theboss1412 Posted June 27, 2015 Share Posted June 27, 2015 Hey Guys,So I finally attained the tools(bench grinder, belt sander) for crafting a sword(scimitar) using the stock removal method. Since I am just starting out, How long would it take for me to complete the blade, and, what correct measurement of steel should i get for the specific sword I will be attempting to make. If I have any other questions I will add on to this thread.Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Cochran Posted June 27, 2015 Share Posted June 27, 2015 I'd suggest looking around until you find one you like and get some general measurements off of it to base your sword. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theboss1412 Posted June 28, 2015 Author Share Posted June 28, 2015 Would 36 inches x 2 inches x 1/8 inch of steel square stock work for my sword I am intending on creating?I plan on getting my metal from a hardware store. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdaleh Posted June 28, 2015 Share Posted June 28, 2015 Go to the top of this page and read the stickies there . Than go to the knife making section and read it. Making a sword is not beginner project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmccustomknives Posted June 28, 2015 Share Posted June 28, 2015 First. Stop what you are doing. You are not ready for a large blade. You will be wasting your time and effort. First learn how to grind small blades. Learn how to heat treat the steel. It looks easy, but there are many pitfalls and it takes experience to do it. A blade that long is extremely difficult. Now as for how long it would take, on average a 6" blade will take me at least 30 min to grind. After heat treat another hour or so to finish it out. That simple little blade can easily have 10 hours to make. A sword will take much longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theboss1412 Posted June 28, 2015 Author Share Posted June 28, 2015 I honestly did not realize that. I guess crafting a sword from little experience is much harder than anticipated, at least for a good high quality one... I'll just start with smaller blades and progress from there...Is the stock removal method the best way to start knife making? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Cochran Posted June 28, 2015 Share Posted June 28, 2015 I've made several knives of varying quality and still am not confident enough to try a sword. I would say 1/8" is much to thin to start with.i would suggest doing as mentioned above and doing some readin. Lots and lots of reading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 28, 2015 Share Posted June 28, 2015 (edited) what books on knifemaking have you read? If you live in the USA you should be able to ILL them at your local library. (Would you go to a Dr that had only looked at stuff on the internet and never went to Med School?)You can make knives with files and abrasive paper. It is a good place to start. You might want to hunt down The $50 Knife ShopBTH what kind of belt sander do you have? Ones designed for wood are not a good choice for metal. I worked with a swordmaker for a year as my "job" I don't recall we every used a bench grinder on a blade; but we did a lot with a US$1000 (early 1980's cost) Bader belt grinder.Note too that large blades are dangerous to work on as are the tools used to work on them. Comparing scars is a common thing between blademakers---like that seen in Jaws actually. Edited June 28, 2015 by ThomasPowers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmccustomknives Posted June 28, 2015 Share Posted June 28, 2015 As far as it goes, yes stock removal is where we all tend to start. Even when forging a blade some, if not quite a bit of stock removal takes place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latticino Posted June 28, 2015 Share Posted June 28, 2015 Also the hardware store is an unlikely place to source the kind of steel you should be using for actual knife making (high carbon tool steel). As all others have said, you need to do a lot more research before safely attempting knife making, much less swords. Stock removal is a great way to start making knives. You can even start with some already profiled kits to focus on the finishing aspects of knife making.As far as time for a sword goes, I just completed a 5 day class where we learned something about rudimentary sword making. We all worked very hard, a minimum of 10 hours per day, on much simpler swords than you have pictured. Without an instructor helping us every step of the way I doubt anyone would have gotten done. Grinding is a challenge, but properly heat treating such a long blade without warping it is more like an art. Certainly could not have done that without a lot of hand holding (and most of us had been bladesmithing for at least a half dozen successful knives).If you want to learn sword making, take your time and don't skip steps. If you just want to own a sword, the cheapest way is to buy one already finished. You can do a lot with relatively simple tools, though a lot of extra time should be budgeted if you won't be using a quality belt grinder. The most critical tool you need is knowledge, and that one will save you a lot of time and grief in the end run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted June 28, 2015 Share Posted June 28, 2015 Welcome aboard, glad to have you. If you'll put your general location in the header you might be surprised how many of the IFI gang live within visiting distance.We're not dog piling on you and don't sweat it, most of us had much higher ambitions when we first started the craft. Well, at least the ones of us who started young so it's pretty normal to bite off more than you can chew. Seriously, I started doing what I thought were blacksmith like things when I was maybe 10. It wasn't till I was 25 that I discovered there were blacksmiths around and glory be BOOKS!I already had years of heating and beating on a casual hobby basis and came from a metal working background so finding blacksmithing books was a light coming on and I actually started