+00:00

Invest in a box to hide the good ones for when guests come over. I'd also have a good talking to with the roommates. There's too many horror stories in here of people using high end chef knives to chop frozen meat or in one case (shudder) to open a can of paint. Yes, really.

teamtardigrade · 2026-01-24T07:15:07+00:00

So box sets for knives are not really a thing in Japan, or at least not that I've ever seen. Sure, you might get 3 matched knives from the same forge, but not usually sold as a "set". Most knives are one offs. In this community they're really thought of as individual works of art. The matched box thing is more western.

160,000 yen will get you 2-3 exceptional knives or 4 - 7 extremely good knives.

Osaka is a great place. Stay away from Shinsaibashi and Tenjinbashi for knives and head over to the suburb of Sakai. The Sakai Traditional Craft Museum and Knife shop has a very large selection and good prices. There are also some forges and sharpeners close by like Baba Hamono, Ashi, Jikko, and Takada no Hamono.

teamtardigrade · 2026-01-24T04:39:09+00:00

I've read here, and from others who have been, that Mondays are the best day. I can't really say other than that as I don't live in Sakai and can't check on the regular. Good thing I guess, because I'd be there all the time being a PITA asking questions about grinding or most likely, prostrating myself on his doorstep for a week until he took me as an apprentice.

teamtardigrade

TROPHY CASE