Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2008 5:16:25 GMT
Hello, everyone ! At the advice of djmahoney, I've decided to start a tread on what's going on in my small workshop. As it is now, I don't have a forge or the equipment to make swords yet, but we all have to start somewhere. So far, I've forged two small blades on a crude anvil made from an old sledgehammer head I mounted to a post. I doubt I'll use it again before I move. I'm holding out for a proper anvil from Cliff Carol at the moment. So, here's my first pics. Tell me what you think, and keep in mind that these are my first tries at forging. Enjoy ! Please note the second, shorter blade is not totally hand forged. I put the bevels in with a hammer, but the body is flat stock. ...and the crude "redneck" anvil...(this is embarassing) That's it for the knives at the moment. I'll finish them sometime in the future. Right now I have several sword refurbishing projects that are a higher priority. I hope you got a giggle out of my "anvil", lol ;D
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2008 5:34:23 GMT
lol mine is no better its just a solid block of 1035 steel but good luck on future knives!!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2008 5:35:17 GMT
I like the anvil, I mean an anvil is an anvil and it is a very good use of what you have lying around. I like that first knife that you made, I'd suggest finishing it and sharpening it on both sides to make it a multi directional combat knife.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2008 6:27:49 GMT
Thanks As for the knife at the top, I don't think it'll ever be a functional piece, since the steel doesn't seem to want to harden. It was the first of the two. The second, on the other hand is going to become a heavy utility cutter with a choil that should cradle the forefinger. I already sketched out what the end result should look like, and am looking forward to finishing it sometime in the next two months.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2008 17:09:28 GMT
Here's a pic of the projects I am currently working on. The katana at the top belongs to a friend of mine, who asked if I could make improvements to the blade geometry and the saya. I took the job at no charge, figuring it would serve as good practice towards making and finishing my own swords in the future. The lower sword is my Last Legends bear, which I am refurnishing. I know, I know, it's outside the price range for this forum, but it's the only sword I own right now.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2008 22:21:42 GMT
Your picture in the first post are not working.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2008 5:45:25 GMT
Hi, Sam. Nice to meet you. I'm not sure why the pic isn't coming in for you, blood and I can see it. Maybe a server problem or something ? I can't say for sure. Can you make out any of the other pics ? Do you think maybe it's an issue with my photo service provider ? Get in touch with me if you have any solutions.
|
|
|
Post by Matt993f.o.d on Jun 20, 2008 18:07:16 GMT
I can't see it either...
|
|
|
Post by 293master293 on Jun 21, 2008 6:09:59 GMT
It worked for a little bit, but now I can't see it. EDIT* Alright, their good.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2008 18:31:51 GMT
Hopefully the pics will work now. I deleted them from my account folder thinking they would remain on this page. Guess I was wrong. let me know if you can see them now.
|
|
|
Post by Matt993f.o.d on Jun 21, 2008 21:51:31 GMT
Yep they work now. Thats one mega curve you had on the top blade. Intended?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2008 0:45:18 GMT
Not really. It was my first time working with a hammer, and I just decided to let the steel do what it wanted so I could observe it's behavoir. Then, I quenched it in heavy salt water, which I now understand makes the steel curve upwards. That's how it became so pronounced. I learned a lot from making this first peice, and for something that came out of an old rusty lumber nail, I think it turned out fairly well.
Anyway, now that the pics are up and working, I have to do some editing. I forgot to mention that the second blade isn't completely forged. I hammered in the bevels, but the body of the blade is flat stock I salvaged from some scrap, so it's not completely hand forged.
|
|
|
Post by Matt993f.o.d on Jun 22, 2008 21:44:18 GMT
When you hammer in edge bevels, the steel is squished from the edge outwards, but also towards the spine as well. Such is the way of working with the flat of the hammer; it pushes the metal out in all directions. That is why the blade curves in such a fashion. As you make the edge thinner, the spine bends back because of the way the metal flows. You can compensate for this by introducing a slight downwards bend in the blade before forging in the bevels.
Salt water (brine) quenches cool the steel faster than water or oil, but isnt solely responsible for quench induced curvature.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2008 2:04:11 GMT
Ikaito: Sorry bout the slav comment I got the posters mixed up, I thought you were Slavia.
How do you find the bear from last legend mate? Is it a good blade? Have you cut with it yet?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2008 2:28:30 GMT
First step is to get some Books, look up JIm Hrisoulas on amazon and get all 3 of his books, Tim and Marian Lively's video, then get "the complete modern blacksmith" by Alexander Weygers, THEN you can start thinking about picking up a hammer.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2008 3:19:52 GMT
Thanks Sam, already lining up some educational reading and a few DVDs. Getting Wally Hayes video in first, along with a copy of The Craft of the Japanese Sword ( sorry, forgot the author's name at the moment). Getting the Lively DVD as well, and am checking out Don Fogg's homepage. Lots of info there, so I'm going to drop the link tonight. I'll also be checking some other books out in the near future at Amazon.com as well. Also, thanks for your safety talk thread, I never knew how dangerous galvanized metals could be. Good thing I've never worked with the stuff. To answer your question BW, I haven't made any cuts with the bear yet. I don't feel confident in my form yet, and don't want to jump right into cutting. Plus, I still have to make a new tsuka, fuchi, and kashira for the bear. I saw the thread on Can You Really Cut Down A Tree With A Katana ?, and I'm not taking his approach to testing my blades. Too many things could have gone wrong with that stunt. I have ordered an iaito to do some training with first, and then will move on to cutting. Don't worry though, once the project is complete I'll have lots of pics of the finished sword and my first cutting trial. Maybe even an unofficial review ?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2008 3:54:39 GMT
Craft of the japanese sword is a good book as well. I always try and advise to read research read research read research before even hitting hot steel, but it's just too fun to not give it a try early on. it's a long road, better have a good pair of shoes.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2008 5:14:25 GMT
Yep, steel toed boots laced up and ready to go ! I won't be firing a forge or working anything hot until I've moved. So, I'll have about five months to just focus on studying and working on making fittings for the swords I already have in my shop. For anyone who's interested, here's a link. www.dfoggknives.com...or, if you want to go straight to the shop section.. www.dfoggknives.com/craftof.htmVery cool !
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2008 5:24:35 GMT
Ikaito: Why are you linking to Don Fogg's website?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2008 14:44:35 GMT
This thread is about my first steps in becoming a bladesmith, and eventually a swordmaker. Don's like a living legend here in the states, and has done a lot to help beginners like myself get started in smithing. I posted the links for anyone who might pass through this thread and is also just getting started. Did I do something wrong ? I plan to create a new thread in the customization coloumn later that will show all the work I'm doing on the LL bear and Sojiro's first sword, since those projects don't require forging. But, I won't post the pics until the work is done, so everyone can get an uninterupted step by step look at how I refurnished these blades. I'm just trying to give back to the community. You have all been very generous and kind to me, and I want to do whatever I can to pass that on to others here on the forum.
|
|