Melchior Posted June 18, 2012 Share Posted June 18, 2012 Hello, I am going to do a sickle for cutting olive trees. But I cannot figure out a good way of forging them. When I think about the process I need to bend the sickle in the other direction that would come naturally when forging it thinner on one side. I have seen this explanation of how to do it, but I cannot understand it fully. http://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/14972-sickle-and-scythe/ Regards, Emil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Salvati Posted June 18, 2012 Share Posted June 18, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Miller Posted June 18, 2012 Share Posted June 18, 2012 big difference in shape between a scythe and a sickle Sam. Cool video though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 18, 2012 Share Posted June 18, 2012 Just like you can straighten a knifeblade after it curves doing the bevel you can also curve a blade as well. However it's a lot easier to make a rather tight curve the way you want it and then open it up by hammering in the bevel. using a hammer with a rounded face helps as you can concentrate the blows just along the edge to do so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melchior Posted June 18, 2012 Author Share Posted June 18, 2012 Interesting video. I must grab some mild steel to practice on first I think. I am going to copy a already made sickle, so I know what the end product is going to look like. Anyone that has made one that can shed some light on the process? /E Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfootnampa Posted June 18, 2012 Share Posted June 18, 2012 Check my thread "The Scythe" for more info: http://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/22597-the-scythe/ The best info I have is that the European scythe mfrs. use something similar to 1080 or 1090 steel. Harder than you'd think. BTW these same mfrs make all the American style scythes and use the same steel for them but forge it thicker. I have successfully used steel that is closer to 1030 or 1035 though and it works well. Prebending is definitely easier than trying to make the curves after thinning the bevel. I usually adjust the bend a little as I work it though. Try to get close with your prebend as that will save effort. I see little difference in a sickle or scythe myself and even think the names are interchangeable depending on who you talk to. There are various shapes and sizes of scythes too. Slight curve, strong curve... same same just a little more here or there. If you really want a challenge forge a Karambit or two... these are much tighter curves on smaller blades... BUT the same techniques! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted June 18, 2012 Share Posted June 18, 2012 Harries and Heer, Basic Blacksmithing (downloadable) has a set of instructions for making a sickle. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melchior Posted June 18, 2012 Author Share Posted June 18, 2012 The book Basic Blacksmithing was really good. That will be a great start. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 learning how to forge and move metal should help also Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melchior Posted June 19, 2012 Author Share Posted June 19, 2012 Heheh, yes Steve, that will surly help. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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