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Dragonsmithy — Rail spike hori hori prototype
Published: 2014-06-01 21:27:59 +0000 UTC; Views: 1043; Favourites: 54; Downloads: 3
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Description
It's a bit rough, but here's my take on a hori hori knife, or Japanese weeding knife. Yeah, it's pretty much a sharpened trowel. Traditionally this would have a wooden handle, serrations, and a more pronounced taper at the end with straight edges; this, however, gets the job done, I rather like it, and there's always next time to make improvements. Improvements like, you know... being smart about smithing practices and keeping a quantity of electrolyte-rich hydration on hand in order to avoid several days of hand and arm cramping, which would cut production time short. If I were a dummy, that is.Related content
Comments: 29
Is there anything in particular stopping you?
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Umm. Not having the right stuff to do it.
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That's not as big a problem as you think; you can bodge a forge together for something like $20. There are lots of plans available on the Internet.
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I never had something to heat the metal with and something to hit it on.
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You can make something called a 'one brick forge' with just a soft fire brick and a blowtorch, and a short section of scrap railroad track makes a great anvil. If this is something that you really want, you can do it without much sacrifice. Just stay safe.
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Sweet! I want to get more in to this type of metal work than just welding things together.
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"Just welding"? Don't sell yourself short when you have such a broad skill. Good luck getting that forge together.
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Thanks. Hopefully next summer I will have it set up.
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Very nice! My mom has a hori hori and it's one of her favorite tools (there's just something that's vaguely satisfying about stabbing a weed....).
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Considering the shape of my vegetable garden, stabbing alone ain't gonna do it - I need grenades.
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Ah so you have bamboo in your yard to?
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Not a lot of bamboo around these parts, but pig weed is a serious issue, as are dandelions and twitch grass.
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I like dandelions, but they are getting crowded out here by witches nettle and an excessive amount of filaree.
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The idea of dandelions being out-competed is kind of shocking; you must have some real monster weeds out there.
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It depends a lot on particular conditions, like soil chemistry, recent rainfall, etc. Oxalis is everywhere here after Spring rains, and some areas nearby are forests of fennel. Filaree has many other names; it's the one with the pointed seeds that have long spiral tails. Witches Nettle looks like dandelion from a distance, as do a lot of other plants, but the leaves are covered with little stingers. I like dandelion leaves, nasturtium flowers, and other local stuff in salads.
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Well, friend, I'm always happy to sell my work if you're so inclined. Let me know if you're interested, and I can offer you this or make a similar one.
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but the problem I live in usa and how you would ship it ?:/
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USPS surface mail could handle it, though I'd need to check the rates. Arranging payment would be the more difficult part, but not impossible. Please don't feel I'm pressuring you, though; I just want to leave the door open.
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next question how much is it I really like it unique
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Well, rail spike knives have a huge range in pricing, and since I'm neither the best nor the worst blacksmith around I set my price for them in the middle - $60, plus shipping. Just to make sure we're on the same page, though, you do understand that this is basically an exotic gardening tool, yes?
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yes but I probably won't use it and is there difference between Canada money and usa money just wondering
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well because each money different value
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