Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith
ilmarinen - MODERATOR
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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2004
- Messages
- 38,505
I went to the scrap yard again today. I got another 7' piece of 10" stainless pipe to make some more forges. I picked up two simple little RR track anvils , some round plates in 1/4" steel, some flat 1"X6" stock, some square tubing to make a rack for my Bader arms and wheels, a 3.50" shell, and some other metal pieces. I also got the grandaddy of all thermocouples. It is about six feet long and over 1" thick. It came from some sort of NASA high pressure equipment. It is rated at 20,000 PSI. It works (I put a mili-volt meter on it). Now all I need is a six foot long forge ! I also picked up an 18" long autoclave tray. I turned the instrument rack upside down and it just screams "EDGE QUENCH TANK" (I might just have to do a few for fun now.). The shell is a dummy round for practising loading a 3.50 gun. While there I spotted a 36" long piece of 6"round steel. Must weigh several hundred pounds, but at .20 a pound it won't cost much, so I may add a post anvil to the shop soon. I am going to clean up the little anvils I found today and take them to a blacksmithing guild show that I am a judge at next month. I'll put them in the silent auction.
After getting back, I started cutting up the 10" and 12" pipe I have on hand. I made six cuts from the 12" and fourteen cuts from the 10" ( three salt pots and six forges, plus a stack of 1/2" wide retainer rings for the ends). Then I cut up the rest of the 3" and 4" schedule 40 and 80 pipe. While the saw was running (hydraulic feed) ,I lit the forge and forged out three damascus knives. One bowie, one camp knife, and got about 50% through a big cutlass. On the bowie, I forged it to about 90% final shape before taking it to the grinder. It was surprisingly clean surfaced,not too many hammer marks left. It has a 6" stick tang and a 8" blade, all forged from a six inch piece of damascus. I am giving it to a buddy of mine who wants to make a bowie.He will finish it real nicely. He is a good grinder,and makes a beautiful knife, but can't forge yet. One of the forges is a gift for him, too. The 10" camp knife (full tang) was forged from another 6" piece. The cutlass will be seen later, so I won't go into it now.
So, I spent a couple of hours at the scrap yard and five hours in the smithy. So far this is turning out to be a great weekend.
Stacy
After getting back, I started cutting up the 10" and 12" pipe I have on hand. I made six cuts from the 12" and fourteen cuts from the 10" ( three salt pots and six forges, plus a stack of 1/2" wide retainer rings for the ends). Then I cut up the rest of the 3" and 4" schedule 40 and 80 pipe. While the saw was running (hydraulic feed) ,I lit the forge and forged out three damascus knives. One bowie, one camp knife, and got about 50% through a big cutlass. On the bowie, I forged it to about 90% final shape before taking it to the grinder. It was surprisingly clean surfaced,not too many hammer marks left. It has a 6" stick tang and a 8" blade, all forged from a six inch piece of damascus. I am giving it to a buddy of mine who wants to make a bowie.He will finish it real nicely. He is a good grinder,and makes a beautiful knife, but can't forge yet. One of the forges is a gift for him, too. The 10" camp knife (full tang) was forged from another 6" piece. The cutlass will be seen later, so I won't go into it now.
So, I spent a couple of hours at the scrap yard and five hours in the smithy. So far this is turning out to be a great weekend.
Stacy
