First steps - forging knives

[jamesmrj]

I honestly ran to Tandy and bought them - you can probably do better. The dye is Fiebing's Low VOC leather dye (and I actually bought it at Hobby Lobby because I was in a pinch and Tandy is an hour away). I had thoughts of using the dye I had on hand (which is why I didn't buy any when I was at Tandy), but it's more than 5 years old and I didn't want any surprises. The sealer is Fiebing's spray-on Leather Sheen. I haven't sealed the leather yet - I'll let you know how that goes. Supposedly you just spray it on, wipe it down when it's dry, and repeat once or twice. I hope it's that easy.

Thanks for the info. Fiebing's is what I planned on using. Look forward to the update on the finish.

 

[General Zod]

Thanks for the info. Fiebing's is what I planned on using. Look forward to the update on the finish.

So far so good. I've hit it with three coats - figure that should do it. It smells like spray adhesive but it dries quick and it's not tacky to the touch. I'm not bothering to buff it because I don't want a shine on it. The leather feels slick and doesn't seem like it'll be as absorbent now.

 

[jrbfishn]

I use the Super Sheen and Resolene finishes from Tandy. Resolene is glossy, Super Sheen just has a low sheen to it but you can apply more coats and buff it to get more gloss. Neat Lac works well also.

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[General Zod]

I've already got a commission and a deposit for a kitchen cleaver. Guess I'll be starting that soon!

 

[General Zod]

Right. The Bowie is now safely packed for shipping with its sheath and a 'care and feeding' letter. And I'll never see it again...

...sigh.

OK. Time to make more knives...and put handles on the test knives so I have a couple of "keepers" for myself.

 

[no2gates]

Right. The Bowie is now safely packed for shipping with its sheath and a 'care and feeding' letter. And I'll never see it again...

...sigh.

OK. Time to make more knives...and put handles on the test knives so I have a couple of "keepers" for myself.

Maybe do like an open adoption and they can send you pictures as it ages.

 

[General Zod]

Maybe do like an open adoption and they can send you pictures as it ages.

LOL nice thought but ultimately unlikely.

 

[General Zod]

Once again...it begins!

 

[Vaquero]

Once again...it begins!



View attachment 355859

I watched hours of "forged in fire" yesterday.
You're a bad influence.

 

[General Zod]

I watched hours of "forged in fire" yesterday.
You're a bad influence.

Give in to the Riddle of Steel.

 

[candcallen]

 

[jrbfishn]

Once again...it begins!



View attachment 355859

You must have dropped the blade. I don't see it....

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[General Zod]

You must have dropped the blade. I don't see it....

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I was just taken with how picturesque the steam rolling of the tongs looked. This was forging a mild steel test piece to make sure I can draw my steel out enough to make a cleaver that's at least 3" wide without losing too much spine thickness. It worked. So now it's time to cut some spring steel and get it into the heat.

 

[General Zod]

Started on the cleaver. Eventually the steel will get thinner while the handle gets longer and the blade gets wider. I'm also planning to make the hump at the base of the handle a little more of a graceful curve. This is after about an hour and a half forging. I started with a rectangle of steel.

 

[General Zod]

I had two projects going today. First was Hoji's monster cleaver, which I got a start on. Nothing too exciting yet, but you can see where I'll need to unfold the handle and shape it.



One thing about working this larger piece of steel...it heated my anvil to an extent I've never experienced before - I have a habit of leaning on my anvil as I wait for the steel to heat. Not today...today I was cooling the face of my anvil with water and watching it boil off.




Then I put in the last basic profiling work on the other (smaller) cleaver Im forging. It's about ready for a little finish grinding on the edges and a basic bevel, and drilling the holes for the handle scales.

 

[General Zod]

Today's forging time was monopolized by the small cleaver. Final blade profiling, beginning the bevel, and finally using blue tape to locate the holes I'll drill for the handle pins.

 

[no2gates]

That's really looking good !

 

[General Zod]

That's really looking good !

Thanks. I'm glad he wanted the hammer marks left in. After hammering almost an extra inch of width out of the blade it would've been nearly impossible to get it flat and smooth again.

 

[Eastexasrick]

ACME brand anvil, your a sick man.

 

[General Zod]

ACME brand anvil, your a sick man.

What's the point of owning an anvil unless it has ACME painted on it? I've even got it on a t-shirt LOL