M.J.Lampert

and today.

the pins are brass, guard is 1"x1/8th mild steel tacked to blade as said before blade is leaf spring quenched in canola oil. 90% of finishing done with an angle grinder, handle (the last 10%) was done with a milling machine and orbital sander

had a few small fitting problems but figure after having my first 3 blades crack/shatter before I got close to starting handles, i can easily accept those few minor imperfections

so this was the knife yesterday evening before it got cleaned up on the handle and polished up handle is moose antler

was heated in advance but not enough advance in now for first cycle

thanks for the pointers Georgerge, Welshj, ThomasPower, and JHCC. I cleaned up the blade some more there are still two or three little pits but it definitely looks much better now quenched and waiting for oven to heat up

so got my grinds done today, quench and tempering is planned for tomorrow

so i got into the shop the last few days in small increments and finally got it shaped so now to start my grinds and get it quenched

thanks tomas and frazer

if i do three smaller pieces in a bit of vinegar can i reuse it for a few more if I add a small amount of fresh

thanks before hand

M.J.Lampert

frosty i don't use website contact links unless there is no other way. Prefer to talk with an actual person not wait 1-5 days for each reply. I would take any rod under 3/8ths but i cant get any brass at all other than the $7 for 6 usable inches on a toilet float rod. might try melting and casting damaged brass rifle shells

sorry everyone had Wi-Fi problems so couldn't check on comments

On 11/12/2020 at 9:27 PM, GutRot said:

Where are you at in BC?  M.J.Lampert there are metal supermarkets in a couple places I see they sell brass rod pretty cheap

GutRot I tried all the metal suppliers around and 1 could get a 12 ft. 3/16 rod special ordered from Chicago for over $250 

On 11/12/2020 at 9:46 PM, Irondragon ForgeClay Works said:

I use no flux brass brazing rod for pins, easy to get in most auto parts or welding stores.

checked with the welding store haven't heard back

ThomasPowers and Irondragon ForgeClay Works yes I like the Arkansas toothpicks as well but as a dagger that's 5-15 years down the road i first came across them in a louis l'amour book I believe 'ride the river' (Sackett book # 5) and was like i need that and then i realized there's little use now days for suck a knife 

plan to do more work today so maybe posting again today

5 hours ago, ThomasPowers said:

Are you going to sharpen the clip? Add a brass strip to the spine? 

no the clip wont be sharpened as for a brass strip i can only find toilet float rod for pins have tried to get brass rod at a local supplier and they couldn't get any brass unless they special order it and then its to expensive. the guard will be mild steel

finished stretching out the steel to thickness between 0.16 and 0.17 the last 2 inches of stock are not to thickness and will be cut off next day when i trim the billet closer to size to shape

so in socials i just dealt with the Alamo and James bowie so decided the project would be a bowie knife here is the draft of the knife will make with a piece of 3/8 leaf spring

post more when have some done

thanks every one for explaining. really helped

On 11/7/2020 at 1:24 PM, Bionic_Texan said:

Spring steel would be 5160 correct?

commonly a variety of 5160(+-15/20% carbon) but not always. the reason i said that thought is the thickness i looked and realized i made a typo i meant 7/16 which without proper technique  is hard on you and your will power as well as using time that could be spent on a different knife

On 3/21/2017 at 12:37 PM, Frosty said:

Put a wire wheel or buff on a disk grinder and it's NO GLOVES PERIOD!

what? frosty my father taught me to wear gloves with a wire wheel a cut-off or grinding ok without gloves but welding gloves, safety glasses, face shield, long clothing + a pair of coveralls. O and if possible a piece of plywood between your guts and the wheel

just a word of advice dont try 5/16 spring steel until you have your hammer technique figured out, it takes forever (don't ask how i know) and it wastes a lot of propane

also DO YOUR RESEARCH i learned this the hard way, and i assure you you don't want to

born to smith, forced to work

ha ha Thomas power

random person asks smith "so do you shave just your for forearms or what."

smith "no that's just all am wiling to put in the flames"

i dont know how that would work try on your best pair and let me know

jlpservicesinc Frosty JHCC everyone else straight white vinegar put a few drops on a piece of paper towel and wipe on both lenses let dry and wola. I usually do it every day or 2 that i use the goggles though might be able to stretch it longer  

for working they allow you to forge in a t-shirt and not burn your forearm with hot flakes and when reaching into dragons breath

daswulf I use Watson welding gloves they go half way to your elbow and come of easy as well as being decent cow hide

On 11/1/2016 at 7:57 PM, seldom (dick renker) said:

c-1 lets face it, "all good people are left handed".

the good lord made a few good people the rest are all right handed 

On 11/25/2018 at 6:04 AM, jlpservicesinc said:

now wearing eye protection and then the fact that they fog make the job useless.. 

i do snowboarding and rub vinegar on the lenses to prevent lens fogging

i dont know about others but i just use you normal cowhide welding gloves from Watson gloves these are comfortable and have a Kevlar stitch. i don't usually use tongs as all i have is a pair of short reined farriers tongs but weld a 2-3 foot piece of mild steel on as a handle 

On 10/23/2020 at 7:55 PM, ThomasPowers said:

Had a student try forging in crocs once; humorous to others; painful to himself!

i did that mistake one while welding wont do it again got a scar for my efforts

for me I've preferred steel toes boots protects your foot better if you drop heavy steel also leather is nicer as it doesn't light up from sparks, though a pair of dunlops works well in late fall, winter, and early spring after they get full of holes from sparks you put on some tuff toe from redwing shoes and get another few years out of them