vaporlock Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 Hi All, It has been a while since I have posted some pics. In the mean time, i keep on forging but how are things coming along? you tell me : XC75 forged as far as possible olive handle with a bit of liner to compensate "hammer dips" in the handle area. I am not ready yet to polish up the whole knife, I still like to see the forge in it. vaporlock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 Product photography can be and is a special section of that craft, making everything look right to show off the product. May I suggest a plain background for your work. The grain in the wood competes with the grain of the knife handle for the viewers attention. The lighting used in your photograph shows the knife, all the details, and is not distracting. Very well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaporlock Posted August 4, 2017 Author Share Posted August 4, 2017 yup, I did not pay any attention to how the pic was taken . these are the pics i take to keep a history of what i have done (which i forget to do most of the time) they are simply taken on my workbench. i will take more care with composition next time. thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Quint- Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 I think it's gorgeous. I love the Forge finish/polished look and that olive is outstanding. As for the "hammer dips", one option is (prior to attaching the scales of course) to fill them in with some weld and then grind everything flush. If your weld is clean, the filler will blend right in and won't really be visible to the naked eye unless you're etching... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lou L Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 I like the consistency of the design. The rough forged spine is mirrored by the knot in the handle. Very nice knife. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 The rustic look goes very well on that one---and I can tell you hammered in some of the bevels too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaporlock Posted August 13, 2017 Author Share Posted August 13, 2017 Hi all, Thanks for your kind words. All shaping is done by hammer including the point and bevel since for me this is the most difficult part of the forging. I try to leave a 0.5-1.0 mm edge on the bevel for hardening. The original bar was 14 mm octagonal XC75. As far as the hammer dips go, I just have to get better control and hammer more evenly, especially to get an even spine. I still have a hard time predicting the shape of the point and i am still going back and forth between ‘shaping the knife then hammering the bevel and continuously straightening the spine as a consequence’ or ‘shaping the point inverse and letting the tip come up as you forge the bevel’. The olive wood is from a tree which died in 1956 when an exceptional cold in this area decimated the olive trees. Managed to grab it before it went into my neighbour’s fireplace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 There is a blacksmithing tool used to smooth surfaces called a flatter. Usually trying to get a clean surface that way makes properly dressing the hammer faces and learning hammer control look like a viable option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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