On the Ground here at BPS .... THIS JUST IN!!!! ......

.... Do'n my best to keep you entertained during this season. I know you don't want to have daily "health updates". However; that's a big part of the "What, Why, When" that's filling the days here at BPS. For instance.... "IF" a Bear had chewed my leg off this afternoon .... I'm quite certain my hip/groin/buttstock would not hurt any worse, right now. The pain pills are like MMs this evening. Not doing a darned thing for the pain .... and will probably make me fat. So; things like that new die of the Dragon ..... it's not bad for a dead man limping. How about it? Pedro liked it. Thanks Buddy. Now, let me ask .... do I have to go to Canada for a comment now? ...... Geeessh.....


I know we are all very preoccupied right now. I "hear" there's an election or something coming up........... I'd like to very briefly express the state of mind I've arrived at after the past two years of 25/8 coverage of said election ..... ..............................




Thank You.



Now, I've made a few new things for sale. I had hoped to have the first one available this evening. It is a "Knife Box". I will have a few. Pics are unfinished. Story to follow .....



It's some very nice walnut. It has nice color and quilting in the grain.



The Top has great character, and I've milled a nice thumb notch to retract the Plank.





This Box is large enough for the "Tactical 97" model. (Shown is the side plate for a future Skeeter Tusk Tactical 97."

The Box/Chest (which term do you like?) just needs the finish applied. My plan was to feature my new Dragon design as medallion on this lid, in Copper. HOWEVER; this time, the sickening "crunch" I heard this morning - was not my neck. It was my brand new Dragon Die. I applied too much pressure, while taking a Copper print of the Die. The Double Tempered High Carbon Tool Steel Hand Carved Die ........... died. It shattered into 4 pieces under the tremendous pressure of the Press.

Actually, my neck just made a considerably louder sickening crunch .... as I sit, look down, and post with my phone. Wow .... that was wicked. I need to stand ....



This will be the "Prototype - and the only Print of this Custom Die. It's the only one in 36 years, to break. And, to celebrate my lousy hip pain, my Artistic drive, and Pedro's nice comment; I immediately began carving another die. Nooooo ..... stop it ..... you need not go on and on .... ...... .... ............ stop it.

Ok. That's my limit - both to sitting and standing. If lying down doesn't work, I'm screwed.

I'll be here .... Thanks

Gary



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 10/21/2016 01:42PM by barnespneumatic.

Gary, you are the complete package. I get up to send the oldest off to school and while eating breakfast (reading this post) I just manage to keep from spraying coffee all over the kitchen. That first picture reflects my sentiments as well.
It is a beautiful dragon you have there, the detail is..... ridiculous. Using that as a medallion on the lid of the knife box is a really cool idea.
I think you have tried hanging upside down as well so ya, if lying down doesn't work, you are going to have to try floating in water in one of those giant test tube looking things we see in the movies. You'll have to use your dust mask as a rebreather.

Hi Sal,

Great idea. I need one of those giant test tube thingies that they keep the Aliens in at Area 51. Brilliant! I'll go to Amazon and price one .....

Glad you like the Dragon. The second version is 75% done. My leg and my arm told me when I just had to quit the shop last night. Hah - 75%. Experience tells me there's only 90% left to carve and tweak. Haha.

Glad you managed to contain your coffee. . Smile.

Gary

Gary
That die breaking just goes to show the crazy tonnage required to stamp an intricate design . At work we have to stamp steel with letters and numbers and that's with a hammer ! Aka 5# or 10# beater . The more surface area required to imprint the harder you have to hit . That dragon has a lot to imprint over a large area . It's amazing that you've never broken any yet and I've seen your drawers full of dies .
I was thinking that my Alloy number one knife with the dragon engraved in the blade would be the perfect match for the dragon coin knife safe box . If you throw in the broken die and mount the coin in the box as planned , I would love to own it .
Of course that is if you were not making it for someone else .


I won't speak on the BS at hand with the politics going on now just hoping to ride this one out . The picture says it all . By the way don't eat too many M&M's they will make you fat or worse !! I admire your courage to reinvent and reorganize your talents to accommodate your health . There are always people worse off than we are health wise and when I see some of MY specialists patients waiting their turn , it's a humbling thing . It doesn't make my pain any worse but ....

Thanks
Kurt

Hi Kurt,

Thank you my Friend. You shall have a box, with a couple changes - if you agree ........

I understand your interest in the broken die - but I'm not done with it. It has strong fracture lines through it - making it four pieces. But it didn't seperate. I like the carving so much .... that someday .... I'd like to inlay it into a block of spring steel. Total side and bottom containment. Perhaps be able to make prints with just those hairline fracture lines printed as well. If I decide to part with it - you are first in line.

Now. Prototypes go to Kelly. They are part of my Life Insurance Policy for Her. However; you can have #1 of the new die plate.

We'll talk. Thank you, Kurt.

Gary

Gees Gary, wow. Beauty (your work) and the beast (your health and pain).
I'm there with ya,
Jeff