Forging how-to resources?

Wade Jones

Wade Jones

Joined
Nov 1, 2009
Messages
183
I began playing around with my gas forge to actually move some metal, instead of just for HT last weekend.
I was able to accomplish what I wanted, which was just to flatten out some steel for a wider design I'm working on.

But boy was it fun! Now I'm feeling the urge to really shape a blade in the forge. Any recommendations for videos where I can see someone who knows what they're doing?

How you guys shape to a point has me baffled. I don't seem to be able to draw the steel out like that.

I have a Diamondback 2 burner and am currently using the "sledge hammer in a bucket" anvil and a 3lb. cross peen hammer. I'm using Aldo's 1084 bar stock at present, and have a short length of 5160 as well.
 
Wade Jones said:
How you guys shape to a point has me baffled. I don't seem to be able to draw the steel out like that.
Click to expand...

HERE is some good info on "points". It takes lots of practice to be able to do it in a few heats. Some day when I grow up, I am gonna be able to do it (I hope).

Robert
 
http://www.hawknknives.com/forging/_forging.shtml Here is a good how to, with pictures, on drawing steel. pay attention to the strike marks on pic's 2 & 3. On drawing a point on flat that how to above is really good!. Once you beat on some steel for a while, and pay attention to what this strike did, as opposed to what the other strike did. You'll catch on and learn in no time!. if your using round stock drawing a point is at easy as drawing it to a short taper and hammering flat :) forging to 95-98% is simple once you practice a while. use that 3 pound cross pien get ya a 16 and 24oz ball peen you can smooth easier with them once the heavy forging is out of the way. Also something I learned from a few respected smiths at the last hammer in I attended. was control your temp to max around 1600-1650 degrees. and stop pounding when it goes black. that's usually very close to the ASM of most common forging steels. So what your doing is constantly refining the grain. Far past what just 2-3 normalizing heats will do at the end of your day. yes you will have a few more heats and a lil more time hammering. but the end result is definantly worth it!

Jason
 
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