Jeb Bailey Posted September 28, 2011 Share Posted September 28, 2011 Hi all! I'm fairly new to metal working, but I've been fascinated ever since I was a little kid. I used to sit and watch the blacksmith at music festivals for hours on end, and now I'm finally smacking some metal in my spare time. Really just starting out, but I recently finished my first blade. Pointers are welcome! Designed to be almost more of a hatchet, I haven't sanded it yet and I plan to wrap the handle in waxed twine. Interested to know how to keep the pitting down a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marksnagel Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 Welcome to IFI! I think its pretty cool for a first attempt. What type of heat source are you using and what was the metal used? Mark <>< Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeb Bailey Posted September 30, 2011 Author Share Posted September 30, 2011 Using coal for heat. I have no idea about the metal, it was just a piece of scrap. Looked like it came off some kind of heavy equipment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 welcome, as you learn how to forge you wont pound as much scale into your work, also learning how to use the hammer, will get less hammer marks in your metal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 Less pitting: 1 keep in reducing part of fire 2: clean scale off anvil *each* *heat* 3: wirebrush scale off before forging each heat 4: hammer properly dressed to avoid dents from "sharp" edges 5: hammer control 2 is a "fat rabbit" (3 is a pain, 1 & 5 come with practice, 4 is a good idea for all forging hammers) As a suggestion/question: you did check that that alloy will harden appropriately for a blade *before* making one from it right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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