nc_cooter Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 Earlier this week someone asked how close I forged to finished shape. My answer was that I try to get pretty close. He replied " close as in hand grenades or atomic bombs". I had never really thought about it that much. I forged a full tang blade to day and decided to measure it in a few places. I wanted about a 4" blade with 9"oal and about 1 1/8" wide. Started with a 1/4"x3/4"x6" piece of Aldo"s 1084. I ended up with a 9 1/4"oal and a 4 1/4" blade that was 1 1/4" at it's widest. I forged a distal taper on the blade and a taper on the handle. The first pic shows the thickness as indicated. The second pic is a shot of the top, showing the taper. I'll post more pics with measurements after grinding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donnie Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 I also forge my blades very close to the finished product. I enjoy forging steel much more than using a file. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Budd Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 By preference I forge TO finished. I dislike grinding with a vengence and I prefer the look and feel of a forged finish,though I do sometimes make posh ground and polished blades ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fe-Wood Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 I prefer pounding over grinding... Call me old fashioned. Something about the makers hand print left on the product.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Dempsey Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 I forge as close as I can. But, being rather inexperienced, that's not real close :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecart Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 Matthew and I are in the same boat. I'm trying to forge closer to finished dimensions, especially at the spine and around the tang areas as I have left a LOT to be ground off in these areas in the past. Getting better, but it takes time. I also HATE grinding. Sanding was my downfall in woodworking and grinding threatens the quality of my finished knives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nc_cooter Posted July 25, 2009 Author Share Posted July 25, 2009 Here's a pic after grinding, HT and tempering. I did a short soak in vinegar and scrub with steel wool. Blade is 4 1/4" , 9"oal and 1"wide. Farmer Phil mentioned decarb. I use a muffle pipe in the forge for HT and there is almost no scale or decarb. The pipe gives a more even heat to the blade and I put a couple of small pieces of hard wood in the pipe to eliminate the 02. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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