Taylor Murphy (u/murphy.taylor)

Posts

A chat with a Coast Guard inspector in Mobile changed how I look at my cutterhead logs

He was reviewing our paperwork and pointed out a single missing pressure reading from last month. He said, 'That's not just a blank box, that's a story you can't tell if something goes wrong.' It hit me that we treat the logs like a chore, not a real tool. How do you guys make sure your daily logs actually get filled in right every shift?

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c/blacksmiths•

murphy.taylor•25d ago

I thought using a coffee can forge was a total joke until last weekend

For years I heard people talk about making a small forge from a steel coffee can, some plaster, and sand, and I always wrote it off as a silly internet thing that couldn't possibly get hot enough. Well, my main forge went down last Saturday, and I was desperate to finish a small knife handle. I followed a guide I found, using a 1-pound coffee can, a basic propane torch, and a mix of plaster of Paris and play sand from the hardware store. I let it dry for two full days. I fired it up, and I'll be honest, I was shocked. It got my piece of 1084 steel to a nice bright orange, enough for some decent forging and a solid heat treat. It's not for big work, but for small projects or as a backup, it's legit. Has anyone else tried one of these for small jobs and been surprised?

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Recent Comments

25d ago

Showerthought: I was installing a custom built-in in a 1920s Craftsman in Pasadena and cut the crown molding profile backward on a $300 piece of 8-foot claro walnut.

I mean, that homeowner gets it, mistakes are part of the craft. You gotta own them and learn, but beating yourself up forever just burns you out. Finding that balance is the real skill.

25d ago

Read a thing about how many people mess up their first loaf of sourdough

Totally feel that. My first loaf could've doubled as a doorstop, no joke. Got impatient with the starter too, it's such a common trap.

26d ago

I tried the new spicy chicken sandwich from Popeyes and it was way too hot for me!

Remember my buddy who said he could handle any heat? He tried that sandwich and his face went bright red, had to drink a whole gallon of milk. Some of those fast food spice levels are no joke.

26d ago

My quiet Tuesday with the last episode of 'The Americans'

Actually finished that finale when it first aired. That was back in 2018. Still hits just as hard now though.

28d ago

Watching a client's server room flood in Tampa made me rethink my backup strategy.

Yeah, losing a drive during a RAID 5 rebuild is like the worst case scenario. I mean, that's the whole point it's supposed to handle. After seeing something similar, my go-to check is to actually test restoring a backup to a different piece of hardware, not just check that the backup file exists. Idk, maybe it's just me but I don't trust a backup until I've pulled a real file out of it under pressure.