Mitsuwa

It has been noted there was a surge of interest in sword smithing every time a new Highlander movie came out.  Mass media does seem to play a part in how the stream of consciousness is directed.

The last time I cut track I used a worm drive circular saw with an abrasive metal cutting blade. Although woodworking tools are not really suited for it.

In a couple of your picture it looks like you are working at night and should be able to see the color of your metal. Your last picture you will not be able to see the glowing color of your metal outside in broad daylight.

Known a couple of instructors at the crucible, did not know exactly where Foster City was until looking at a map.  They do have

open shop access times and studio rentals besides classes.  The original poster mentioned Damascus knives.  Banging out  a few billets and blade forgings is just a small part of the process, assuming  one has the ability to do the rest of the cold work at home. 

Driving for miles, renting the use of a power hammer, been there done that.

There is the Crucible in Oakland. They make their facilities available.

Got a few pieces I set aside for welding up a barrel after seeing it done at the La Crosse Wis. 2000 ABANA confrence. One is a link

from a big anchor chain. The other is a chain plate from an old sailing ship. Commercially I would inquire with the Real Wrought Iron company out of England. They recycle and roll out lots of different shapes. 4 by half inch sounds tremendous. The intial product looks like a seamed iron pipe:)

If you know what you are doing, renting time in some one elses blacksmith shop might be an option.

Find a school with forges and take classes there or rent time for use of the facilities. Net work with your regional blacksmithing groups. Try through ABANA.

I've been trying to figure out how to forge the adze and pick end of a halligan tool.

They are described as one piece drop forgings, but I can not picture how metal is displaced to make the right angle pick. Any Ideas?

So you used about half a 50lb bag of coal a day, That is not very much fuel really.  I can go through much more than that working down big stock under the air hammer, I do turn off the electric blower while

hammering.

I think of it as the same as watching a sunset as far as the color range I see as a piece cools. Having black out curtains over the windows during the day time helps. Should be able to see the black shadows of desaclence too.

In the Hollywood movie The Last Samurai, Kuniiye Yoshihara who is a sword smith in real life has a short scene

forging on a blade.

Well I can think of a number of blacksmith shops each of them being not more than 30 miles apart from the next,

and these are the professionals, never mind the hobbists, but I imagine it varies depending on region.

If you are up for a vacation there are week end and week long classes at the Applachian Crafts Center in Smithville Tenn.

I have burned many pounds of that coal that is available through home hardware. I believe the vein of coal is called Crown Jewel. I love that coal, hot and clean burning. One member of the Ontario Blacksmiths said on a scale of 1 to 10 he rated that coal an 8. Coal is different from charcoal for sure but as said above, coal has alot more btus per pound than charcoal.

A good book to read might be Wayne Goddard's book titled 50 Dollar Knife Shop. There are plenty

of youtube videos of professional smiths from around the world forging tools and agricultural implements with the most basic of set ups for ideas.

Perhaps not identify the exact alloy but at least you can get an idea of the type of alloy. With old lathe bits, drill bits

saw blades, it is obvious the difference between high speed steel and the older high carbon tool steel ones.

With an old rusty piece of metal from the dump,is it mild steel or wrought iron? I can tell that much any way.

A cheese burger, Monster energy drink and bottle of water at carnival prices, seems to me
you paid a small fortune for a fire steel :)

I envy you you have a great source of coal in Ontario, available through any Home Hardware or though Thak.
http://thak.ca/coal.html
I wish I had that vein of soft coal, callled Crown Jewel in my shop.


uote name='joshua.M' timestamp='1303514580' post='220254']
i never said that? i have a coal forge but no coal

Some of the most shock transmitting hammer handles I have used have been fiberglass and the tubular metal handles. covered with rubber grips. There is a modification I have seen to wood handles where a small hole is drilled a couple inches below the head and the saw kerf is made down the handle to the hole. The split
in the handle seems to deaden vibration and shock to the hand. Similar to thinning the wood shaft.

" laffite plate" ......that is one thing that can be used...
I don't know where to get it though...(i read it in a book)... does anyone know where to get it????

Considering Lafitte plate was something available for industrial use 105 years ago, it might not be sold today, seeing how
most big chains and other fabrications are welded electrically these days. Does not seem it was ever intended for small stuff like laminating blades.

The general formula is a mixture of 2 parts boric acid one part borax and one part iron oxide. The wrought iron is still glowing red
and melts the borax causing the thin tool steeel to stick to the iron.