Base stock size for forging

Justin.Mercier

Justin.Mercier

Joined
Oct 21, 2006
Messages
1,652
What are the best sizes for base stock for forging? I know having read many threads that a lot of people like .25x1.25 when doing stock removal, but when I look at that size for forging it seems that it might be a little large. Would 3/16 x 1 be a nicer size for forging average size blades?

IG if you read this you had a pile of 1084 barstock at the hammerin I went to at your place, and Larry was using some of it. What size was that stock, because that seemed ideal.

That being asked, I might as well ask another question while I'm at it. Are there any steel suppliers in the new england area that allow small orders of steel that would carry specific alloys, 1084 / 1095 / 5160. I'd like to avoid spending extra money on shipping. I usualy buy my steel for blacksmithing at Turner Steel in Mass, but the last time i asked them for a specific alloy (albiet this was quite a while ago) they said they really just carry A-36 structural of no particular pre-determined alloy, which is fine for smithing, but not good for blades.

Thank you all in advance for your assistance,

-Justin
 
Justin,

At the hammerin' that took place at Indian George's, I was using 1/8" X1" 1084. IG only has a small amount of that thickness steel. What you saw was the 1084 that Aldo left over there from a previous HI. The 1084 that you saw stacked up by the post vise was is 1/4" thick and I believe :confused: 1" wide.

Larry T
 
Larry, how did those neck knives turn out? Pictures are worth a thousand words:D :D . louis
 
One of the good things about forging is you can start with just about any size as long as it has enough mass. Odds are the 1084 was 1/4"x1". It's a pretty popular size for knife forging. If you're looking for local steel though, you may not get it in the sizes you'd like, though you likely can find some useful stuff. Check with your local machine shop for cut-offs of W1 or O1. They're both good, simple steels that are relatively easy to heat treat. You may find that you can get round stock cheaper. The good news is that in taking it from round to flat, you get more forging practice :)

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

-d
 
Justin, BBBB Beaver is correct( for a change :confused: HEHEHEHE!!!). The 1084 he was using is what I use in the damascus. The other stack was from Aldo and Mace, 1" X 1/4" they still have some for sale.:thumbup:
Justin, you have a invite for Saturday too. Just don't tell BBBB Beaver.:D
 
Great, i'll both check out ALdo bruno's 1084 in the sale area (everyone so far seems to say 1084 is a good steel to start making blades with) and I'll have to see if I have any plans this weekend. I think I'm free saturday and the weather is supposed to be nice. Of course that'd be assuming I dont drink too much friday night like I did last week.
 
Justin.Mercier said:
Great, i'll both check out ALdo bruno's 1084 in the sale area (everyone so far seems to say 1084 is a good steel to start making blades with) and I'll have to see if I have any plans this weekend. I think I'm free saturday and the weather is supposed to be nice. Of course that'd be assuming I dont drink too much friday night like I did last week.
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I though you told me you didn't drink??????:confused: :confused: Or maybe I was drinking to much at the last HI?????
 
For the most part, I dont drink. Just vacations and special occasions =D Which is why just the couple I had at my friend's birthday party last friday put me out of commission all last saturday, I've got no tolerance. I've got another party in boston this friday night, and I dont plan on drinking anything, but then again I wasnt planning on drinking anything last friday till I had a giant rum and coke shoved in my hands.
 
Justin, I may be coming saturday as well. I have a few bars of the 1x1/4 1084 that i could part with since me steel stock is much larger than my capacity to make knives in a year, haha! If you end up going, shoot me a msg and I can bring some down.
 
For lunch we can all chip in and order pizza's. I have two billets to make up a cable and a 1932 HD primary chain.:thumbup:
 
Looks like saturday's free for me to drive over to your place IG. What time should I be there if you want help setting stuff up and whatnot? David, I couldnt figure out where this board's PM function is, but I'd certainly be intrested in any spare stock you can afford to sell without missing it. Email me at REMOVEjustin.mercier@gmail.comREMOVE if you'd like. Let me know if i should bring junk food or drinks or something as well.
 
Yeah no problem. I think i have like 8 six foot bars of it so ill bring a few over. You can cut a chunk off the W2 bars ill be bringing, as well. You could make a knife using only a few inches of it since its pretty thick. Ill bring some stock and we can figure something out.
 
Justin.Mercier said:
Looks like Saturday's free for me to drive over to your place IG. What time should I be there if you want help setting stuff up and whatnot? David, I couldn't figure out where this board's PM function is, but I'd certainly be intrested in any spare stock you can afford to sell without missing it. Email me at REMOVEjustin.mercier@gmail.comREMOVE if you'd like. Let me know if i should bring junk food or drinks or something as well.
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Justin, if you want to get down here early around 8:00AM that would be cool. You can pickup a couple of dozen donuts. I think this is going to turn into another Mini HI. I may have two customers coming over too. If Beaver and GrassHoppa gets wind of this they will probably be here too.:eek: :jerkit: :D
Jerry Adams is showing up.
 
Wa..Wa..Wally,

Against my better judgement:confused: , (subjective term), I'll be there,,,early :D

Larry T
 
T Blade said:
Wa..Wa..Wally,

Against my better judgment:confused: , (subjective term), I'll be there,,,early :D

Larry T
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B B B B Beaver!!!! Bring my pyrometer with you. I got the thermo-couplings in that I won off of E Bay. They work great on my controller and I want to see if they work on the pyrometer.:D The new PCA may be here too. Wait to you see this cuttie.;)
 
rocketmann said:
Larry, how did those neck knives turn out? Pictures are worth a thousand words:D :D . louis
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Louis, I really haven't done any work on those blades which I made at the mini HI, but have been forging more of them! :eek: . These are going to be Christmas presents for my fellow Lightning Brothers, the people that I jam with, here are the pics of all 11 of them.



The three that are at the bick end of the anvil are the ones I made at the HI.

Hope to see you at IG's today. :D

Larry T
 
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