liamh

I think i will start with flat stock and try that round rod jig! Thanks for the help

I was going to do it freehand untill i figured out a jig for it.

So you reccomend stock removal for small hollow ground blades?

Hi everybody. Ive only flat ground my blades so far, but i want to start hollow grinding some straight razors. During my forging process i forge all bevels in and clean them with a flatter before i start rough grinding. My question is, do i need to forge in an edge bevel for hollow grinding or do i need to just forge he knife shape without bevels?

Thank you for the responses, ill look for some large half round or full round files.

Iv'e been commissioned to make a large knife with a larger than normal gut hook. I'm trying to figure out the best way to create this gut hook. Iv'e looked around and everyone is using a chainsaw file to create one, but it is too small. Any ideas?

Thanks for the kind responses!

Hi, can anyone describe the process of making a feather pattern damascus billet?

A blade is being used in battle; it breaks. Thinking back the blade remembers being forged. So young, untouched and malleable, it is shaped into the blade which will be broken in its later life. The blade has just started its journey to become a mighty sword. It is not a sword yet, but an uninfluenced piece of raw forged steel. The creator, gives this piece of steel life by shaping it, and hardening the steel. The blade reminisces back to the feeling of being quenched and given meaning. The crackling, flaming action and cooling feeling soothes it’s mind. Not yet is the steel a sword, but so close to it. The steel is so close to being whole. The creator tempers the steel, removing stubbornness and giving it meaning, finally! It graduates this part of its life. Now it obtains a handle, further dignifying it. It remembers being so sharp and keen, very keen. The sword was the sharpest of them all; because it was so patient and willing. After many years of battle and triumph the sword still lives on, destroying any endeavor in it’s path. Yes, the sword remembers being sharp. Over many years the sword notices that it is getting rusty, the handle in a mild form of deterioration, and the edge is dulling.... The blade is starting to loose it’s keen ability, and it’s strong temper, and it knows it.... only to fight on and never give up. A loud clashing noise occurs! The sword encounters a foe, a much younger, keen foe. Its blade sharp and shines with a blinding light! The handle of dark ebony and copper. The old sword has shattered, finally. It accepts defeat, to it’s own surprise. It realizes it is time; it does not fight it. It was to be. -Liam Hoffman

I always sand blades with 1200 grit after etching, apparently it was not abrasive enough to remove the plating (luckily).

Thanks for these fast intelligent responses.

I use FeCl.. and come to think of it i DO etch copper mokume gane rings in it! Do you really think that's what it could be from? I assume it only appears in the wrought iron because it is softer, thus allowing it to be deposited. Interesting theory.

Hello all, I forged a wrought iron/1090 damascus blade a couple days ago, and etched it. When I pulled it out of the acid there were pink or copper colored spots all over it. It looks like someone mixed mokume with damascus. Anyways, the wrought iron I used is on the lower end of the quality scale. My BEST guess after thinking about it for a bit, is that there are copper impurities in this wrought iron. So the next day I forge a hatchet out of the same stuff, and there is a copper color in it as well. BTW the wrought iron came from an old wagon wheel, and I was using a coal forge. Anyone out there with much experience in wrought iron? IS this color from copper mixed in the wrought? I'm not complaining, it looks beautiful whatever it is. Look at pictures of this blade.