Another beginner smithing question...

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Dec 27, 1999
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I've recently started trying to forge some blades. One problem I seem to have is that the surfaces of my blades turn out very rough and pitted. Could this be from scale flaking off the steel, laying on the anvil, and then being driven back into the steel when hammered? Or is there something else I'm doing wrong? Thanks.
 
Sounds like your eigther forging too hot, or like you said, forging scale back into the blade, or both. If your forging at the proper temp for most carbon steel the scale will be small and light and should pop off easily, just wipe your anvil clean witha glove or rag while your re-heating the blade. One trick is to whack your blade on the side of the anvil to knock any loose scale or crap off the blade before forging.

How smooth is your anvil? the smother the better though it doesn't have to be perfect, and when forging the last few heats decrease the power of your hammer hits and "finish the blade, even out the hammer blows and smooth everything up. One trick is to put a little water on the anvil face and wet the hammer, it causes the scale to pop off the blade and makes a little cleaner forging, just wear a face shield or safety glasses and wipe the anvil clean between heats.

Also like Ed says, forge it thick, grind it then.
 
Thanks Will,
I give your suggestions a try, with particular attention to the temperature of the steel. I may indeed have gotten it too hot.
 
Try wet forging. Dip a small broom or brush I use a steel wire brush, in water and brush the surface of the anvil leaving it wet, dip the hammer in water just before forging then forge the blade the scale will POP off, sounds like a 22, works great. Gib
 
I wouldn't worry about it. Could very much be your working to hot but that outer layer will get ground off anyway. Don't expect to much to soon. Just don't give up on it and your forging will get better in time.
 
Raymond Richard said:
Just don't give up on it and your forging will get better in time.
Click to expand...
Thanks, it sure is an interesting endevour. The steel moves in ways one wouldn't expect, but that make perfect sense once one sees it happen. I'm having a lot of fun with it. :)
 
It's also great fun to wet the anvil of an apprentice who's working a large bar of wrought iron, whack, whack, BOOM "Aaahh!"
 
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