Alan B

I have the best luck using Ferric chloride on chainsaw chains. Give it a try.

Those are really nice Steve. Is one of them going in to the iron in the hat this month ???... LOL

That's one sleek looking knife Graham. I like it !!!

That wood is beautiful Rich. I love the details you put into your handles. They are stand alone works of art.

Rich, As usual, that's a beautiful work of art. You are one of a few knife makers that pays as much attention to the handle and furniture as you do to the blade.Thanks for sharing. Alan

Bob, Cut one link in the chain so that it will stretch out in a single strand. Take a 3/4 inch diameter pipe or piece of round stock. Start wrapping the chain around the pipe with the cutting teeth away from the pipe. This should form a coil like a slinky.Take 3 pieces of binding wire and wire the chain together and remove the pipe. The first weld you make by sitting the hot chain on the anvil like laying a ring down. Once you have it welded and hammered down to about 5/8 thickness turn it on edge like a wheel. Now weld this shut and draw out to a bar. Here is an example by Billy Merrit, photo by Glenn Connor

Thank you all for the comments.

UPDATE: I'm home. Doctor said surgery went well yesterday and released me to come home today. I'll be in a back brace for a while and can't work in the forge for at least a month. I'm going to take it easy and give myself time to heal. Thank you all for the prayers and concerned emails. Glenn, thank you for providing us with this venue to seek solace and comfort. God Bless You All !!!!

If by hand forged you mean using a hand hammer to do the welding, yes. I do all my welding with a 2 pound hammer. I did draw the billet under my home made mechanical hammer to save time. To prepare the chain, I cut one link so I have a single piece of chain, then wrap it in a coil around a 3/4 round bar to make a donut. Wire this together and forge weld it into a ring. Turn the ring on edge and hammer into a block. Draw, flatten and hammer to shape.

May God bless you and your wife Dan. You and your family are in my prayers and on my heart

Once again I find myself asking you, my friends, for your prayers. Wednesday October 1st I will be having spinal surgery to remove 2 blown lumbar disc. One of which has broken off and is pressing on the sciatic nerve root. After a month is allowed for this to heal I will have another surgery to remove the back hlaves of the vertebra from C-2 to C-7 to try and relieve pressure that has developed on my spinal chord due to arthritis and other conditions. Please remember me and my family during this time. I will make sure to keep you all updated through this thread. Thank You, Alan Brazzel

Here is a knife I made for my daughter. It's 8 and 5/8ths overall with a 4 and 5/8ths blade. Brasspommel and guard with an oil finished walnut guard. Blade is a forge welded chainsaw chain.

Evfreek, Most A36 now days is remelt. They don't do a real picky job of sorting the steel before remelting it and casting it into new bars and such. I had a piece of A36 I was working with one time, quench and harden to the point that a cobalt drill bit would not cut it. Pretty good chance you may be experiencing a similar problem forge welding.

Beautiful work Bruce. Love the handle also !!!

That is a very beautiful knife JPH. Also enjoy the humor.

Coltpax, A203E is good for giving damascus contrast due to the nickel content. By itself it won't make a good knife.Triw is giving you good advice in his above post. Good luck.

I spent 9 years building pressure vessels. A large number of ours we made from A203E. The nickel content gives this steel strength against internal pressure.

really beautiful work.

Very nicely done Sam. A beautiful piece of work.

Everyone that passes through these doors makes us happy. Some when they come in, others when they go out. If brains were dynamite, you wouldn't have enough to blow your nose! Busier than a one legged man in a butt kicking contest.