Tried my hand at the forge! It isn't as easy as it looks!

**COWBOYSURVIVAL** · 02-15-2010, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by gryffynklm

Brake drum forge, nice sturdy design. I like it.

It looks like you are heating on top of the coal/charcoal. Your stock should be in the coal were the high heat is. Heating will go much faster.

I agree that the hammering is surprisingly fatiguing, not like hammering a nail is it.

Actually you are seeing two oak boards a top the coals, used as baffles. The steel was heated within the coals and din't take long. i used a mix of hardwood and charcoal. I only have a 3 lb. hammer and as Camp said this is some tough steel. I'd be interested to see pics of your setup and process as well. Thanks.

**gryffynklm** · 02-15-2010, 08:07 PM

Coal, charcoal, propane..... Its all fuel. I use the five lb when I have to do some heavy beating like the the start of hawk head.

Rail Spike Tomahawk
http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...ad.php?t=10036

Most of the work I do is with the 3 lb. The coal forge is in pieces from the last smithing demo I did in the fall. I'll try to get a pic tomorrow. For me smithing is a few times a year sort of thing I hesitate to call myself a blacksmith. An "S" hook here or there a special purpose tool like a sheeps foot or musket tool is about it. Certainly not a blade smith like the made blades we have seen. here lately.

My son is the active smith in the family. I will be back in IL, by the weekend, thats were the propane Forge Master B is located. I'll try to post pics of both.

**COWBOYSURVIVAL** · 02-15-2010, 08:12 PM

Here is a better pic of heating the blade in the forge...

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Here you get a better feel for the heat produced!

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**Ph34r** · 02-16-2010, 06:13 PM

for those interested, i saw a youtube video the other day on building a forge in under 10 mins. Never tried it myself, but looks possible. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfkppiIxztg

**crashdive123** · 02-16-2010, 07:14 PM

Hey there ph34r - how about forging your way on over to the Introduction section and tell us a bit about yourself. Thanks. http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...splay.php?f=14

**COWBOYSURVIVAL** · 02-17-2010, 09:39 PM

Well I resorted to stock removal to shape it. I did get the blade thinned and widened. A little more shaping to do before profling the blade.

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I may go back to the forge and try and draw the edge of the blade down some.

**welderguy** · 02-17-2010, 09:42 PM

Dang That is really shaping up , that is great work.

**crashdive123** · 02-17-2010, 09:45 PM

Great progress.

**COWBOYSURVIVAL** · 02-17-2010, 09:46 PM

Originally Posted by welderguy

Dang That is really shaping up , that is great work.

I am afraid to hammer too much with what Camp said about Iron and folding, flaking. It seams like it is intact. Keep in mind as i go most of my work is done with an angle grinder and a hand file. I have some Tiger Maple for the scales. Just postin' as I go pics.

**welderguy** · 02-17-2010, 09:57 PM

I enjoy seeing the progress thanks for taking the time to share that.

**COWBOYSURVIVAL** · 02-17-2010, 10:00 PM

Originally Posted by welderguy

I enjoy seeing the progress thanks for taking the time to share that.

Yeah it is a long way from finished but, I do enjoy sharin' the steps. It gets more of us to want to try it and I benefit by watching theirs and yours!

**gryffynklm** · 02-18-2010, 10:00 AM

CS, I think the flaking Camp 10 was talking about is called scale. It forms because when you heat the metal impurities come to the surface. The impurities contain carbon how much I don't know. The scale can easily be removed during the forging process by using a wire brush. When I get to final shaping i give extra heat and brush the scale from the piece and the anvil before I hammer to avoid the scale leaving an impression on the metal surface. The scale does little to the integrity of the metal besides loosing some carbon. The nice thing about coal and charcoal is that it does a bit of a balance. This is the only flaking while forging I have encountered.

Camp 10 if I misunderstood the flaking you are talking about please describe what you have encountered.

**COWBOYSURVIVAL** · 02-18-2010, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by gryffynklm

CS, I think the flaking Camp 10 was talking about is called scale. It forms because when you heat the metal impurities come to the surface. The impurities contain carbon how much I don't know. The scale can easily be removed during the forging process by using a wire brush. When I get to final shaping i give extra heat and brush the scale from the piece and the anvil before I hammer to avoid the scale leaving an impression on the metal surface. The scale does little to the integrity of the metal besides loosing some carbon. The nice thing about coal and charcoal is that it does a bit of a balance. This is the only flaking while forging I have encountered.

Camp 10 if I misunderstood the flaking you are talking about please describe what you have encountered.

I should have been more clear, I am not refering to the scale that is always formed during heating the steel to red hot. This particular peice is not modern material, Camp explaines it earlier in the post. What it is, is that this material probably has iron folded in through forge welding long ago to strengthen the material for it original intended use. The material is derived from very old carriage springs.

**Camp10** · 02-18-2010, 09:26 PM

Originally Posted by COWBOYSURVIVAL

I should have been more clear, I am not refering to the scale that is always formed during heating the steel to red hot. This particular peice is not modern material, Camp explaines it earlier in the post. What it is, is that this material probably has iron folded in through forge welding long ago to strengthen the material for it original intended use. The material is derived from very old carriage springs.

Yup. I didnt meant to have you worry about working it though. I only noticed this when I tried to work it after it had cooled a little to much. What I later read was that the old process for making these was to fold in steel and iron and that they could flake apart. I didnt ruin any blades working with the steel but I did chip it a little trying to work a heat cycle just a little to far. The knives themselves are very tough and hold an edge real well.

**COWBOYSURVIVAL** · 02-18-2010, 09:33 PM

Originally Posted by Camp10

Yup. I didnt meant to have you worry about working it though. I only noticed this when I tried to work it after it had cooled a little to much. What I later read was that the old process for making these was to fold in steel and iron and that they could flake apart. I didnt ruin any blades working with the steel but I did chip it a little trying to work a heat cycle just a little to far. The knives themselves are very tough and hold an edge real well.

It is going very well! Even annealed it is hard. My files are cussing me...But it is coming together. Sure would be nice to have a big belt sander about now. I am enjoying every minute..Thanks Camp!

**COWBOYSURVIVAL** · 02-25-2010, 11:11 PM

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Just some blind man's work...Still a work in progress! Tried my hand at filework! Goto say it is fun! Try it~!

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**crashdive123** · 02-25-2010, 11:19 PM

Looks outstanding CS.

**COWBOYSURVIVAL** · 02-25-2010, 11:22 PM

Originally Posted by crashdive123

Looks outstanding CS.

Thanks Crash! I had more time than usual on my hands. I enjoyed every second of making this one...well except the part with the steel in my eye! This one will be with me a long time!