E Schroeder Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 so I have some practice at smithing and I am working very hard to increase my skill. However I have hit a snag, and that snag is getting a good fit on guards and the other fittings. I don't have elaborately stocked shop. No milling machine, no lathe, only a wide grinder, a narrow grinder, band saw, drill press, and a oxy/act torch, and my forge and anvil of course. So please any techniques, tricks or just processes you can think of that could help, I do appreciate it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nc_cooter Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 For the guard slot you can use a drill press to a drill a series of holes that are almost touching. Use a bit that is slightly smaller than the width of the slot. You need to get a jewelers saw and some blades and a set of small files. Use the saw to connect the holes and the files to clean up the slot. Go slowly with the filing to obtain a press fit. I used this method for many years before I got a mill. The bolsters and butt caps just require a lot of hand work. Just take your time and practice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petersenj20 Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 Like cooter said. I don't use the jewelers saw. A good file works well once you get the hang of it. By the way, the tools you describe sound like a pretty decent shop that a lot of people don't have. I have found once I got all that stuff, I really do prefer the peace and quiet hand tools offer. Although I won't deny the ease of work an angle grinder and bandsaw offer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markb Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 All of the above, Magnification, Dial caliper, patience, and practice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 I used to work for a professional swordmaker, (as in I saw one he sold for $13K back 20 years ago or so...) He didn't have a mill or lathe either. What he had was skill and practice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E Schroeder Posted December 10, 2009 Author Share Posted December 10, 2009 I have had some issues with just a file by itself, I always seem to take off an uneven amount. The drilling and saw and filing sounds like a good idea. My main frustration is that many of the people I have tried to get help from own a machine shop or something and their response is well just use a mill. Which I don't have or know how to use. I have seen the use of layout fluid and calipers used to mark grind lines, and I've picked up tricks here and there like how to square your shoulder with a file and a jig, and then use a chainsaw file to take the sharp angle out so the blade doesn't break. I did have the chance to apprentice with a blade smith and I learned alot in the six or so months in worked in his shop, however getting that knowledge from him was like trying to pull a barge with a row boat. So I have lopsided knowledge, like I learned all about the heat treat and grinding and how to chop charcoal and just a little bit about forging, but there are also huge gaps like, how I didn't know how to properly fit a guard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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