Steve Sells

Since bladesmithing is a subset of blacksmithing , I am surprised how many don't know the basic skill of how to bend a bar. As you are forming a thing, when you see it wants to crawl off in another direction, then why just keep hammering? Stop and think, just put it back where it belongs. This way we keep it straight as we go. It is not that hard to do, rather than guessing how much it might bend, to just keep realigning it as we go, is so simple. Maybe its from too many being in a hurry to hammer a bar into a knife shape, that they forget to learn basic smithing skills beforehand?

Happy to be of service, glad to see another person coming into blade work.

overlapping Phases ? HUH ? single is 180 degrees, and 3ph is out 120 degrees, what over lap ?

Forwarded by request, I am not donating, but its an issue we should be aware of.


AKTI opposes U.S. Customs' May 21 attempt to revoke the permission granted earlier to import assisted-opening knives. They propose to re-classify assisted-opening knives as switchblades. AKTI fears that their broad new language will redefine all one-hand-opening knives as switchblades. If U.S. Customs succeeds, they will effectively ban all folding knives from interstate commerce. Individuals who cross state lines into states where switchblades are banned will be subject to arrest and prosecution.

AKTI's request for an extension to respond to the proposed ruling has been denied today (June 10). We need you to register your opposition today. Your comments must be received by U.S. Customs via snailmail (emails not permitted) by June 21st (that's a Sunday so plan on getting your response to them by June 20 or earlier).

This is not someone else's problem. This is huge. U.S. Customs is serious. Help us to help you! Go to American Knife & Tool Institute (AKTI) Keeping Knives in American Lives now and get more information. We've also created model letters, Knife User Data sheets, and AKTI Talking Points so you can write a clear, rational letter that reflects your concerns as either an individual or business owner.

Thank you!

David D. Kowalski
AKTI Communications Coordinator

Nothing wrong with any gift of Love. and Unless you Hired my first wife mother to bake the cake, It should cut just fine. (diamond drills could not get through anything X-MIL cooked)

I must admit never though of that, but the idea of the pineapple twist for the ball sounds terrific

after you get your ball formed, why not drill and install pegs, pins or spikes? they can he hot forged into place if you wish.

should be fine

Welcome to I Forge Iron, glad to have you here.

I do it before final HT, for that very reason.

I have 3 learning under me. One is my son. one a 30-something adult named Doug, and then Chris, my only real apprentice, who is a 15 yr old member here that is doing very well. The problem with apprenticeships today is how does the trainer get reimbursed? I will address this in "First Person" here for ease of typing.

1) trade labor? what can they do? they know nothing yet of smithing, so cant help on a project, and how much sweeping or truck unloading do ya think I need done? mow the lawn? After a while I have invested time where I could have been making money, and now my apprentice know something, what happens? Now that they may be able to actually do work I need done, most have given up the idea that swinging a hammer in the hot shop is fun, and gave up already, OR as one maker had happen: decided to go into business against him, by underbidding him to his existing clients.

2) another idea is Cash. How much do I charge? how much will you keep paying out as a beginner? for this discussion lets say $10 per hour. What happens when I show you how to clean and then fire up the forge, how to use the slack tub to cool tools, or a burned hand, Then after this You get to hammer a square rod into a round, then triangle and then back into square. Is a beginner going to value that as much as making a sword to bring home?

You are paying for this, you want to have some thing to show for your first $50 of classes. You don't know hard it is to jump into a blade the first day. Many beginners want it all now and they came to me to learn to make a super sword, so why don't we start on that? Hard to get them to see they must learn the basics first when they only wanted me to help them make a sword, so they won't pay as much to buy one. They see it done on U Tube. Many want instant gratification, so they go off posting and complaining I ripped them off and they still don't have a sword. (this did happen to me a few years ago)

I can not speak for others, Just myself, I take on very few apprentices. But I will open my forge for anyone wanting to learn about smithing, for a day or two no problem. But I see an apprenticeship as a long term commitment for both parties, Myself to them, as well as the student to me.

