Chuck92

Oh, thanks for telling me about the quotes. I'm still learning formatting on this type of forum. I'm used to chatting on a reddit clone. I have it in the oven right now. I guess I'm going to do 350 for an hour then a slow cool down since (in my ignorance) I suspect it to be somewhat on the lower carbon content side. I still doubt it's mild coming from an almost 5 foot long, 1 7/8 inch diameter bolt. This weekend I'm going out to the forest so I'll give the sword a good using. If it breaks :(, if not I've still got about 4 feet of giant mystery metal bolt to play with. I'll look for a camera since everybody wants to see but be warned.. It's not the purtiest thing around since it's my first real blade. It's been a fantastic learning experience though, I've really learned a lot about what not to do. I think the next one will be a beaut.

I just got done quenching it in water. It didn't warp at all and definitely hardened. Whether or not it formed micro cracks is a different story. I figure 10 hours of work is going to either result in a fantastic learning experience or a sword. Time will tell which. I agree with your comment about the oil, but it is what it is. Hello George, I've read a lot of your comments while lurking around the past couple months. Good to finally say hello and thanks. As you read above, I did the heat treating and it appears to have worked out. About the motor oil, I know it's not advised but I have a lot of it. Health hazard, yes. Potential detrimental effects on the metal, yes. But it's what I've got (had) and it worked alright for my other little projects. I wouldn't call it a club. It sort of has the look of a bayonet. I may get a picture up some day if I can find a camera. It's not supposed to be historically accurate or to imitate anything really. I made it to my own specifications for light use while hunting. Hello Irondragon, I've read a lot of good comments from you as well. I'll look around for a camera. I hope to have it finished in a presentable shape in the next couple days.

Yes, yes and I've read the pinned threads, followed the links (yours included) and although there was a lot of certainly good information, it seemed to be information for people who know exactly what they're working with. My answers might be in there but I don't want to dig through 200 reading hours worth of info that I don't currently need to find what I do when somebody more knowledgeable than I could read my post and give me some quick advice. This is all a learning experience. I don't have a lot of money. Used motor oil and mystery metal is the best I can really do right now.

So change of plans. My vat of used motor oil somehow disappeared. Big emphasis on "somehow". Hardening in water seems like a bad idea but I'm ignorant. Please advise! I need help!!

Hello everybody. I'm a new forger. I've been experimenting with forming hot metal for about 3 years but until recently it's been very casual. I have a sword that I've been working on for about 10 hours. This is my first large project, everything else has been made of rebar or rail road spikes. The sword is shaped and I've made the guard and handle. After some more sanding on the handle, it'll ready to be put together for the last time and the pommel made and fit. Therefore, I guess the next step is treating it. I've been looking around for how to go about this process for a long time, longer than I've been making this sword actually, but everything seems to be steel type specific information. I do not know what this sword is made of. I dug a massive rusted bolt out of the ground and used that. When grinding it gives a long spark trail with a massive amount of sprigs that form immediately. I assume it to be medium carbon steel but I'm not sure. I do not think that it's high carbon nor do I believe it to be mild. How do you think I should proceed? I would absolutely hate to break it. I'm planning on hardening it with motor oil (that's all I've got) then tempering it at 350 for 2 hours. Is that a good idea or should I do something else? The dimensions are about 2 1/2 ft long. The blade is about 3 inches in height and maybe 1/8 -3/16 inch thick before it tapers into the point around 7/8th of the way down the blade. I'd post a pic but I don't have any means of doing so unfortunately.