forging a blade blank article

NickWheeler · Mar 21, 2005

Hey Guys-

My friend Randy did his magic and got an article done on how I forge a blade blank. This one walks through the steps of forging the blade down from 1.5" round-stock W2 tool steel to having the blade ready for thermal cycles in the salt bath.

Thought you might be interested.

Thanks!

-Nick-

http://outdoors-magazine.com/s_article.php?id_article=189

Airborne Steel · Mar 21, 2005

no workie....

I am looking forward to reading it though.

NickWheeler · Mar 21, 2005

Hmmm... Sorry, I tried it and it didn't work either. I went back, re-did the copy/paste thing and it's working for me now.

Thanks!
-Nick-

Airborne Steel · Mar 21, 2005

Thanks, it's working now. Good Read. I'll re-read it and check out the stock removal portions after work as well.

indian george · Mar 21, 2005

Very nice job.

But how is the skinny guy with the hammer?????

NickWheeler · Mar 21, 2005

IG, that's my thug friend... I keep telling him it's not cool to wear a backwards cap and wife-beater... but he just wouldn't listen!!! :footinmou

HAHAHAHAHA!

-Nick-

Dan Gray · Mar 21, 2005

Cool,,, Nice one Nick, is that something that will stay at that URL?

I'd like to place the link on the knife making site if you don't mind and it will stay up?

NickWheeler · Mar 21, 2005

Thanks Dan... I'm not sure just how long it will be there. I'll ask Randy. I think it will be there for a good long while, but I better ask.

-Nick-

Dan Gray · Mar 21, 2005

NickWheeler said:
Thanks Dan... I'm not sure just how long it will be there. I'll ask Randy. I think it will be there for a good long while, but I better ask.

-Nick-

great let me know..

Darren Ellis · Mar 21, 2005

Nick, These are all great! Excellent pictures and documentation of the process... I hope these links stay up for a while, I'll be sending new guys to knifemaking to the site to look through them...you've done a great job on that project.

Also, you're really making me see the utility of having a surface grinder in the shop...it's definitely not a must have item (except for folder work), but I am now starting to see the other uses for one...I've been trying to justify one for a while now and I think you're starting to push me over the edge on getting one!

-Darren

NickWheeler · Mar 22, 2005

Thanks Darren-

I don't know if I could live without mine now.

I made the belt conversion, and love it. You often hear they won't hold tight tolerances... but as long as I go over stuff corner to corner, I can mic it with my Starrett 1" mic and it will be the same all the way around.

I surface grind the ricasso of ALL my knives, forged and stock removal... and use those two parallel surfaces as the foundation for the whole knife... i.e. laying it on a surface plate and using a height guage to mark the center...

I used to do the tang taper clean-up on my 9" disc sander... but recently came up with the little fixture to do it on the surface grinder. I still have to hog the center out on my Burr King and then get it pretty darn flat on the platen, but the surface grinder is nice for making sure it's FLAT.

I surface grind handle components....

And that's all fixed blade stuff.

-Nick-

Darren Ellis · Mar 22, 2005

Well Nick, my wife doesn't like you very much right now...I blamed it on you when I told here that I had to finally start putting aside money for one!

Seriously though, there's nothing like perfect fit-up and flats...

Where did you get your conversion to belts? Bertie in S. Africa?

-Darren

rhrocker · Mar 22, 2005

Nick, thanks for showing that article! I didn't know you were so young, I thought you were an old ____ like some of the other of us. Great stuff!

Dan Gray · Mar 22, 2005

rhrocker said:
Nick, thanks for showing that article! I didn't know you were so young, I thought you were an old ____ like some of the other of us. Great stuff!

yeah and hanging with us and not the ladys too