Welcome Audra- nice knives and nice site!
Glad to you with us. If while you are getting settled in, I can help, let me know.
Scott

Hey! You joined! Got your daughters graduation card! What a beautiful young woman she is. Let me know when we should talk about the "KNIFE" for my daughter.

Hi Audra,

You have a great, hard-earned and deserved reputation. I heard you once had a bad experience with zebra wood and inadequate breathing protection. If I heard correctly, perhaps you could share that story to educate some beginners. If I heard incorrectly, please forgive me.

Best wishes in all your endeavours,
Paul

Hi Paul,

Well partially correct. I actually developed many severe respiratory allergies. For many years I ground on sheep horn with no mask at all. Then started to develop asthma. This reaction is now common for me when grinding on many woods also. Sheep is still by far the worst. However, my husband made a positive air supply system for me that takes care of the problem. I have a compressor that sits in another clean room and pumps fresh air through the wall and into my mask. (problem solved) while the mask is on. There are still problems with stirring up too much dust in the shop after working on certain material. But I would strongly recommend to any beginner or advanced maker to use adequate
protection. Our lungs develop reactions to material after they have been exposed to it for long enough, and most of us have become quite used to breathing! It is something that we take for granted until we can't do it! Please feel free to contact me if you would like any info on making the positive air supply setup that we have. (it is really a great set up) If you look on the website Draperknives.info you will see a photo of the machine and the mask and hose.
p.s. yes there are several woods that I have developed allergies to, Iron wood, and snake wood. I have never ground Cocobolo, just because my reactions to other things are bad enough, no since in pushing it! I don't recall a reaction to Zebra wood, but I have slept since then! ha ha :)

Hi there! I posted the photos of THE KNIFE on my site... Hope your staying warm Steph

Hi Audra, I just wanted to stop by and say HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I hope you had a great day!
God bless ya.
Randy

Thank you ! Appreciate it! the day was nice. Great dinner.... :)

Happy Birthday, Audra! Hope it's the best one ever!