My personal feelings are that I must be as committed to them as I expect them to be to the craft, for this type of relationship to work. I don't always wish to take on more of that responsibility either.

[Finnr] My thought exactly Garey
[Rich Hale] And maybe a dose of Finnr Now what about no guard at all?
[Rich Hale] Knife Show - Blacksmith Photo Gallery
[markb] Thats a hard transition
[garey] i would make the blade more narrow , not as tall and do a curved in area behind the ricasso
[Finnr] then a gentle curve in teh ricasso area would be great and serve as a hand guard
[Rich Hale] These are nicel ittle knives I would call bird and trout........With that curve Finn Do we all use a belt grinder?
[Finnr] Love those!!
[brucegodlesky] those pictures won't come up for me
[Rich Hale] I know garey does
[Finnr] Of sorts, LOL
[Rich Hale] How about this one Bruce?
[garey] i really like those small blades.
[Rich Hale] How could we grind that curve into the blade before heat treat?
[brucegodlesky] nope
[Finnr] Couple way, Run your belt off the side of the contact wheel is one
[Rich Hale] Yes for sure
[brucegodlesky] I ground some b&t this evening with an upswep curve
[garey] if you got the small wheel attachment use that to put the recessed curve in thye blade
[Finnr] Or use a small wheel for shaping
[Rich Hale] And if you have a four or five incho contact your are set Garey can you get a blade onto your idler wheel? Without making the papers?
[garey] could use the dremmel with a small drum and sanding collar
[Rich Hale] Yes Could hacksaw,,file grind ,,lots f ways...before heat treat is the answer.
[Finnr] My cheap nasty 1 inch belt sander has about a 1 1/2 inch idler that works a treat Beat that puppy in over the horn
[Rich Hale] Scriber a really good line and watch it close..then when you glue and pin scales you just grind to steel
[Finnr] On those the most common mistake I see is not working the front of the handle material before pinning
[Rich Hale] If you forge blades that is a good way also...The point is really that if you plan for the handle and the overall look of the finished poiece as much as you do the blade you will make a good looking piece. have a couple more thoughts will take a minute or three then questions if you wish
knife by Rich Hale - Blacksmith Photo Gallery how do we attach the guard on this piece and the handle materials?
[steve sells] I want one of those
[jimmy seale] fine workmanship
[garey] recessed fit , hidden tang lots of hand filing.
[Finnr] That a soldered Guard Rich ? Nice tight fitting of the guard and hand grip
[Rich Hale] That blade is just like the feather pattern we looked at earlier
[Finnr] OK nicely relived all round the tang
[Rich Hale] I slotted the guard the sides of the blade and front of the guard were mirror polished first Then soldered the guard in place and finished it
[Finnr] brass chisel for solder clean up?
[markb] Did solder flow to blade guard line
[Rich Hale] The slipped each individual piece,,spacers fossils wood etce,,the tang is long and comes to about a half inch or so of the butt of the handle
[Finnr] solder Is dyslexia catching?
[Rich Hale] Theree is a little sold line blending the two either brass or nickel pin stock with half round chisel edge
[markb] Could you do without solder
[steve sells]: Hey dont blame me. My Dr says I am not contagious
[Rich Hale] Yep Mark and on damascus I press fit,,,use some J B weld for water tight
[markb] I haven't tried solder, oh boy
[Finnr] Solder is a Puppies Momma to clean up on damascus
[brucegodlesky] I use JB for all guards
[Rich Hale] GET a K and G catalog it 'spains it all in there
[Finnr] Don't ask how I know :whistle:
[Rich Hale] Lots of folks do now Bruce,,,,,
[markb] 1Catalog have more than on-line
[brucegodlesky] Since I file all 4 sides of the ricasso, ya dont see any gap atall
[Rich Hale] Ok last one does anyone know how to fit these bolsters in place? Bolsters knife - Blacksmith Photo Gallery
[markb] I couldn't find trucor?
[steve sells] I hidden pin those but I am sure there MUST be a better way
[Finnr] saw cut for the riccasso?
[Rich Hale] I drill four holes in the blade after useing a marking pen to mark where the bolsters will be......eighth inch holes
[Finnr] Yupper
[garey] hidden pins
[Rich Hale] Yes is that how you do your tangs?
[brucegodlesky] pretty much
[Rich Hale] then after heat treat I clean out the holes of any scale with a littl round diamond file. I use 416 ss for pins and bolsters
[Finnr] 11:04 pm: Downright slick !
[Rich Hale] I flatten the backs of the bolsters,,polish the fronts polish the blade
[markb] Nice work, under statement
[brucegodlesky]well done bolsters really set off a blade
[Rich Hale] Then buff the pins cut the pins off a little long and pein themn really snug then to the big anvil and a 2 lb hammer and hit them again, Then before putting on scale i grind and buf the tops off to make sure they are hidden
[brucegodlesky] you use a tapered hole Rich?
[garey] when you going to write a book Rich on knife making and fit & finniswh?
[Rich Hale] Next life
[garey] 11:09 pm: finnish !
[Rich Hale] I did not invent any of this I am like a parrot
[Rich Hale] That would be nice Steve...Just precede it with the idea that ist is not to showcase or pick on any one maker.... I dont think we had anything we presented that was picked on
[Finnr] First off it's obviously a turned handle, blasted hard to grip properly
[steve sells] boll-A-rama pin on the end of pattern welded blade
[Finnr] Yep

