Forging 2" W2 with 25lb Little Giant

Thanks Don. You do make it look easy. I need to practice on my hammer to forge out the blade a bit better. I forged out one of your 1.75 inch bars the other day It began as an 11 inch bar. When I was done it was 40" long x 1.5 x .375. I would have had close to 48 inches if I had gone to .25 inches thick. If someone does not have a power hammer or press then the slice method is far easier. Don also Thanks for all your help.
 
A C Richards said:
Thanks Don. You do make it look easy. I need to practice on my hammer to forge out the blade a bit better. I forged out one of your 1.75 inch bars the other day It began as an 11 inch bar. When I was done it was 40" long x 1.5 x .375. I would have had close to 48 inches if I had gone to .25 inches thick. If someone does not have a power hammer or press then the slice method is far easier. Don also Thanks for all your help.
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You don't get that kind of yield with a press. I think a fair amount of the steel ends up as scale on the floor and you can't really taper the bar or forge as close to shape on big blades as with a power hammer. An 11 inch piece of 1 inch round gives me about 17-18 inches of 1 3/8 x 5/16-3/8 bar and a fair bit of that ends up getting ground away. That works out to 2 good sized blades. I suspect that I would get maybe 3 if i was using a hammer. I had Ray Kirk hammer/rollone of those 1.75 bars for me for some big knife projects and it ended up being 1 3/4 x 3/8+ and close to 3 feet long.
 
Joe- It takes me a 3" length of 1" round to get a 10" long, 1.75" wide with 4.5-5" tang bowie. Sounds like maybe you need some different dies.

Don... that's some serious pounding on that 25!!! I finally managed to get my schedule to align with Sid's and got his video ordered today! I only have a 1hr window of time to make phone calls like that during the day, so it was tricky, lol. I'm stoked to get it!

I definitely need to make some changes on my 100, because I don't think I could make it do what you did with that 25. Some of it's machine, some (more) of it's operator error. :o :)
 
Joe,
You are getting close to that yield. You have to remember the difference between a 1" and a 1.5" dia bar. The 1.5 dia inch bar is 2x the material of a 1" dia bar. So you would essentially 2x your 18 inches. So my 40" out of the 1.75" bar is right in the same ballpark. As far as a press being as efficient, my press will draw out a bar almost 2x faster than my hammer. I can literally press a bar in half if I am not careful. But then I have a huge press. I agree a hammer will get you a much better finish and taper on any blade. I just need to work on the bevels with the power hammer.
 
:o Haha, maybe not. I'm thinking in terms of actual forged blades, and you're talking bar-stock.... definitely apples to oranges. Nevermind :)
 
Chuck, forging a whole 11" bar, takes some of the fun out of it for me.
I would rather just cut off what I need for one knife. Been good discussing knives with you, you're welcome and thanks!

Joe, I get almost the same yeld with my press, just do it faster with the 100 lb LG, and mo fun :) Just takes lot a practice....

Nick, you need to get that 100 tuned up a working right. Mine moves big stock very fast and forges blades very close to final shape, points, bevels, tangs, etc. I do very little on the anvil anymore. You will like the LG DVD! I talked to Sid yesterday.

Thanks, Guys!
 
BEAUTIFUL!

I saw Sid in Nebraska CIty do som amazing work on his 25 lb Little Giant....

He believes 25 pounder can do most of what the average guy needs to get done.

The pics show exactly why Don Hanson is Don Hanson.

An outstanding maker with wicked spooky talents.

Shane
 
Sid got a DVD now?

Dang I gotta check that out...

Anybody who don't know...Sid is THE man when it comes to Little Giant.

Shane
 
I definitely need to make some changes on my 100, because I don't think I could make it do what you did with that 25. Some of it's machine, some (more) of it's operator error.
Click to expand...

Nick, this reminds me of a few guys that have been in my shop. They had small air hammers (40-50 lbs) and said my 25 LG would run circles around their air hammers :D They also said they would deny it, if i told anyone :)
It's all in how the hammer is adjusted and tuned.
 
Shane, thanks but it really is just a lot of practice :o

Sid is the Man! And a super good guy.
The 25 lb Little Giant is really an under rated machine
and is capable of doing a huge amount of work.
 
Great thread Don........how do you get those bevels forged on a power hammer ? I am getting Bersitis in my hammer elbow, and really limits my forging.
 
Don that's fantastic, thanks!

I have a general question. How does one go about finding a small power hammer, what should he (I :D) expect to pay, how much pad does it have to sit on, do used ones normally take some refurb and how much, and how does one find the parts?

I used commas to make that all one question. :D

Finally Don, may I PM you regarding some grindable W2 barstock? I will have to find out how to HT it also, won't I? I just love those beautiful hamons!
 
if i can ask, how are you able to get what i think is a superior looking hamon on all your knives above all the rest? again, to me, i like your hamons the best, and hope to get there one day. i have to say, you are a HUGE part of my inspiration to get serious with knives. thank you.
 
Having a hammer is , just a whole lotta fun. And the more ya use it, the better you get.
Don is right, Sid is Da Man!! I have a Fairbanks A and he has given me a whole buncha info on it, plus being a wealth of info on their use, care and feeding :-) bruce
 
Dave, I just recently heard of a 25 lb hammer sell for $160 at an auction here in Missouri. Prices usually run from $1200 up for used and $3600 for a rebuilt 25 from Little Giant. Not much pad is needed for a 25, some need work, others don't and parts are available from Little Giant.

d.weglarz13, Thank you! Hamons just take a whole lot of practice. I guess it took me at least 20 blades ar so to get one I actually liked. It's still a struggle and is a surprise every time I quench one, some good and some bad. A very long and on going learning process.
 
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