steel

[Loenja]

first of all hi every one. im new here

now my questions
how much steel would i need to start with to get a decent hand and a half sword. and is it possible to forge weld mild steel and high carbon steel satisfactoraly.

[ThomasPowers]

The end sword should weigh about 2.5 pounds; factor in how much wastage you expect; but 4 pounds would be a starting point.

Yes I can forge weld mild steel and high carbon steel satisfactoraly; If you have to ask the question it is unlikely that you can any time soon; takes some practice to get good at it.

[steve sells]

If are thinking of using the mild to give strength to the spine, you can differentially temper it to be softer and stronger. so use only high carbon.

? If pattern welding there are other steels to give more contract, but as was stated, if you have to ask types and amounts, then you are not quite ready for this sword project... YET

[Frosty]

Welcome aboard.

If you'll click on "User CP" at the top of the page and edit your profile to show your location you might find someone living close enough to give you a hand directly.

Not to discourage you but forging a sword is not the place to start. It is, by analogy, like learning to drive in an Indy car, a quick route to failure. A sword is NOT a big knife it is exponentially more difficult than a knife which is much harder than competent forging.

Learn to forge, learn to use grinder, sander, file and polisher, learn to heat treat, then learn to forge a small blade and work your way up.

Or, just have at it. We all need a good mistake pile to ponder when we start feeling cocky. I have mine, just as I'm sure every competent smith here has theirs.

Don't feel like I'm singling you out, almost every young man I've met wanted to make a sword. The only student I've ever had who made a blade was a young lady who had zero interest in making a sword but who picked up the basics so fast I figured she could do it. She did too, made herself a beautiful little sheath knife.

Frosty

[rmcpb]

Welcome to IFI

And my other piece of advice is to listen to Frosty. My mistake pile is HUGE and I have never tried anything as complex as a sword.

[Rich Hale]

Mistake piles could also be known as tuition.

[Frosty]

I've heard them referred to as "the reference library" too.

Frosty

[ApprenticeMan]

Originally Posted by Frosty

I've heard them referred to as "the reference library" too.

Frosty

Well put Frosty!

[wulfgar]

im new to blacksmithing as well. and i tried to make a sword right off the bat. not a good idea. it will be much wiser and worth while to even just pound out some random steel to get a feel for your arm, hammer, forge, and steel. but anyways welcome to IFI and good luck

[JPH]

Hello:

Scrap pile?? What's a scrap pile?? I have a pile of what I call "modification raey material".. After all I am way too chea....ummmmm frugal..yeah that's the word..frugal to make much scrap...

Besides..after a few years ox experience you'd be surprised at what you can "save" from the "pile"..once you figure out what you are doing that is...

JPH

I see someone's been reading my books and quoting the obscure Zoroastrian poet Atar Bakhtar...hummmmm