Rich Hale] I spoke with Steve about a thought for tonight ,,,would you like to discuss over all shapes of knives and how they relate to fitting guards etc?
[steve sells] Rich is on tonight I am taking a rest
[WagonMaster] Sounds good.
[Rich Hale] Ok we have a motion and a second. WE have a motion and second.....sop let me mention a couple of things. This will entail looking at some knives and the first one up is a fine piece of work It wouild be really easy to get side tracked and say "how did he do that" that is for another night...so I will let you look at the pic and return...and will will mention items about the blade...enjoy the pattern but this is not about that: Go to the forums and look in the knife section at the post with Feathers in the knife section , Blacksmith Forum
[garey] ok. nice pattern
[Rich Hale] Take a peek and come back
[Finnr] Fantastic work
[jimmy seale] yes that is sick....
[garey] is that a notch in the tang?
[Rich Hale] That is why I selected it Now lets look at what makes it really right...the pattern is obvioous.
[garey] almost flat grind
[markb] The tang is recessed all around the ricasso
[Rich Hale] Look at the shoulders he has fitted for the guard to fit to
[Finnr] : Nicely done plunge cuts
[Rich Hale] And as mark noticed,, he has clearance the tan so he can get a really nice fit with not gaps at the guard.
[garey] milling machine Rich ?
[Rich Hale] I use a file Garey but a mill would work great. So planning ahead before heat treat makes life better when fitting the guard.
[Cool Hand] Rich, didn't one of those pics have a "barb wire" damascus blade?
[steve sells] that is a different thread
[Rich Hale] Garey mentioned a couple of nothes on the tang....anyone know why?
[Finnr] Grip the epoxy
[markb] glue hold
[garey] place for the glue to get a bite ?
[Rich Hale] I believe that is what the cuts are for
[markb] Do you use a clamp/guide to file
[Rich Hale] No Finn mentioned the real nice job on the plunge cuts...the end of the grind where it meets the ricasso...between the guard and the grind. I do that Mark simple homemade mild steel with allen bolt as a clamp
[garey] notice there is a slight radius on the tang at the top and bottom where it joins the back of the blade body?
[Rich Hale] Do you notice that the ricasso area is narrower from top to bottom than the rest of the blade?
[markb] stress relief
[Rich Hale] Finn and Garey see all the little things that make a good blade
[markb] didn't notice
[Rich Hale] Why would we want the ricasso to be narrower than the blade?
[garey] you got to learn from all your mistakes
[Finnr] Ease in sharpening
[Rich Hale] Yes, Another thing is the size of your handle material.
[garey]looks better, easier to sharpen and gives more handle room
[Rich Hale] If your handle material is the same size as the blade it looks nice.... If the handle is larger than the blade it seems odd
[Finnr] Nice flow that way
[Rich Hale] If the handle is smaller than the blade this kind of shape can blend it all together..... everyone with us so far?
[Finnr] Yep
[markb] ok
[Rich Hale] And by the way the entire knife just reeks of craftsmanship
[Finnr] Design is a MAJOR factor in knife making
[garey] wonder if Rich would adopt me for a year so i could learn more from him?
[steve sells] Chain saw Files, and a med and fine bite MILL file are very usefull tools for a knife maker I love my bader B3 but it has not replaced hand files
[Rich Hale] bison-bowie-plus-2 - Blacksmith Photo Gallery
[garey] files are for fine tuening and fancy hand finishing work.
[Rich Hale] The large knife in this pis is an fine example of how to make a handle and blade flow together
[steve sells] : also close in shape to teh project knife
[markb] several steps from handle to blade
[steve sells] nice flow tho
[Rich Hale] This one also 4-crosses-2 - Blacksmith Photo Gallery
[Finnr] I have an example here of bad flow if I may
[garey] nice handle materials
[steve sells] file or mill work in the metal in front of the handle ?
[Rich Hale] That pic makes it look like the top of the blade does not line up with the top of the handle but i think it is the camera angle.......
