Forged and filed

[Tai Goo]

It’s about 9 inches OAL forged from ¾ inch round W2. I used “Godzilla” to start the shoulders on either side of the bolster area, and then finished them up freehand. Godzilla was made by Ray Richard, and is a nice alternative to forging the shoulders freehand or using a guillotine. I usually start the shoulders freehand, but liked using Godzilla too. It is a bit easier to master than the freehand method, and a little easier to make than a guillotine.

Godzilla chews on steel!

I did use a bench grinder, just a little bit, as part of the overall forging process (during the forging process), to grind out any “ears” and to sharpen up the profile towards the end of the forging process.

Here it is in less than 1 hour of freehand filing. I generally spend more time forging than filing on something like this. However, the more accurate the forging the less time needed on stock reduction. So, in the long run the forging saves me a lot of time… and steel.

 

[Raymond Richard]

Tai, Glad Godzilla was able to do his thing for you! Very nice bit of forging! I'm going to hit the oldman cream and then light up the forge.

 

[Tai Goo]

Ray, I also used Godzilla to start the drawing on the blade and tang, by taking little bites with it,… like you showed me at the hammerjamin.

Works good big buddy! I like it!

Thanks for leaving it here!
(… If not I would have stole it from you anyway...) LOL

 

[Raymond Richard]

Ray, I also used Godzilla to start the drawing on the blade and tang, by taking little bites with it,… like you showed me at the hammerjamin.

Works good big buddy! I like it!

Thanks for leaving it here!
(… If not I would have stole it from you anyway...) LOL

Why do you think I left it? Your pretty easy to figure out. Its a handy tool to have.

 

[Mike Quesenberry]

Tai

How thick is the steel used in Godzilla, I think I'd like to make one. Great job on the forging, cool looking blade. Folks like yourself, with supreme forging skills, can get away with using files. They made grinders and 40 grit ceramic belts for guys like me.

 

[Tai Goo]

Mike,

I haven't taken any measurements on Godzilla,... maybe Ray will chime in with more of the specifics.

 

[Robert Mayo]

That's some fine forging and nice design & like Mike says i need the grinder it sure helps my forging look better!

Bob

 

[hathegkla]

wow, godzilla looks pretty cool. I'd love to make one. any more close up pix of the shape of the inside of the "mouth" or whatever you would call it.

 

[Raymond Richard]

All the measurements for Godzilla are top secret plus I don't take notes. I'll see what I can find.

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

Tai,

Can you talk about your use of the texture that is frequently seen in your work?

On the one hand, I think it is fairly self explanatory when one handles one of your knives, but on the other hand, someone looking at a picture of a knife with "file scratches" on it may not understand what you're going after. I've never heard you go into any detail about your design decisions and I feel that is an area we could all benefit.

 

[Raymond Richard]

wow, godzilla looks pretty cool. I'd love to make one. any more close up pix of the shape of the inside of the "mouth" or whatever you would call it.

This is a real simple tool to make. The tool was made out of 2" X 5/8" 1065. The horizontal pieces should be at least 8" long.

 

[Tai Goo]

Nathan, I'm still going to do some hand sanding on this one. The file texture isn't going to show in the finished product. It's an order based on a previous design, so there really weren't many design decisions to make on it. I did approach the technical side of it a bit different with Godzilla and the way I formed the bolster. I might change the scabbard design just a little too.

Here's the model:

It had to be forged "roughly" to specs., although I didn't take any notes the last time. It's just a guesstimation.

 

[A C Richards]

Very sweet as usual Tai. The godzilla works great, having used it at he hammerjamin also. I will have to build one for when I do demos. Maybe a couple since my hardy hole is 1.25" square. I would build one for mine and one for a 1". I have to try some more integrals. They are really cool.

 

[hathegkla]

This is a real simple tool to make. The tool was made out of 2" X 5/8" 1065. The horizontal pieces should be at least 8" long.

http://www.hawknknives.com/forums/PDRM1957.J[/QUOTE]

nice, if I come across some heavy stock like that I'll definitely have to build one.

EDIT: how did you heat treat it? I've never made any forging tools other than tongs so I don't really know what the best metal to use would be. 1018 is damn cheap but I guess it would probably be too squishy.

 

[Raymond Richard]

nice, if I come across some heavy stock like that I'll definitely have to build one.

EDIT: how did you heat treat it? I've never made any forging tools other than tongs so I don't really know what the best metal to use would be. 1018 is damn cheap but I guess it would probably be too squishy.

The Godzilla that Tai has I did heat treat the top piece of the tool. The new one I'm using now I didn't heat treat and so far it seems to be holding fine. I made the one Tai is using in 2006 and it saw a lot of heavy hammering. I did have to replace the top bolt once. The first one I made was out of a heavy truck leaf spring. I still use it every once in awhile.

 

[Tai Goo]

Godzilla is stout and sturdy!... I'm sure it'll be around for a long time and see lots of use.

 

[Raymond Richard]

Godzilla is stout and sturdy!... I'm sure it'll be around for a long time and see lots of use.

Tai, I made Godzilla to resemble its maker. Stout and sturdy.

Here's a few blades that I have been working on over the last few weeks. Godzilla was just used on the tangs of these blades. The large on is the most recent. 14 1/2" of blade. Now to see if I can make it straight......

 

[Tai Goo]

That's some fine forging and nice design & like Mike says i need the grinder it sure helps my forging look better!

Bob

I appreciate the compliment Bob, but you’re missing the point.

I used to think I needed a belt grinder and all sorts of other power tools too, but I gave myself another chance and proved myself wrong.

I don’t want the hand work way to sound too easy or too hard though. It does take experience... However, there is also learnable method to it and with practice anyone with average abilities and intelligence can develop the necessary skills,… if they desire to. It’s really not that hard, if you stick with it. Yes, you can compete with science and technology, (and even beat it), in a very practical, personal and efficient way,… if you just give yourself a chance. In the end you can gain a lot of personal satisfaction and confidence,... save a lot in time, materials, energy, and avoid high overhead,… by developing your own human potential.

It's challenging and a lot of fun!

To me,... that's what it' all about.

Here's some recent pix of hand forged, hand filed and hand sanded,,, freehand,... but it ain't free!
http://www.taigoo.com/1-available/popup-available-01.html

 

[Wulf]

Files are very underrated in the knifemaking world, but I, for one, LOVE them. They among my favorite and most used tools in the shop. While I couldn't live without my KMG, for versatility and control it's hard to compete with files.

And I have to credit Tai for "reminding" me, with his posts, just how much a guy can get done with a few good files. This latest piece is a perfect example.

 

[Raymond Richard]

I received a question about Godzilla this morning. Basically the question was asked if Godzilla can do more than one trick. With little modification Godzilla can be made to talk and even roll over.