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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2008 3:02:01 GMT
Since about 7th grade, i've been huge into metal work, but mostly on a small scale: Jewelry and small sculptures and such. Now in highschool, i'm extremely adept at lost-wax casting and metalworking on a small scale, and i'm starting to want to get into smithing of some sort. Just wondering a few things.
What would be the best way to start out? (tools, metals, processes, learning methods)
I have a bench grinder, buffer, drill press, and a mapp gas torch; along with all the staple tools of a workshop (pliers, hammers, screwdrivers, drills, etc). I was planning on buying an angle grinder, because i've heard thats an easy way to get started (and they selll 4" ones at Home Depot for $35). I don't really have a forge of any kind, but i do have a fire pit and plenty of fire wood.
Any info would be extremely helpful.
Oh, and one separate question. A buddy of mine just recently purchased this huge bastard file, and he's planning on turning it into a dagger or knife of some sort. Is there any credibility to this? I know its pretty much just a huge hardened piece of steel with teeth on it, but would it be a good option for getting steel for someone without a forge?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2008 3:33:46 GMT
Files make great knives, but junkyard rules apply, don't expect much as you never know just exactly what steel it is, but it is good steel. If it is a newer file, it might be case hardened and not completely good steel, with files the rule is older is better. Before working on the file get a good fire going and bury it in the bed of hot coals overnight to anneal it, then it will be grindable. If you are wanting to get into forging, you are going to need an anvil, or an ASO(anvil shaped object), which could basically be a suitable sized peice of heavy steel with a flat surface to work on. Required video material would be Tim and Marian Lively's knifemaking DVD, you will find it worth every cent, and anyone interested in knifemaking particularly forging IMHO MUST have it, it shows you how to do alot with very little, NO GRINDER needed. Everything from building a simple charcoal forge to making the guard, forging the blade, mounting, everything. It will put you 10 steps ahead of the game, hands down, it must be had. So after acquiring your forge and anvil, you will need a good hammer, set of tongs or vice grips, and nice pair of thick gloves and good saftey glasses. Start out by hammeirng on some regular plain steel tobe had from Home Depot, no use wasting the good stuf until you learn to control the hammer. After about 6 months at best of practice forging and understanding how to run the fire and move the metal, you will be ready to make a knife.
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slav
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Post by slav on Feb 28, 2008 3:50:57 GMT
If you do not have access to a forge, or means by which to keep a good fire going decently enough to foge with; I would suggest starting out making blades using the "stock-removal" method. (i.e. grinding/filing bar stock to shape and then heat treating.) This way, you will only need the fire once (for heat-treatment/quenching), and even so it won't have to last very long at all (just long enough to get the blade red, basically.) I started out making blades via stock removal, and it is still my method of choice when I do not have access to a forge (which is most of the time.) Functionally, a blade made via stock-removal should be just as good as a forged blade. As a wise man named Sam once told me: "There's nothing at all wrong with stock-removal, it just gets boring after a while." But trust me, you'll have enough on your plate to keep you from getting bored for a loooong time. Especially if you plan to pursue DH Japanese-style blades.
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Post by Matt993f.o.d on Feb 28, 2008 11:02:54 GMT
As for books, I would recommend "Step by Step Knifemaking" by David Boye, "The Complete Blacksmith" by Lorelei Sims and "The complete bladesmith" by Jim Hrisoulas.
Books are a good way to get the basics, but I have found that since smithing methods tend to vary a lot between authors (everyone does it differently), they can only teach you so much.
All the same, they are great books.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 29, 2008 2:12:25 GMT
Wow, thanks for all the replys so fast. From the beginning i was planning on doing stock removal, thats why i was asking about grinders and such. Do you guys prefer a bench grinder, angle grinder, or belt? I have a pretty nice bench grinder, and like i said, i'm probably going to invest in an angle grinder some time soon. Also, what would your guys' opinion on where i should get my steel. I could always go to home depot or something like that, and i know theres some websites that sell it for cheap, i just need a good reliable source.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 29, 2008 3:57:49 GMT
bench grinders wqth the stone are almost useless for anything other than profiling, they are far too rough a grit to do anything but rough work. Home depot has mild steel, that is all, not good foe blades but good fr practice hammering, order good steel from www.admiralsteel.com
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slav
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Post by slav on Feb 29, 2008 4:09:51 GMT
Seconded on Admiral. Great steel source and very reasonably priced.
I buy 6ft. bar of [1.25" x 3/16"] 1095 High-carbon steel and it only costs me about $25 shipped. They also carry many specialty blade steels, including Damascus billets. Baby steps, though...
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Post by Matt993f.o.d on Feb 29, 2008 22:05:08 GMT
A bench grinder WITH a belt (like the one I have) is a bit cheaper than a dedicated belt grinder, but not quite as good I'm sure.
If even cheap steel from admiral is too expensive for you, you can use scrap. I am lucky in so far as I have a mini scrapyard in my orchard, so I am sorted for this (living in England means that suppliers like Admiral are a lot more elusive). Although you never can be sure as to what you're working, it costs nothing, so doesnt matter so much if you balls it up.
Anvils are expensive, so take yourself down to your nearest trainyard and pick up a scrap section of railroad track. They make good anvils. A forge can be made in many different ways. Read some how-tos. A google search can provide plenty of these. As for hand tools, if you want to be a smith, there is no reason to spend money on them. Make them yourself. That's what I'm going to do.
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