[markb] I like the piece behind the guard also when they put one in front, ads interest
[Finnr] This is just NOT an appealing handle
[Rich Hale] Finn let me work thorough these and come back if we wish
[Rich Hale] Damascus knife - Blacksmith Photo Gallery
[markb] woo dude could you do any more wrong
[Rich Hale] This is another style ...there is no guard hanging down...
[Finnr] I've seen that someplace?
[steve sells] pawn shop ?>
[Rich Hale] The top lines and bottom match up and carries you eye through the whole piece. This would work reall good for tutting on a board no guard in the way. Finn keep that link for me later ok?
[Finnr] Will DO
[Rich Hale] 12/21/08 - Blacksmith Photo Gallery
[markb] The transition from blade to handle is hardest no mater how simple for me
[Rich Hale] These are well made and clean blades......Any thoughts on them? I hope this helps Mark, I am selecting them at random not promoting or putting anyones work on the block here
[markb] almost look like integrals
[Rich Hale] How could we fit guards to those blades Damascus Hunter - Blacksmith Photo Gallery
[garey] dont think you can and make it look right
[Rich Hale] This is anothe nice flowing piece with the narrower ricasso aera than the blade....... Garey I would have a time with those....Would like to see how they were done Any one find the links?
[markb] i got lost I'm not leav'n
[Rich Hale] Any questions ?
[Finnr] If you just open KNIVES in the gallery it's the first posting
[steve sells] Knives - Blacksmith Photo Gallery
[Finnr] leading the eye from point to buttcap smoothly makes for a nice looking ( well selling ) knife
[WagonMaster] Member Profile - Blacksmith Photo Gallery
[Rich Hale] I got it...There were a lot of folks selling damascus billets...this fella had a display piece... Knife Show - Blacksmith Photo Gallery This is different than we have been loooking at Does not follow wot we have discussed
[Finnr] Looks subtly wromg
[markb] wide blade, wider than handle
[markb] like to have the tooth
[steve sells] looks like too much Japanese Animation or Sinbad
[Rich Hale] That is a pretty nice blade and nice guard,,,fitted with a precey whale tooth......(I may never own one)
[Rich Hale] So you decide if you like it or no........The makers at this show sell a lot of knives and I saw many fitted like this
[Finnr]A bit of something to flare out toward the blade would help it a whole lot
[steve sells] a smaller blade would have looked better.
[WagonMaster] its nice but the handle realy doesn't fit the blade.. is that correct.
[markb] A brutish look
[Rich Hale] I did not see this knife Cool hand took the pics...think the camera makes the blade bigger and handle smaller....
[Rich Hale] Brutish is a good word
[Finnr] LOL!! I got that
[Rich Hale] This is the blade that cool spoke of earlier with the barb wire...look it over Knife Show - Blacksmith Photo Gallery
[markb] Some old bowies have that big blade look
[Finnr] being able to see the guard from teh other side would help
[steve sells] THAT is a cool pattern
[Rich Hale] Great pattern in Vegas there was a guy sellilng billets with that pattern
[steve sells] but seems out of balance with the handle again
[markb] Nice materials but ddesign falls short IMHO
[Finnr] Where the handle is level with the spine of the blade helps the flow
[Rich Hale] I thin I can see the bottom of the ricasso area near the guard....?
[WagonMaster] : Awful lot of blade there.
[steve sells] helps but still too lartge a blade for the handle size
[markb] Mongo guard
[Rich Hale] What would you do with this blade ?
[Finnr] Sell it?
[steve sells] melt it before it got seen
[steve sells] a KATAR blade with A BOWIE HANDLE
[markb] Full tang centered on blade
[Rich Hale] How would it look it you narrowed the ricasso area?
[Finnr] Looks like the ricasso is wider than the blade in the pic
[markb] Good
[Rich Hale] Or a larger handle? Or both?
[markb] both
[Finnr] Some of each would be good
[garey] put a curve in the ricasso? where it would blend in with the hanbdle?
[Rich Hale] I think that would work Garey

