Jonathan Dracon Michelin

thats what made me get into smithing, that and wanting to make my own tools lol

yup, i agree making tools will give you the tools needed pardon the pun, this time im simply going to try to do as discussed then make a few tools and learn more

i havemore forging experience actually, ive roughed bevels into knives, but nothing this massive, and thanks Charles, for explaining it to me, ill do as you said and i believe it will make it easier on me And Steve, I did read a few posts there, but ive been around the board for along while reading and not posting, ive read the art of the blacksmith, and the complete bladesmithing book

ok thanks guys, so my idea was the better idea, heat, bend and then squeeze back the thicker metal, i think i have my plan now

ok thanks, i have the theroy down, but the main hands on not alot of it, this is the first complicated one im working on, my original plan was to cut the handle shape and then heat and simply bend it, would you suggest it, or should i hammer it abit to lengthen and then do the shaping?

its for a trade, I can make knives, but its this handle i cant wrap my head around, and no worries about being rude, being blunt is the best way, im just trying to wrap my head around this style of tang

ive never worked O1, its my first try for a customer, ive done only a eaf spring and smelted some ore i got from a mine car a feww years ago, small run LOL, some say its ok, while others swear against it. Malice, I believe I will do as you suggest, cut it out and do a bend, it will distort so should i elongate it a it before i cut it out, or cut it out then elongate?

I'm working on a knife and the O1 steel is 2"x13" and I need it a little wider ir is 1/4 inch thick, the client wants it around that thickness if I heat and widen the steel alittle it will be ok, or should I get a wider piece of steel? Im a novice when it comes to a set pattern and bar steel lol, any advice would be greatly appreciated, it was mentioned to me that i should forge the first finger groove then start a bend like my template design, anyone have any tips and advice?

looks great man, im going to attempt my first knife soon as it stops raining lol, how did you find beveling the blade?? my biggest problem is im thinking alot and not alot of doing :P. trial and error i guess, im trying a 3 layer knife for the thickness, its 1/8 inch thick steel so gonna giver the go and Labradorian try :P

sorry i must have over looked, thanks for pointing it out Rich

Hello all, im attempting my first knife forge in a new forge, a friend gave me 3 pieces of flat steel, i believe it is 1095 steel, not sure but im going to attempt to do a forge weld and make it into a solid billet, any advice?

yah on a local river here there is some iron ore, the Goose and Grand rivers i believe, i might have to try the magnet idea LOL

Ok thanks Thomas, problem here in eastern Canada i cant find or but any ore, best thign i can get is slag from an oxy fuel cutting i can scrounge that from my cousin, hes a welding instructor

Hey guys, im going to try to make a bloom sometime this summer and i was wondering if i can use scrap iron if i cut it small enough, and also if anyone had some VERY simple plans for a Tatara furnace, im working on a budget of under 200, probally under 100 LOL, and i have a near ENDLESS supply of clay i can use, i was wondering if i made a square base of clyinder blocks and coated it witht the clay if it would be good enough to withstand the temperatures? also to make the tower can i use blocks and coat it with the clay also?? im trying to make one as simple as i can, and i have a shop vac i use to blow air, can that be used for this also?

ok thank you Daniel.C.85