Jacob s

are blacksmiths allowed to have two touchmark signs?

how would one go about using a touch mark stamp?

Say if i was to make a bastard sword and was in the mood to mount it on my livingroom wall, how would one go about making hooks strong enough to hold it there?

does anyone know a good place that can custumize ensignias and touche marks for a resonable price?

how long do you think someone should wait before signing their work whith their own ensignia/symbol ?

how does casting a sword make it weaker than forging?

does a gas forge really damage carbon in steel, i saw this disription of a knife on ebay that said somthing along those lines.
the person also said that char coal and coal burning do the opposite and add carbon to the metal to make it stronger.

As i understand, an epee is like a rapier only it has no edge and is more like a thick wire or thin rod that comes to a point. at least thats what i hear,but, does anyone know how one might go about making such a thing?

when making a railroad spike knife , what is the porpose of twisting the handle?

About salt water quenching, how does that act on the metal as in terms of hardness, does it make it brittle by cooling too rapidly or does it make it harder than normal water quenching?

Hey, has anyone on this site ever made a blade out of a railroad knuckle pin?
if so, about what size would that be if beaten in hopes to form a simple longsword, or wold it even be that long?

the vice grip i'll be using has desmond simplex stamped in the side of it, i looked it up but all i got was some ebay tools, has anyone heard the name before?

Has anyone seen a vice clamp before that has a miniature anvil on it? it's kinda strange, i don't know what you could make whith an anvil that size.

someone told me once that it was possible to form bronze in a forge, is that true? how would it be done?

but dosn't heating the metal past the normal point of workability make it brittle when it cools?

I keep hearing all theese terms like "hot" or "cold" or "heat bluing". but i dont know a definite answer as to wich is safer for the metal. can anybody tell me what method is more reccomended than others?

oh and if i am wrong about the damascus please let me know. thanks

I've heard that layering nickle and steel while forging can make damascus steel, but i've wondered for a while what the outcome would be if you changed the prosces from layering nickle and steel to layering copper and steel. Has anyone tried or at least knows what happens, or if it can even be done?

thanks for the tips ill check in to it

Hi. I am new to the whole prospect of blacksmithing, infact, im still gathering materials and getting ready to put a forge together, and i was just wondering if anyone had any tips or "heads ups" for me before i get started.