Looking forward to it.

see the repost of the last Knife chat thread at http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/f14/misc-knife-shop-talks-chat-may-29-09-a-12560/ Rich hale covered a lot on guard fitting.

in case you have not noticed, we have at the present time 11 anvils for sale here in our IFI tailgating section.

Poor guy just cant get away from them Dr's.

Knee mail sent... again.

First a hole is drilled through the handle (grip), then the tang, while hot is used to burn though this hole to open it up to where there is a tight fit. remember to quench the now burning wood, to put out the fire.

FYI both these men are members of IFI, I hope they will chime in here and post.

Welcome to I Forge Iron, I am in Ft Wayne Indiana, look up the Indiana Blacksmith Assn. at Satellite Groups of the Indiana Blacksmithing Association for a local groups to help you get going.

Glad to have you, welcome.

Welcome to I Forge Iron, feel free to ask if you get lost as this site is getting bigger all the time.

[steve sells] simple twist
[JJ] don't think mid 50's will hold an edge against cutting into oyster shell...that's one of my qu4estions...
[steve sells] D-2 would hold up well for same reasons we choose that for the garden Hoe
[lobodag] L-6 rusts to easy
[markb] They arn't sharp just a pry bar
[brucegodlesky] what about the twisting action?
[JJ] last 2 knives i finished were
[JJ] d-2
[steve sells] strength, and wont get worn away Rather you than ME jj dont like the High Chrome steels much not that I dont have respect things made from it, I just don't like to work them
[JJ] i can get a 61 Rc on D-2 out of my gas forge. so i don't mind working it. would not want to if i did not have the 100 lb power hammer.
[Finnr] Tungsten :whistle:
[steve sells] Bad Finnr LOL
[Finnr]LOL!!!
[steve sells] Go sit on that Rock in the corner
[markb] The soft one
[steve sells] and dont get yourself cut on the sword sticking out from it
[Finnr] One with a sord in it?
[Finnr] Glenn closed that thread! LOL
[markb] Don't tell
[steve sells] but Glenn getst to kill the best ones LOL
[Finnr] Some are that bad Huh?
[steve sells] but I get blamed for it by a few people in the forum.
[JJ] anyone know what an "electron beam" weld is?
[fat pete] lol
[JJ] Bruce, i never saw a pic of any of your blades...got a website?
[brucegodlesky] BirdogForge.com it's under construction but have some stuff on there
[steve sells] anyway weather allowed me ot forge again so I finaly habve the PRoject knife geting ready
[brucegodlesky] I just finished a month of turkey hunting so missed a lotof things
[JJ] Bruce, i too am a dog lover. getting a new puppy this sunday matter of fact.
[Finnr] Vice stuff Bruce
[brucegodlesky] what brand? thanks Finnr
[steve sells]to help one of my apprentices, we ground that last failed blade and at 45 Micron we could see spider web crack half inch long and ONLY on one side
[Finnr] Nice stuff *
[JJ] german shephard crossed with border collie...all brown color with faint black highlights.
