ThomasPowers Posted May 21, 2019 Share Posted May 21, 2019 How about a thread on mistakes popular culture makes when talking about blacksmithing? Tuesday 2019-05-21 in a NPR Morning Edition report on Jobs; Steve Horsley said: "forging molten metal into fixtures". You don't forge molten metal, you cast it and the person he was referring to even mentions working in the foundry. (I sent in a correction.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted May 21, 2019 Share Posted May 21, 2019 How about a thread on when popular culture gets it right? It would be a much more manageable list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted May 21, 2019 Author Share Posted May 21, 2019 I rather liked the description in "The Burnished Blade" Lawrence Schoonover written in 1948. There was a modern story that was pretty good, I don't remember the title and leant the book to my apprentice. Have to bug him for the title... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-1ToolSteel Posted May 21, 2019 Share Posted May 21, 2019 Here’s one: “Forged in Fire” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted May 21, 2019 Share Posted May 21, 2019 what about it ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kozzy Posted May 21, 2019 Share Posted May 21, 2019 The common one I see is something to the effect of "the metal is brought to 3000 degrees (f) for forging" or similar ridiculous temperatures. Heard 5000 f once on some show. (and they were talking about carbon steels). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted May 21, 2019 Share Posted May 21, 2019 2 hours ago, Steve Sells said: what about it ? I think C1TS is suggesting that the actual forging takes place somewhere other than in the fire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted May 21, 2019 Share Posted May 21, 2019 I've done some forging IN the fire, literally. I rigged a torch so the flame horizontal was maybe 1/2" - 5/8" above the anvil face. It worked alright but when I learned how to do that process correctly I stopped needing heat right there. Yeah, yeah, I know I didn't say what I was trying to do, I don't want new guys thinking it's a good way to do things. It works, makes intuitive sense but is completely unnecessary. So I list it as a BAD shortcut to knowledge and practice based skill. Nah, I'm not afraid of the echoing laughter I'd deserve. If I didn't like making people laugh I wouldn't say so many silly things but it needs to have a gooder purpose than the above. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted May 21, 2019 Share Posted May 21, 2019 Just as long as you didn't pull the temper out of the anvil face, we're cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted May 23, 2019 Share Posted May 23, 2019 I was watching Pawn Stars yesterday and they had a so called expert in to authenticate a sword. He kept talking about the "groves" in the blade (fullers) good grief get it right will ya. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kozzy Posted May 23, 2019 Share Posted May 23, 2019 Saw that and cringed. Plus the fact that the "restoration" on the sword included aggressively grinding the bejeebers out of it and they claimed that made it worth about $ 5000. The producers pushed reality well into fantasy land on that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted May 23, 2019 Share Posted May 23, 2019 Many of these mistakes are made by people that heard the words, think they are buzz words and will increase the number of viewers or interest in what they are doing. Then the buzz words become used more and more because surely they can not be wrong as it was used on such and such. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted May 23, 2019 Share Posted May 23, 2019 I think it was a Pulwar (not sure) and they kept calling it an Afgan sword. I really think the sword they were working on was a cheap India or Pakistan reproduction that was left to rust away. I can't even wrap my head around grinding on an original by a supposed expert restorer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted May 23, 2019 Share Posted May 23, 2019 "Pulwar" is the Afghan version of the "tulwar" or "talwar"; see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulwar and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talwar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cedar Crest Forge Posted May 24, 2019 Share Posted May 24, 2019 On 5/21/2019 at 12:52 PM, Frosty said: done some forging IN the fire, literally. In theory, it is not a bad idea. Adding an Induction forge next to an anvil comes to mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted May 24, 2019 Author Share Posted May 24, 2019 I've done some forgewelding in the coal forge and had some forge welding done to my workpiece inside a propane forge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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