Houjous Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 I bought a few blanks (12"x1.5"x.125") the other day to make a knives just to find out I run out of material super quick when drawing out the blade. What would a good size blank should I start with? Also any ideas what I should use these blanks for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 Well not knowing what sized blade you are trying to make means any answer is meaningless! Use the blanks for smaller blades. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houjous Posted October 12, 2021 Author Share Posted October 12, 2021 fair enough. (12" = x, 1.5" =y, .125" = z) I was intending to make the Y the same distance, X was going to drop to 4" or so, and Z becomes to thin while I'm forming the blade. beyond those statements I'm not sure what sizes your still looking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 Basically 12"x1.5"x.125" is given as a start but you don't tell us if you are trying to make a 3"x1.5"x .125" or if you want to make a 16"x2"x.125". Or some other size. In general if I plan to forge a blade I start at least .25" thick allowing me some "meat" for distal tapering and beveling the blade. The length is dependent on how much tapering I plan to do and that is generally based on experience. Back in the old Neo Tribal Metalsmiths days the goal was to have 10% or *under* stock removal done after forging. .125" stock would be excellent stock removal stock to practice your grinding or filing skills to make stock removal blades and practice your heat treating too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzzkill Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 Personally I'd just do stock removal with that size stock. You just don't have enough excess thickness to move the metal around much and you will lose some material due to scale and grinding out errant hammer marks. I like at least 1/4" thick stock to start with. Others may have their own preferences. Looks like TP already beat me to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 Nope, "dogpiling" shows that more than one person thinks similarly and thus increases the likelihood that an answer is valid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frazer Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 For fun, you can fold it a few times and forge weld it into thicker stock! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houjous Posted October 12, 2021 Author Share Posted October 12, 2021 Thanks for the Suggestions I'll make sure my next purchase will be atleast 1/4". I'm not super sure my forge can do forge welding. It max's out at around 1650. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 Deg F or Deg C or Deg K? Deg C or K you could weld in it; Deg F is cold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houjous Posted October 12, 2021 Author Share Posted October 12, 2021 degree F if it was the other 2, they would be liquid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 I don't know if you know this but you should be able to turn your burner DOWN; it doesn't have to run at max temp. (And not all steels melt at 2500 degF.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houjous Posted October 13, 2021 Author Share Posted October 13, 2021 Since I run it 20psi (my torches limit) which is only hitting 1650 at best...wouldn't lowering the pressure gauge lower the heat aswell? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 13, 2021 Share Posted October 13, 2021 What exactly are you using for the burner and the regulator? When you say torch---do you mean burner and why is it limited to 20psi? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anvil Posted October 14, 2021 Share Posted October 14, 2021 On 10/12/2021 at 11:45 AM, ThomasPowers said: "dogpiling" I learned auto mechanics that way. Describe a problem to 10 people and take the consensus. I can come up with a reasonable rate of success now if i ask 3. Progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 14, 2021 Share Posted October 14, 2021 It's one of the ways to judge information about a subject you know little about. Unfortunately on the internet "likes" have little to do with accuracy! Discussions help, especially if you can get experienced folks discussing and not "one book wonders". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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