[markb] What caused that
[steve sells] we did it to show him WHY i gave up after I heard a crack sound when cooling,
[markb] How many slaves you got
[steve sells]I let it rest on anvil after forging while I refilled my coffee. and heard THAT sound
[Finnr] Bad sound!!
[steve sells] I own 3 apprentices, only one works regularly
[brucegodlesky] TINK!!!!
[JJ] oh, man! the steel heat sink syndrome.
[brucegodlesky] I'm down to 2 dogs now JJ
[markb] I haven't heard that yet oh well my time is coming
[steve sells] dong, mid 30's 5 yrs app, Chris (A member here but has not posted) is 15 yr, 3yr app, and my 13 yr old son
[Finnr] Almost as bad as when the Dr says OOPS!!!
[steve sells] so the remake after forging, and normalizing (I never set a glowing blade down BTW) I placed it in the Vermiculite to cool, as Rich Hale advised me.
[markb]You got your hands ful
[JJ] Bruce i have a 4 yr of ger shep now the new pup...i think this one ought to make a fine tracker/hunter. time will tell....then we want to breed him with a sled dog.
[steve sells] Bruce it was not a TINK,, it was actualy more like Ice cubes in a glass of water
[brucegodlesky] ya mean it kinda crackled?
[JJ] all hot forge work in my shop gets dropped ina lime bucket or air hung. one mistake ever once in a while is enough reminder of my stupidity
[steve sells] ice breaking up crackle is close
[markb] ear plugs won't help
[steve sells] JJ I have 4 hangers for air cooling near the anvil so its not like I have a lot of effort to do it :
[steve sells] But I wanted Chris to see why I was not using it anymore to show him WHY its not safe to try to salvage after a crack I explained, tho we can see that one squiggle line in the steel, and it does not go all the way though, what about other cracks we can not see? what ever caused this (stress) may have caused more... not worth the risk it was only 90F in shop then

[markb] hey whats up with the abs and other groups
[steve sells] This weekend the ABS is having the East KNife show in Atlanta Rich Hale has a table there
[Finnr] Hope he does well. He has been trying to get into that show for quite a while
[steve sells] hard to get in, as ABS is so clique, in most cases non members aint welcome, I have been told too many times so I gave up trying to talk to them, mostly
[Finnr] Don't start Jim on them
[markb] you gotta know someone to get in?
[steve sells] even had One member tell me I should not be making Damascus because I dont have a ABS JS stamp yet, then on the other hand People like Kevin Cashen are ABS masters, and great to talk too, very respectful and helpful toall.
[Finnr] I ain't got an apprentice stamp. I make it!
[steve sells] 10:08 pm: I can join, but one local person told me I have to pay the member ship AND atend their week long Beginner class ?he never even looked at my blades... but decided I have to pay for a week long Beginner smighing class way down south >? its nuts, I refused, so the phone call ended.

