Frosty Posted May 29, 2021 Share Posted May 29, 2021 If you can cold bend it it'll have a heck of a ring. Getting it tuned is a good reason not to put a finial treatment on the free end. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Topp Posted May 29, 2021 Author Share Posted May 29, 2021 Sounds like I’ve got some experimenting to do. Thanks for the information everyone! Today I forged a drift for an axe and an axe with said drift. It’s about 2 lbs made of mild steel with a forge welded hard edge on it. Just needs a handle and it’s good to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlpservicesinc Posted May 30, 2021 Share Posted May 30, 2021 Very nice.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Topp Posted May 30, 2021 Author Share Posted May 30, 2021 Thank you, It is done. 19” hickory handle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Topp Posted July 13, 2021 Author Share Posted July 13, 2021 A couple rough but functional tongs. I’m out of practice. it’s been too hot for me to forge so I did nothing for the pretty much The entirety of July unfortunately Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryFahnoe Posted July 13, 2021 Share Posted July 13, 2021 Nice & nice pic, you could call them your "berry picking tongs"! Hope you found a buyer for the nice "starter kit" you put together. --Larry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Topp Posted July 13, 2021 Author Share Posted July 13, 2021 Haha thanks. Someone’s coming to take a look later today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Topp Posted September 13, 2021 Author Share Posted September 13, 2021 A few current work in progress pieces. A cape cod weeded forged from spring steel with a bloodwood handle. Which is mostly done and a ~ 3 lb rounding hammer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 Cape Cod Kama? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlpservicesinc Posted September 14, 2021 Share Posted September 14, 2021 Tongs still look good.. You have made 125 hammers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Topp Posted September 14, 2021 Author Share Posted September 14, 2021 Kama? It was supposed to say weeder not weeded. Darn autocorrect. Thanks, no it’s number 25. The “1” is just a chunk of scale that fell off And happened to look like a exactly like a 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlpservicesinc Posted September 14, 2021 Share Posted September 14, 2021 Kama is a Japanese cutting tool much like what we would call a sickle basically a Large cutting blade used for cutting rice, straw, and people.. The Japanese had a tendency to adapt everything to war.. Looks like a great tool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Topp Posted September 14, 2021 Author Share Posted September 14, 2021 Ah. Thanks for the explanation. Never heard of them before. This is a little different I’d think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted September 14, 2021 Share Posted September 14, 2021 And if you have one that changes to match the color and pattern of whatever is behind it, that's a kama chameleon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted September 14, 2021 Share Posted September 14, 2021 The adaption of farm tools as weapons is common where farmers were not allowed to have weapons. In Europe things like the flail used for threshing wheat was used as a weapon as was the common axe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rojo Pedro Posted September 15, 2021 Share Posted September 15, 2021 Really like the weeder. Good work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Topp Posted September 15, 2021 Author Share Posted September 15, 2021 Thanks here’s it all finished up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlpservicesinc Posted September 20, 2021 Share Posted September 20, 2021 Beautiful.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnskij Posted September 21, 2021 Share Posted September 21, 2021 On 9/15/2021 at 12:03 AM, ThomasPowers said: The adaption of farm tools as weapons is common where farmers were not allowed to have weapons. In Europe things like the flail used for threshing wheat was used as a weapon as was the common axe. And scythes and bill hooks... But pitch forks for their common depiction as the peasant weapon of choice, i don't think was neither an effective nor popular weapon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted September 21, 2021 Share Posted September 21, 2021 In the days before antibiotics; punching a hole in someone with a dirty item was a major killer. I think those were mainly what was to hand in necessity. When medieval landowners were required to supply troops, the spear was a common weapon stocked for their use. And of course the Welsh Longbow became a weapon of choice for use by English Monarchs...just look at the laws banning other activities that might cut into their practice time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnskij Posted September 21, 2021 Share Posted September 21, 2021 Better than nothing that's for sure. Perhaps more popular in use than I'm imagining too. Just thinking multiple bent prongs makes for a weapon that is pretty bad at penetrating even rudimentary armour while also being somewhat unwieldy. Also, I'll hope you'll forgive me just thinking out loud without much sources to back it up; although infection would be a big killer, the ability to incapacitate your opponent during the battle itself is more important, and you need a good hit with a pitchfork for that to happen. Pitchfork in the arm, shoulder or leg? Eh... probably still in the game. There should be plenty of farm tools more easily adapted into something akin to a glaive or halberd. Scythes, sickles and billhooks comes to mind. No golf for the English! Bow only! Also I love spears. Spears are great. Apologies for the rant. I just enjoy the thought exercise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Topp Posted September 27, 2021 Author Share Posted September 27, 2021 Aluminum is a strange material to forge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frazer Posted September 27, 2021 Share Posted September 27, 2021 Huh... I've never thought to try. Were you using gas or coal? Any idea what alloy it was? Is there a working temperature range or was it okay from relatively cold to almost melting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Topp Posted September 27, 2021 Author Share Posted September 27, 2021 3/8” round extruded aluminum. 6061. for this small stock I was using a propane torch. Since it heats so fast. Either works. I’d estimate forging temps to be around 600-700. you want to use a very thin piece of wood. Like a fine shaving and press the aluminum onto it. If it begins smoking after a Second or three the aluminum is hot enough to forge. Work until it feels like it’s hardened. It’s like butter. Incredibly soft. Careful though. Likes to crack if your not very careful with temperatures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlpservicesinc Posted September 27, 2021 Share Posted September 27, 2021 If you rub your hammer against it while heating the hammer will stick.. That is the temp that the alum can be forged at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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