First integral step by step work in progress. *Pic intensive.*

[David Schott]

Heres a step by step as i stumbled through my first integral. Honestly its only about my third forged blade ever after a few years of stock removal, but i like to jump right into things.

Steel is 1" round W2 I purchased here on the forums from don.

I started by hand. Im not a big guy, so this kicked my butt a bit:

I used my little dragon forge that IG made for me at a hammerin a while back. Took a while to get the bar up to heat as its fairly massive.

Started getting something close to a blade shape going:

Jump past today's Hammerin where i used george's big press to squish out the tang and stretch it out a bit. Heres what she looked like all dirty with only a swipe or two on the grinder:

Brought the grind up as with a normal stock removal. Much quicker work when the bevels are started in forging than with stock removal...

Refined the lines symmetrical, radiused some edges and smoothed things out:

Lined up integral plunge. Kinda a pain....

Stock removal. Evened things out. Started a clip, went to 220 and started the bolster area:

Almost there. Some smoothing left then a rough 220 over it all before itll get a clay coating and hopefully a nice hamon. Ill keep pics posted here.

 

[h2ostx]

Wow, looks good already.

Keep posting picts of your progress, these are great.:thumbup:

thanks,

Kelly

 

[rocketmann]

looks good. you work fast!!

 

[JCaswell]

Looks like a really nice job so far.
I'm assuming that little line on the blade in the last picture is NOT a crack?

 

[David Schott]

Thanks! Nope no cracks here...just dust and smudges getting hit by the flash

 

[JCaswell]

Thanks! Nope no cracks here...just dust and smudges getting hit by the flash

That's what I figured.
Are you satisfied with your forge? Do you think it could be hotter?

 

[David Schott]

Once i get a blower for it, itll be plenty hot. But for forging, its fine as-is anways. I doubt i could forge weld in it currently, but its hot enough to not have to wait more than a few moments until youre ready to go.

 

[JCaswell]

I do a lot of forge welding and like to work at higher temps, even when not welding, but that's just me.
Again, nice job so far!

 

[T Blade]

Hey Tik Tock,

As Rocketmann said, wow , you work fast. Here is a pic of it or the other integral fresh out of IG's forge while working the tang.



Can't wait to see the finished product.

Larry T

 

[indian george]

Looking good little guy.:thumbup: Not you the knife. HEHEHEHE!!!

 

[Stuart Willis]

Thanks for the pics, looks like a great job

 

[J.Marsillo]

Nice job on that integral Dave :thumbup: That's going to look great when its finished.

 

[indian george]

Dave could you save me 12" of that W2 that you have??? I'll make up pins for my press with it.

 

[David Schott]

Ready for ht once i radius and smooth the tang:

Ya ill save some of the w2!

 

[Justin.Mercier]

Looks good! I can just imagine how "popeye-armed" you'd be had you tried to get that all done by hand instead of on bertha. I'm planning on building a treadle hammer, wont be as good as a press for blades, but will do the same work, but also let me do other smithing more effectivly.