[steve sells] ok People, Welcome to the Friday night Knife chat at I Forge Iron What do we wish to cover tonight ?
[Finnr] There was some interesting cablemascus talk in the forum
[steve sells] wanna cover cable welding ?
[brucegodlesky] cable is fun stuff:-)
[Finnr] I'm easy, (cheaptoo )
[markb] lets go
[fat pete] ever have a hard time keeping a knife straight
[brucegodlesky] when it goes good , it is great
[Finnr] as in warping in HT?
[brucegodlesky] I made up 2 sets of BBQ tools this week from it
[brucegodlesky] no Steve, as in welding
[steve sells] ok Bruce wanna stat telling us how to get going ?
[Finnr] I need to pick up some cable
[steve sells] me too Fat pete said something about bringing some here next month
[brucegodlesky] I start by electric welding the ends of each piece
[fat pete] have one i have been messing with and i heat it up i use cedar hammer and wack out the wammy and stick it in lime and the wammy is there when it cools
[brucegodlesky] get it hot and beat it on the anvil to clean out all the grase and junk
[fat pete] 10:14 pm: i dont have a weldr
[brucegodlesky] Then forge weld the ends first. Wrap the ends with wire first
[Finnr] You untwist at all to flux Bruce?
[fat pete] just like a pattern weld
[brucegodlesky] after the ends are welded, untwist and flux
[Finnr] OK
[brucegodlesky] Then get 'er hot
[steve sells] you use your anvil face? or a v swage?
[brucegodlesky] When you think it's hot enuff, wait 5 more minutes, not yet Steve. I have a pipe vise mounted on the bench and put one end in there and twist with a pipe wrench, Twisting mebbe 3-4 inches at a time
[steve sells] ok
[brucegodlesky] Then go back and do it again.
[fat pete] how long is the piece you are starting with
[brucegodlesky] You'll feel it weld right up solid oh, anywhere from a foot to 2 feet
[brucegodlesky] I been using 1 1/4" cable lately I like to have a young guy around to help with hte twisting
[Finnr] Lets me out. LOL
[fat pete] so you really wanna crank down on it
[steve sells] finnr did you sell off yer apprentices?
[brucegodlesky] Ya but not twist it off
[Finnr] Had too they ate too much!
[markb] so the twisting is making the weld?
[steve sells] i have pipe vise mod's I built for my band saaw, but never got arouns to making them for the legt vise...
[brucegodlesky] : After it's welded on the twist, take it to the anvil and hammwer in the direction of the twist. All them lil wickers will weld to the billet.
[brucegodlesky] The twisting welds the inside material
[Finnr]Got a machinists vise with pipe jaws on it
[brucegodlesky] I pretty much follow Dr Jim's directions.
[Finnr] He's a REAL bad influence. LOL
[brucegodlesky]Tried it with a V swedge and couldn't get it to weld right
[fat pete] : who dat
[brucegodlesky] : Ya he is
[brucegodlesky] JPH, he's in often
[Finnr] got me trying a composite
[brucegodlesky] I also tried taking it right to the hammer after twisting and didn't get goos welds
[brucegodlesky] good welds
[fat pete] composit handle materiel
[markb] Any folding for pattern?
[Finnr] Best luck ihave had is in a round groove in my block Composite blade Pete
[brucegodlesky] Once it's welded, then ya can stretch it out and fold I've thought that would work well Finnr
[fat pete] like carbon fiber or somethin
[Finnr] Ancient Norse style Pattern weld
[brucegodlesky] But I don't have a block yet
[brucegodlesky] I made 2 sets of BBQ tools from about a foot of cable They aere about $75 right?
[Finnr] Saltfork Craftsmen, sell real nice blocks
[Finnr] Up a bit now mine was 111 a couple years back
[steve sells] I was too cheap to pony up and buy a nice swege so I got a block of tool steel and using the mill....
[Finnr] Saltfork Craftsmen
[JJ] I have two client6s coming over sunday wanting to order fillet knives for combination fish/abalone, plus oyster knives.
[brucegodlesky] I think that would work very well
[steve sells] thank you
[steve sells] reasonable priced too
[brucegodlesky] IIRC, Sweany uses a swedge made fronm a piece of angle
[steve sells] but not the shapes I want at a knife /sword maker
[fat pete] its a good price
