Steve Sells

I will have to renenber that next time I get to Ms for a ren fiare. My blood is viking, but I married into the Furgeson and Glass Clan's, and as such I have a Blackwatch Kilt and a Ferguson as well.

I just finished rough grinding this 24 inch leaf blade, out of 5160H. The width at the buldge is 2 inches, the widest part at the base is 2 1/4. thickness at base is a little over 1/4 inch and less than 1/8 at 1 inch from tip. The fittings will be continuing the willow theme, in Wrought Iron/Tool steel damascus, with some 5a figured walnut for the grip and scabbard. I will post more when I get her polished, and mounted :D

I must Disagree Phillip. My Wife and I are in our late 40's, as such I am sure I have done many things to annoy her over the years. So I do NOT want her holding a large hammer standing above me, as my striker, because it would give her easy opportunity to "get away with it" and I am not ready to die yet. :p

I dissagree about not tempering, While one may not need very high temps, a stress buildup can break the blade, a bake at 350F won't remove much if any hardness, but it will remove much stress that builds up in the quench. Having said that I know a few bladesmiths (Very few) that quench O1 in water, then do not temper at all, but if we were that good/lucky at this process we would not be posting questions like this in the first place. And for a large blade such as a sword do we really want a RhC of 60+ anyway? play it safe and at least temper at 350F or so. Another set of question for those that really recomend not tempering at all: Have you ever done it? more than once? have the baldes ever been used? IMHO its asking for trouble not to releave the stresses induced by quenching in some way. But I admit that I am an arrogant bladesmith.

Most of the time I am a Union Electrician, which also means a lot of spare time between assignments from the union hall, so when I am waiting for work there, I am a bladesmith/blacksmith. I also teach medical classes for the American Red Cross, as an EMT-B; and I teach Jujitsu.

Here is what I hang out the side of the tent at the faire's

that pattern in the steel works GREAT with the fiber handle, you did a wonderful job, you have a good eye.

sweet now you have to update that grip on the shooter with that wood too. I Love the grain amd colors of your walnut

wont admit it was mine You did great job, Very nice work, as for my first blade? NO one will ever see it, and IF somehow they do I will deny I made it. Great Work Dodge

60 ceramic 120 ceramic 220 400 800 1200 papers for hand sanding in 400, 500 600 800 1,200 2,000 2,500 3,000 buffing compound in emery, green abd white rouge. mostly I use 60, 120 220 400 and hand sand to 600, then buff

on the forge, not the blade. it will protect the blanket. tho when hardening the blade it will oftimes be used for differential hardening for a hamon. How long have you been smithing?

purgatory :)

I love ya man, my family and I, will be praying for you and yours

I like free. An easy way to monitor the safe operation and prevent fire, every so often, while its been running, touch with bare hand the outside jacket of your cord. If operating properly it wil NOT get warm, part of the wire rating formula is to prevent electricty heating the wire, so size is calculated to prevent this, In essence it wont get hot in normal opperation if functing properly. Why would this change if it worked fine at the start ? because at the start its fine, after a few cracks it heats up due to the simple fact of the crack is a reduction of the wire size at that point of the crack, a bottle neck for the electrons. a few cracks will cause restriction in the flow and the wire will start to heat up, ALSO heated wire will not pass electricty as well as cooler wire, so it restricts passage of current even more. thus this is a self compounding problem, and a fire can start. also a risk of burning out the machine. as long as the wire is not heating as its used, then for the most part you are fine, and reasonably safe from risk of fire.

coal/coke do not hold water well, When you are ready to re start your forge, get the coal/coke out of the water (1 cm mesh or window screen makes a great strainer) while its dripping off the last few drops of water, get your forge and metal ready. Use the left over from the day-before forging, with in a few minutes. what little water is left clinging to the chunks will evapoprate quickly from the heat of what is already burning. water will not ruin your coke.

If you are using the "solid wire, same as in a building" you will have problems sooner or later, as the solid will crack/break,fracture from movement, it is made to be installed, and not move at all once in use. SRO also known as "Drop cord" is what you should use, as its strands are made to survive motion. Flexing of the solid wires does not exist when properly installed in a building, as it is attached. When using leads to extent the stinger, remember to use welding leads, which is DC rated wire, with fine strands, built to resist the problems of the electrical skin effect IBEW 305 Electrician. Please don't guess when it comes to electricity, and I wont pretend to be a heart surgeon :)

How did you determine the austinetic point?

This is a forward from Jim , his words: It is with mixed emotions that I write this.... Trudi Hrisoulas, my ex wife, passed from this mortal plane early yesterday morning after a short but very valiant battle with leukemia. She is survived by her three children. To those of you reading this that know us personally, the divorce was not very pleasant to say the least but we were married for 18 years. Those 18 years produced three beautiful children, of whom I was awarded custody from the divorce. They are still in my care and I solemnly swear that I will keep them safe and secure and will raise them with them knowing that their mother loved them. For she did in her own way. Very much so. She was ill for a very long time, plagued by life long health problems, and her passing, while not unexpected was sudden. She passed quietly and painlessly and was attended by a close friend during "her journey over". I can say she died at peace knowing that her three children WOULD be cared for with love. As it is as far as funeral arrangements, at this time I am not privvy to this information. I do know that pre-arrangements were made for the cremation and final dispensation of her mortal body. Please, do not send flowers, just keep a warm thought in your heart for her when you think of her. While we had our differences, she was my wife for 18 years and I wish her God's Speed and pray that she is finally at peace and free of the suffering she endured all her life. Dr. Jim Hrisoulas Metallographer, Bladesmith Author: "The Complete Bladesmith" "The Master Bladesmith" "The Pattern Welded Blade"

that adds up to 100.218 % It must be the new math again or their double checker can't add.

Very nice, she has some nice curves too I really like it, is she availble for a date :)

G'day china, thats my extent of speaking Strain, welcome to the group

welcome to IForgeIron

what do you mean melt? many good blade steels have all 3 addition's?