learning to do things that mattered. When the internet went public I discovered PEOPLE who smithed and did other metal work talking to each other helping solve problems, asking and answering questions, telling jokes and generally acting like family.Oh yeah, the sword, I knew absolutely nothing I hadn't seen on TV and we're talking 1960's TV where the town blacksmith was hammering something glowing as background for a scene, etc. What really got my juices flowing was an episode of "Bat Masterson" or "Have Gun Will Travel" Where the main character was way laid and dumped somewhere in the wild west wilderness to die. Well, being the hero he made it till he came across a Connestoga wagon that had been attacked by <gasp> indians! He found a drizzle of water in the barrel and some food the indians weren't interested in. While he was hanging by the wagon he managed to get the tyre off a broken wheel and forged himself a knife, used a spoke for the handle and then forged a number of dart heads and made an Atlatl (spear thrower)Anyway, the long and sort of it ans what really struck a chord with me being. The hero, lost and without possessions made weapons, outfitted himself, seriously, once he had a knife he was able to cut the canopy cloth, whittle a needle and sew himself some desert survival duds. Then he hunted down the bandidos who robbed and stranded him and using his trusty knife and spear thrower did the bandidos a serious mischief and took the survivors prisoner delivering them to the sheriff.How? Why because he could take broken scrap metal and forge seriously good tools from them, that's why.Being a maker is real power, come a zombe apocalypse, all of us are going to be making loot hand over fist forging zombe hackers/choppers. You betcha!Okay, after all that my advice is just like everybody else's. Learn the skills, become good at them, then start making blades and work yourself up to your ambition. I don't recall who the bladesmith was who told the story but I do remember he's one of the best. Someone asked him how long it took him to make his first sword and he said, "15 years." (Don't quote me on the time I don't recall exactly other than it was a pretty good example of how long he'd spent learning the craft before he made a . . . GOOD sword.Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 28, 2015 Share Posted June 28, 2015 Dang I don't remember that one; now I'll have to look it up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted June 28, 2015 Share Posted June 28, 2015 Dang I don't remember that one; now I'll have to look it up! Aw, you didn't have anything to do today did you? If you can find it I'll be interested in how well my recall is. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted June 28, 2015 Share Posted June 28, 2015 If you cant take the time to read the posts that are tagged for "reading this first", then I expect a lot of hospital and Doctor visits in your future, and very few usable blades, Good luck. please keep small children away from the shop.P.S. you do not want to use most tool steels or high carbon for a sword, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theboss1412 Posted June 28, 2015 Author Share Posted June 28, 2015 Thank you everybody, I really appreciate the advice. Before Starting I will broaden my horizon on knife making What is usually the thickness of steel that is good for just starting out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Cochran Posted June 28, 2015 Share Posted June 28, 2015 Id imagine that's goin to depend on what type of blade you're makin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 29, 2015 Share Posted June 29, 2015 1/4" is a pretty good maximum for stout belt knives, down to 1/8" for folders. It depends on the blade.Perhaps "Custom Knifemaking, 10 projects from a Master Craftsman" would be a good start as it will work you through several different blades. Ask your local public library if they can ILL it for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 Actually I think the story was and from "Have Gun Will Travel" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 Actually I think the story was and from "Have Gun Will Travel"That's sounds more likely, Sooooo I spent a couple hours reading episode blurbs and found the one with the atlatl Season 4 episode 36 - The road. No blacksmithing though so that must've been another episode. I started at the finish of season 6 and I'm part way through season 2 but had to do stuff. IIRC I was 9 during season 4 so I may have misremembered and combined a few episodes. Well, more than may. I'm really enjoying reading the episode blurbs and haven't been able to resist watching a couple.Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 (edited) I used to have cards reading "Have Forge, Will Travel" (and now I'm singing the Theme song in my mind...) Edited July 24, 2015 by ThomasPowers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 I used to have cards reading "Have Forge, Will Travel" (and now I'm singing the Theme song in my mind...)You don't look like Richard Boone do you? The theme songs I remember best are, "Bonanza" (of course) and "Branded." Oh geeze I sound like my parents! Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 (edited) Scorned as the one who ran; i thought I was the only fellow alive that remembered that show! Perhaps it should be "or admit to watching it". Edited July 24, 2015 by ThomasPowers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 Scorned as the one who ran; i thought I was the only fellow alive that remembered that show! Perhaps it should be "or admit to watching it"."What do you do when you know you're a man but your branded?"Dad and I watched it religiously He was in the last company of horse cavalry to go through sabre training. He didn't get deployed to escort mule trains over the Burma road into China though, they decided to use DC-3s instead.Ever wonder how a person's knee would feel after breaking a saber over it? Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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