[JJ] i developed a system to use tree limbs for swages using a hardy t3neon, drilled and bolted to a 1/8" x 1" strap. they are really nice.
[Finnr] Yep even with shipping
[steve sells] so I make my own to size/shape, hammering out the hfurnature for sword scabbards, need speical things
[Finnr] My first swage block was a short hunkof RR rail
[steve sells] Bruce for cable, I welded up some heavy duty angle Iron and added a hardy stump
[brucegodlesky] that'll work
[steve sells] 6 inches long 2inch sides
[brucegodlesky] 1 just have to keep everything gathered together
[Finnr] every time I get it together I forget where I put it?
[JJ] i use opened out, half-round bottom swages for gang forge welds.
[brucegodlesky] main thing is keep it all hot
[steve sells] I will have to try Bruce methiod of twisting like craxy are welding temp before hammering
[Finnr] I was just saying JJ that I use the half rounds in my SF block for cable welds
[brucegodlesky] I had a cable blade last wek that wouldn't harden
[steve sells] some cane be less carbon , BUT I have toi ask did you thermal cycle it a lot ?
[brucegodlesky] 3 times in the quench and still sodft
[steve sells] TOO many cycles can reduce hardenability
[brucegodlesky] yes I did
[steve sells]ok 3 aint too much LOL
[JJ] distracted here with stir-fry with raspberry/chipolte sauce
[brucegodlesky] Give it to my cousin to fool with in his oven. Finally got it to harden in water
[steve sells] but there is a report at another site, whee they tested a few, and 12 cycles lowered too much to harden a 1080, the test was by HOward Clarke I think
[brucegodlesky] brand new cable too I heard him talk about that before
[steve sells] on the other hand a grain size of 3 can probably only be acheived by someone LIKE howard
[steve sells] for most of us,. 10 or less is great
[JJ] 10:40 pm: 3, 10,wh at? microns?
[steve sells] I never had mine teasted, the munbers I use only for referance in reading reports...
[Finnr]We good. He's gooder!
[steve sells] microns I think
[brucegodlesky] I have 2 more billets of that stuff and don't know if I'll fool with them. might just turn them into bs items
[JJ] bruce, turn them into jewelery...lot of money there.
[steve sells] IF your cable is just old standard grade lpow share, and not newex X or XX inproved., its close to 1065
[brucegodlesky] that's an idea too
[brucegodlesky] this come of a respool job on a dragline
[JJ] 10:41 pm: for jewelery, 1 cu in is good for $300
[steve sells] add too many thermal cycles refining the grain very small, and I can see it needing water or Brine to harden, Nothing wrong with that, I bet that bvlade would stand a LOT of abuse before it broke, thats a good thing
[brucegodlesky] I'll get it back this week to regrind
[steve sells] get it back ?
[brucegodlesky] ther blade
[JJ] from cousin
[brucegodlesky]that wouldn't harden
[JJ] : any you guys ever made an oyster opening knife?
[steve sells] not a lot of Oysters in Indiana JJ
[fat pete] lots around here
[brucegodlesky] there are some in the rivers here
[JJ] need to be about 3" long by 1 1/8" wide, good belly shape...not shave sharp, but MUST hold edge against shell cutting to open. and lots of hard sideways prying on the blade.
[brucegodlesky]why JJ?
[markb] Had one marked will&finck once
[brucegodlesky] : mid 50's??
[steve sells] I hav eused them, never made one
[markb] Kid got a hold of it and lost it
[brucegodlesky] RC
[JJ] Bruce, i have 2 clidnts coming over sunday, for fillet/oyster knife orders.
[brucegodlesky] what steel ya using
[steve sells] I do have an order for pattern weld Fillet, I will use O-1 and L-6

Since no one has asked the most basic questions here, I will.

How many swords have you made ? and Why do you wish to use Titanium for this one ?

I ask this about anyone asking me about a specific metal for their blade, Because as the blade maker I know what I can get from my steels, but knowing the requirements the client has for for performance, I may agree with them OR suggest an alternate material. Most the time the steel they requested was because they heard something somewhere, not for any definitive reason.

That link seems needed lately, as we have had a rash of "strange" posts being made.