Drac Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 I have been apprenticing under a friend I met in a sword fighting group I am in. So far so good, only some burns. I have a small work area set up with a ugly, but functional coal forge. I have a WIP small propane forge I am working on as well. So hi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 Welcome to the site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 Welcome aboard Drac, glad to have you. What kind of apprenticeship are you serving? If it's a bladesmithing apprenticeship what are your master's qualifications? Okay, enough picking at your very first post. Truth is I don't believe any legitimate sword fighting group would allow a home made blade on the floor, possibly in the building. Making swords for use, sporting or otherwise isn't a garage shop activity, heat treating the proper steels requires a ramping kiln, possibly with an inert atmosphere the requirements are of near laboratory levels. Working the steel isn't an insignificant endeavor either. Heck just owning a sporting blade in Ft. Mojave during the summer might run the temper out of it! There's nothing wrong with wanting to forge blades, lots of members here do, some are world class bladesmiths and published authors on the subject, it's just a tough place to start learning blacksmithing. They are two distinct learning curves that overlap in enough places they can interfere. I recommend you learn blacksmithing to a level of proficiency THEN take up forging blades. Once you have a decent handle on the blacksmith's craft, bladesmithing is simply learning how a different type steel moves and the more precise heat management it requires. Learning grinding, mounting the furniture, finishing and all can be done with purchased knife blanks. No matter how you make a blade, stock removal is necessary, whether: ground, filed, scraped, hand sanded and polished, etc. it's ALL stock removal and necessary to finish a blade. Learning these skills sets do not interfere with forging and are every bit as necessary. Welcome to the addiction, we're pulling for you. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 Welcome to IFI! If you haven’t yet, please READ THIS FIRST!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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