Kayne & Son - The Blacksmith's Depot

It had been a while since I had really treated myself to some things that I wanted. I decided to break that dry spree of saving my money and splurge a bit on some items I had been eyeballing for quite some time. Quite frequently, I scan the different product categories on multiple different smithing supplier's websites, but The Blacksmith's Depot had three items of interest to me. First they offered a great deal on a tomahawk mandrel complete with a tomahawk handle for $40.00USD. I've been looking for somehthing to help me get my eye shape more consistent on my hawks for a while now, and when I came across this product, I knew I had to have it. It is a very nice product, made of cast iron, and clean with no burs. The handle is nice, too. Seems to have a nice waxed coat on it, too.

I also ordered their didymium safety glasses. I know a glassmaker that uses these and they make all of the difference in the world (considering that when glassblowing you cannot look at the glass without wearing these). It's a bit different to get used to your color of your heat being a bit off, but it's nice. They're comfortable, stay on, and actually let you see MORE color within the material. At $60.00, I would say they were a solid investment well worth the price.

What I was most excited about (and most pleased with) was the modified gooseneck tongs made for holding railroad spikes. As much as I love working with spikes and as many ideas as I have to make stuff out of them, it drives me crazy when I cannot hold on to the spike to work it. Well, Kayne & Son definitely solved that little issue. Most of our tongs out in the shop are old and from auctions or estate sales and tend to be a bit rickety sometimes. Not these tongs, they're solid. They hold a tight grip on the material without having to squeeze so hard your hand cramps. They come with a nice wax coating on them which gives a nice slightly sticky grip. By far, I was extremely pleased with the product. Not only were they made in the USA, but they are just a solid piece of equipment that I can tell will last us a long time.

I'm extremely pleased with the service that Kayne & Son provided. Quick shipping, reliable products, and a great viewing experience for their products. I also emailed them yesterday to ask about another product, and boom! They emailed me back today with not just a short half-assed answer, but with suggestions and facts regarding their product and what seems to work best for other customers in the past. They certainly will be getting my business again.

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Happy Tuesday, everyone!

I just wanted to thank any of you that take the time to read my ramblings and babblings, it is much appreciated! I Hope you'll continue to read some of the things I write here and maybe even be convinced to pick up a hammer, fire up a forge, and start swinging.

I stripped the handle off of my first knife (which can be found further back in my posts) and put a new, slimmer handle on it. I used black walnut and tung oil instead of red oak and Tru Oil. It's not a masterpiece, but I consider it an improvement. Enjoy!