Woodskevin

Beautiful sword!! I look forward to a new book from you.

Thanks Swedefiddle. Its not a bad bend so I'll straighten it cold and pray for the best.

Thanks Phil. I was thinking of straightening, normalizing, hardening, then temper it using a large block of metal and running it back and forth till the colors run.

It bent in use. I wasn't sure if it would break bending it cold.

I have a friend who has asked me to straighten his machete. It's bowed in a mild s shape. What would you suggest the hardening and tempering process to be?

I'm double checking the deprime process. Great info guys. Thanks.

Thanks for the info. I an to build my own gas furnace in time. My goal is to do things like in this video. I'm researched this topic and am fully aware of the dangers and need for safety equipment. I'll post my progress in the future. Thanks again.

Thanks. My goal is to make mokume for blade fittings. Is there a particular brand/style/company you would suggest purchasing a ceramic crucible from?

I'm doing my research ahead of time. I plan to one day melt down all my retired brass ammo. My question is has anyone got any experience in welding up your own crucible such as this website. http://www.backyardmetalcasting.com/crucibles.html

I won't have any trouble prying myself away. I'm almost out of coal!! Lol

A family friend gave me permission to scrounge around an old house place/ barn lot on his property. I found enough pipe and fittings to plumb my electric blower to my forge, 2 grader blades, and approx. 200ft of 1/2 cable!!! I'm in heaven!!!

That's what I hear. I'm just trying to be one. Lol

Tell him Grant!!! He gives the bad kids COAL!!! lol

Don't encourage me Rich, I've been bad and most be punished...lol

This was a offer to help businesses with Facebook accounts that sell coa,l link to the largest community of smiths. This would not cost or benefit me in any way other than helping others secure fuel. You have my permission to delete this thread. Mod note: its rude to walk into a persons business and try to send people to other stores. There was no mentioning I Forge Iron, just you abusing your posting in this thread to get business to your link, and we do not post free advertizing, nor actually need your permission to delete your ads.

Thanks Steve. I'll research that.

Hey guys! I want to help smiths locate fuel for their forges. I figure if your looking for coal/coke/charcoal you can post a comment and if you know where a supplier is you can suggest or your supplier can become a fan of the page. It seems to me it could be a good way to keep up with suppliers, location, and price of coal/coke/charcoal. Mod note: Page edited to remove self promotion and re direction of traffic

Thanks for the reply. Yeah that sounds tricky considering my skill level. I'm not saying this would be easier but doing a San Mai construction and etch it like Damascus would give it a hamon-like appearance, right?

It's my understanding that the clay hardening process used in making a katana is what causes the "warp" of the curved blade. Seeing cheap laser/acid etched hamon on "ninja swords" all my life leads me to ask the question is this possible. I'm not to a point in this craft to attempt forging a sword. I'm simply doing my research.

I too got into smithing to make my own knives and swords. I made my own throwing knives as a child via an odd method. Not knowing any better, I found a broken cross cut saw and did the following. I took a file and used the edge as a scribe slowly scratching and outline of what I wanted. When I scored it deep enough I would take a cresant wrench and break of the excess steel. No heat, no anvil, no hammer and certainly no EDUCATION!! I began reading and doing Internet searches on knife making in 2003. I built my first forge in 2009 and am currently finishing my smithy construction. I have yet to make a finished blade. Instead I started with fire pokers, hooks, Fredrick cross, and tools. I cut out a knife blank and forged a bevel. This is as far as I've gone into actual bladesmithing. It sounds like the major issue here is pride. The 3 year old screaming "I DO IT MY SELF" all grown up. The Internet and books are great, but there's no substitute for seeing the hammer hit the steel in person.

Let me know when you receive a large load if coal. I'm in central Mississippi and need a coal source. Let me know what you'll be asking per 100lbs. I have friends interested as well. You can contact me at tkwktmaholic@gmail.com

Oh I only get a few per year. I'm only a blacksmith as a hobby. I understand everyone's concern and can tell you no worries. I walk the straight and narrow.

The Lord is my Shepard!! A friend works for a railroad company and the boss let's them have whatever they want within reason when it comes to spikes. I pay him some cash and he puts it in the company picnic fund. No harm no foul.

Coal smoke..not weed smoke.. :)

I have no other way to explain what happened last weekend except it mush have be an evil wind gust!! I was forging a rr spike knife when a wind kicked up and blew my door shut. Mere seconds later a gust came down my smoke stack and filled my shop full of the gray filth. Without thinking I spinning back side kicked the door open and as I exited the building I tripped causing me to use my ukemi rolling skills. I'm still amazed I got to do all my hobbies in under 5 seconds.....smithing, karate, jujitsu!!!