pure vanity

[gfish]

I heat-treated the new machete blade this afternoon with the help of neuro42 and adularia. Unfortunately the clay spalled off almost immediately after putting it in the forge. I need to experiment with baking it beforehand to make sure all the moisture is driven off. I'm still sorting through the deluge of pictures neuro42 took of the process, so I'm not going to document things here. I just wanted to say that this is my new favorite pictures of myself, even though I'm squinting horribly. Work jacket, steampunk goggles, dorky tshirt, juicebox. Hello, world.

Comments

[randomdreams.livejournal.com]

That's a great picture.
The clay-for-high-temp stuff I've done (pourable refractory, mandrel bead separation mud) I've heated until it steamed, left it at that heat until it stopped steaming, then gone up to red. It's spalled if I get heavy with the heat while it's still steaming.