Bronze

Walt2

Walt2

Joined
Mar 13, 2001
Messages
1,157
I have just had my first experience with making a guard out of aluminum bronze. I had read on the forums about how rough it is to file and they were not lying and it also sure makes a mess on the buffer as well.
 
I like the results except for one thing. The bar of bronze has a wave or ripple that goes all the way through the bar and it does show some where that ripple is if looked at at the right angle. I will try and get a pic of the finished knife tomorrow. Not quite through tonight.
 
Funny that you should mention this as I have been debating a bronze double guard VS a brass one for the more reddish hue but have not found any locally. I look forward to seeing your results.
 
I know that Aluminum bronze is supposed to be a bear (which is why the alum. bronze I have is just sitting on a shelf), but isn't silicon bronze much better to work with? Also, what about phosphor bronze? I've not heard much about it.

-d
 
I like silicon bronze and for a bit redder color phosphor bronze. Was that bronze annealed ? Typically for bronze it's better to anneal and hammer and repeat rather than hot forge.Annealing would help grinding etc also.
 
I obtained the bronze from MCS. Maybe you can tell from the pics what I mean about the lines through the bar. Well, I cannot get the upload to work fom the computer. Guess I will have to figure out Photobucket usage again.
 
how does one tell what kind of bronze it is?

I jus tgot give about 100lbs of bronze by my dad its 1x1 thick about 10 ft or so or more

it aint light thats for sure
 
Will try pics again. Maybe you can tell what I mean by the lines, waves, ripples or whatever they are to be called.
 

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yeah the bronze i have looks nothing like that

that almost looks like it was twisted while hot or soemthing
 
Now, I will try to post pics of the knife. I could not keep reflections out of the guard. I finally got the upload to work from the computer. I thought it was something with me or the computer but finally a message came on the monitor about Bladeforums server "too busy". This blade is D2 and the handle is Desert Ironwood. Have not decided what to do with this one yet.
 

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As I thought , it's continuous cast material .The metal comes out in steps rather than continual ,therefore the lines .[When we set up the continuous cast steel operation at Timken we didn't get those lines !] The lines are typical for copper alloys.
 
Walt2 said:
Will try pics again. Maybe you can tell what I mean by the lines, waves, ripples or whatever they are to be called.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the stuff I got looks just like that, but I didn't notice anything on the finished guard.
It is a pain to work with but it looks so good, and it doesn't go all green and icky like brass.

Looks great with desert ironwood!

http://pattonblades.com/1203-6.JPG
 
mete said:
As I thought , it's continuous cast material .The metal comes out in steps rather than continual ,therefore the lines .[When we set up the continuous cast steel operation at Timken we didn't get those lines !] The lines are typical for copper alloys.
Click to expand...

Why's it called continuous, when it's not? I'm confused. :D
 
Thanks Phillip, the area where the line is visible is on the face, toward the blade, and I was unable to get a good enought pic to show it. I was unable to find any 1/4" phosphur or silicone bronze listed at Mac Master Carr.
 
Walt2 said:
Thanks Phillip, the area where the line is visible is on the face, toward the blade, and I was unable to get a good enought pic to show it. I was unable to find any 1/4" phosphur or silicone bronze listed at Mac Master Carr.
Click to expand...

I did have to grind off the line that's showing in your pics, but then it was ok under the surface.
This particular grade of bronze is one of the best for forging.

Here's a good website about forging non-ferrous: http://www.appaltree.net/aba/nonferrous.htm

About halfway down is where it talks about bronze.
 
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