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Post by oos3thoo on Jan 18, 2008 4:32:44 GMT
Hmmm, I never practice, I always jump to things for some reason. I will probably end up doing the... Lol.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2008 4:39:05 GMT
Start out making knives. Lots of them: Buy annealed high-carbon bar-stock from Admiral. Shape it with files, grinder, etc via stock removal. Heat the blade up red-hot in a hot fire a few times to normalize it (build a good bonfire, or I have even used my fireplace). Then quench it. Then temper it in the oven or over the fire. Look around on the net for detailed information and better instructions. Study them for days and days. Then try your first...second...third...fifteenth... After perfecting your technique and producing about 20-30* perfect knives, then consider making the next step to forging swords. *Results and failed/successful attempts will vary. For more information contact your nearest Sam Salvati. 'bout right Sam? WHAT HE SAID:P. ANything else and you are being counter productive to what you want to do.
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slav
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Katsujin No Ken
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Post by slav on Jan 18, 2008 4:41:03 GMT
Hmmm, I never practice, I always jump to things for some reason. I will probably end up doing the... Lol. ...End up doing the jumonji yari, right? WRONG! I am the same way, I know how you feel. But mastering steel is different my friend. Especially if done in the Japanese fashion. forget the yari idea for a couple years at least. even attempting a katana as your first project will leave you heartbroken and penniless. Just ONE teeny-tiny mistake (such as a microscopic hairline crack) will ruin the entire project. Every nanosecond of work, bead of sweat, and dime of investment will be wasted. How do you think I know this?
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Post by oos3thoo on Jan 18, 2008 4:43:00 GMT
Wow... Thanks for telling me. That is kinda discouraging though But better than a wasted project.
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slav
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Post by slav on Jan 18, 2008 4:51:09 GMT
Discouraging? Well actually, my work with tantos as a beginner project has actually made them one of my favorite types of weapon. No work is wasted. A beautiful tanto or knife is a million times better than a bodged katana. When you finish your first perfect knife--even if you drop your tools and never pick them up again--you will treasure it for the rest of your life. No subsequent blade, no matter how big or cool, will ever be so special. So do not be discouraged.
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Post by oos3thoo on Jan 18, 2008 4:52:45 GMT
Good point! Thanks! I feel a bit better...
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Post by oos3thoo on Jan 18, 2008 4:54:26 GMT
How about a really short sword ( 15 inches or so) with a katana handle? Good for close combat.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2008 4:58:31 GMT
START, WITH, KNIVES.
START
WITH
KNIVES.
Or don't, and waste your time.
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Post by oos3thoo on Jan 18, 2008 4:59:28 GMT
Bah!
K... But it is gonna be a cool one.
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slav
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Post by slav on Jan 18, 2008 5:02:53 GMT
This is my first blade that I was satisfied with: See, small knives can have ito-wrap handles too ya know. I had done several before it in monosteel, but most came out with blemishes or imperfections (cracks, bad hamon, took a curved set, etc.), or were just not satisfactory to me. Part of the success of this project was the fact that I took extra extra care during the heat treat, and made sure all conditions were perfect. I did not want to lose all the laborious folding work, amateur and "grainy" as it may be. The lesson I learned was that if I had taken that much care on my first blades, they probably wouldn't have been ruined. To tie this back into the original thread: For this knife I heated using an improvised coffe can/mud forge and a blowtorch, and quenched in water. The tempering was done in the oven, and worked out very very well. Oven tempering FTW!
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Post by oos3thoo on Jan 18, 2008 5:07:53 GMT
Awesome! I gotta remember this!
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Post by oos3thoo on Jan 18, 2008 20:59:52 GMT
Hmmm... Someone name the steps of cheap home forging in order please... Can you forge in a fire? If so, how big of one? And after tempering in the oven (After quenching) do you need to quench again?
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Post by Matt993f.o.d on Jan 19, 2008 19:12:28 GMT
I don't think home forging CAN be cheap. Unless your lucky, like me.
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Post by oos3thoo on Jan 19, 2008 19:14:20 GMT
But I wanna know it as cheap as it gets. Lol
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Post by Matt993f.o.d on Jan 19, 2008 19:42:03 GMT
I got my anvil, tools, and forge by asking the right people. Try to find a smith in your area, who can give you advice as to the best place to look. Anvils and forges are extortionately expensive brand new. A new anvil could cost up to 400 pounds. If you're in the US, about 500 dollars. I got mine from an old friend. It was just luck.
As for tools, most serious smiths make their own. I got a small set that is good enough to start up with for free. Luck, once again. If you want to take up smithing cheaply, you have no choice but to make your own. If you don't feel able to make simple tools, then consider simpler routes to making blades, as forging tools is a lot easier than making blades!
My forge was also part luck, since the bloke just had one lying about, but the best chance you have to get one cheaply is to ask a smith if he has a spare he doesnt mind parting with, or to make one. Brake drum forges are shite. Ignore people who say they are good for learning on. They arent.
Lastly, I found that the best money you could spend is on some LESSONS. That way you can find out firsthand if you actually enjoy it or not. This is the most important thing if you then go on to spending money on anvils/forges.
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Post by oos3thoo on Jan 19, 2008 20:02:46 GMT
Yea I suppose. I was thinking of getting some equipment from my grandpa. Like this weird jet like furnace. use that and stack bricks for a furnace, he has a welding machine, welding gloves, welding mask. He also has small steel blocks that he uses for anvils. But I have a to wait a couple of months before I can go ask him.
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Post by Matt993f.o.d on Jan 19, 2008 21:25:58 GMT
Plenty can be improvised at a pinch. We used to use an iron brick for an anvil (just when we were fabbing car repair sections). A forge can be easily made. Tools can be made once the basics have been gathered.
Did you know that smiths in Africa make do with sections of railroad track for anvils? Forges made from two sides of termite clay? Goatskin bellows?
If people in 3rd world countries (that don't even have scrapyards in abundance) can make do with simple things, and still make servicible products, surely we can?
You can't expect brilliant results with the above, but like I said, they'll do in a pinch.
Its still best to take lessons, though.
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Post by Brendan Olszowy on Jan 20, 2008 1:09:58 GMT
Geez Sam, what did he say?
I made my forge for about $20 out of crap I had lying around and some mortar. So far I just use vice grips and pliers, no fancy tongs yet.
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Post by oos3thoo on Jan 20, 2008 3:44:37 GMT
What do you use for a furnace?
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Post by Matt993f.o.d on Jan 20, 2008 15:20:41 GMT
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