I’m just now getting back into blacksmithing after four months of PT. I had a wrecked right shoulder and recovery from surgery had been slow and difficult.
I feel good enough to wield a hammer now and decided to come back in grand style. I’ve had several successes doing regular Damascus, but I decided to try a canister.
I TIG welded up a 2”x2”x4” canoe, 1/8” thick walls, painted it with White Out, and filled it with spring coil segments from a garage door spring, cut nails, some hurricane shutter screws, and powdered steel.
When I picked it up, I immediately knew I probably made it too big for my coal forge. I accidentally burned off one side of the canoe, which wasn’t good. I could only get one side of the canister up to forging temperature at one time, so I alternated sides, heating, hammering, and pressing.
I squished it down to about 1.25” thick using my converted Harbor Freight 20 ton press, but I reckon quit a bit burned off as well. Take a look at my build videos. Part 3 is a demonstration, while Parts 1 and 2 are more detailed about the build process.
I got the canister off with little difficulty. The top was completely burned away, so no resistance there.
After etching and washing, I blew compressed air on it and in it to dry it out. I noticed that it was porous like one of those aquarium rocks that makes the small bubbles. I’m assuming it was because I got it up to forging temperature but didn’t compress it enough.
I appreciate any feedback on how to do this better with the tools I have.
https://youtu.be/y32-M8o1e-k
https://youtu.be/cDd3C4T4h_8
https://youtu.be/-wdJUfO4zo0