Yelling at the tv - forged in fire

JTknives

Blade Heat Treating www.jarodtodd.com
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Jun 11, 2006
Messages
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Well I was able to sit down and watch session 5 episode 1 and I have never yelled at the tv as much as I did tonight. I won’t spoil it for others that have not seen it yet but wow. Every time I yelled don’t do that becaus, ohhhh yeah that. My wife was very impressed with my 100% accurate predictions of the outcomes moments befor thy happened. This is a good epasode on what not to do. It includes all the the areas of things to watch out for. Like what materials you should not try and forge weld together. And VERY real safety violations I’m surprised where alowed to unfold. Then toss in some heat treating stupidity that is very easy to catch right befor things go down south.

So I recommend watching it and coming back here so we can have a chat. Don’t get me wrong I really do LOVE forged in fire.

PS don’t throw things at the tv, JT
 
At least you're not yelling at the TV based off your television experience :D:thumbsup:
 
I've been saying to friends that this is exactly the show that Forged In Fire should do. I even suggested it to someone working with the production company--though I'm sure they thought of it on their own because it is so obvious. However, in my concept, each of the judges would team up with a neophyte bladesmith and walk them through the first two rounds of making.

I was surprised that they let the drill press disaster happen. No excuse for that. Each should have had a safety check out first.

Apart from that, the episode was good for the fans, good for beginning bladesmiths and good for the craft in general. It was obviously not for you. If it troubled you so much, why did you continue to watch. The theme of the show was discernible from the opening minute. If you have frustration, pause and think of where to put the blame.
 
They do a safety walk through first. They also, rightfully in my opinion, do not consider themselves to be the safety police for anything but the most egregious violations. If they stop someone for using the drill press like that, where do they stop? The guy doing the same thing with a block of handle material? The guy who doesn't use a stop bolt or clamp? It's a slippery slope and contestants are expected to take responsibility for their own safe practices.

I'm glad they showed that, not because I'm glad he was injured, but because what he was doing was extremely risky and it caught him on TV. What better way of showing less experienced people of why not to do this?
 
First season somebody climbed up on the grinder table to sharpen the blade and the "Safety officer" said they couldn't do that. Where the hell was he for the drill press incident!

I more shrieked in horror at what was going to happen than yelled.

"They also, rightfully in my opinion, do not consider themselves to be the safety police for anything but the most egregious violations."

OK i see the point but come on the drill press incident was an egregious safety violation.

Jim
 
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I have have to find a way to watch this season. I have kinda got the feeling on some episodes. That maybe there was a bit of a effort to pair experience levels? I'm sure it's pretty tough to judge from a resume and interview though
 
I have have to find a way to watch this season. I have kinda got the feeling on some episodes. That maybe there was a bit of a effort to pair experience levels? I'm sure it's pretty tough to judge from a resume and interview though

They try very hard to do that on all but perhaps the very first season. But you're right, it's tough to do. Especially considering 2 guys may have equal experience, and equal ability to produce something, but one needs a week and the other needs a day.
 
Apart from that, the episode was good for the fans, good for beginning bladesmiths and good for the craft in general. It was obviously not for you. If it troubled you so much, why did you continue to watch. The theme of the show was discernible from the opening minute. If you have frustration, pause and think of where to put the blame.

Is this directed at me? I never said I did not like the epasode or was frustrated. I really enjoy forged in fire which I also said above. I have no problem with them bringing in newbs and I really like the concept of weeding them out by testing there knives at the start. I was a tad surprised by the blades thy brought with them. I don’t know the criteria under which those blades where made. I figure thy had unlimited time at home to do them, And that’s the “best” thy could come up with? It also seams that W2 is the new replacement for 1095 in the newb circles. I give them all props for having the stones to go on the show. Especially knowing there lack of skills would be blown wide open for the entire knife community to see. It seamd to me that at least a few of them where lacking chunks of the very basic skill set required to make a knife. And some where rather cocky in there statements twords the ease of doing things.

But all in all I find the shows that do push your buttons to be the most entertaining. I enjoyed it and hope it opened the eyes of other would be newbs. Yeah it’s not that easy.
 
I think it was unfair to give them four different materials to work with. I think to be fair each smith should have the same material to work with.

Yeah I had wondered that as well. Now did thy say thy had to forge weld there steel together? I don’t remember them being told thy had to. I would hope thy would not require someone to do a forge weld with steel that is for all practicality impossible to weld to its self. But I think all the steels should at least be on par with each other. I think giving two people sub par steel is not a great idea. If it was there choice from a pile of random junk then ok. But forcing some one to use a lawn mower blade as there only steel seems unfair. Especially when the others get something most likely made from 5160 or close to it. We all know how great lawn mower blade steel is. It’s right up there with rail road spikes in my opinion. Same with the farriers rasp, junk in my opinion. But I would take it over the mower blades.
 
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There were definitely some cringe worthy moments, though I did like the "epoxy damascus" bit... hahahah

At any rate, I think the winner did a pretty good job, and he definitely set himself apart from the very beginning. Now, everybody just needs to learn how to shape a handle....
 
I have one question, the participants have a say in the tempering process? because its never shown.


Pablo
 
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