Forging is easy!

tazzknife

tazzknife

Joined
Dec 14, 2007
Messages
49
HA!

For those new knife makers out there, like me, I went over to Scott Ickes house this weekend for some knife tips. I ended up working on a knife straight from the forge. Let me say, that while I learned a GREAT deal (thanks Scott), forging is not just about heating up some metal and pounding away at it. There is a process involved that is both a lot of work and very fascinating.

Shaping the knife from a ball bearing is, needless to say, a very interesting process and is extremely fun to watch as it turns into a flat piece of metal. Anyone looking to get into knife making, even if planning on stock removal, should also learn to forge at least one or two. You will learn a lot.

Thanks again Scott, I will be giving you a call sometime after the holidays to come back over and do some grinding. :D

Tazz
 
I would love to forge, however, I am in the suburbs and I don't think that anvil noises and fires are allowed :grumpy:
 
Try living on the 18th floor of a building in NYC! I can't even use powertools, let alone forge... :grumpy::grumpy::grumpy::grumpy:
 
Keith_H said:
I would love to forge, however, I am in the suburbs and I don't think that anvil noises and fires are allowed :grumpy:
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I live in the suburbs myself and made a small portable gas forge. As long as you don't hammer all night you should be alright. I do it inside the garage with a forced air ventilation system of course for the forge.

Pad
 
As per the title of this thread, virtually every stock remover I have seen that then starts forging makes a finer knife than the guys who never mastered grinding first before picking up a hammer. Compared to keeping a straight, smooth and crisp grind, hammering the steel to shape is pretty easy, and most of my students have been able to forge a knife that they were pretty proud of in the first or second time at the anvil, only to destroy it in around 30 seconds at the grinder:( A whole lot is made about forging when it is only a small fraction of a very big process, heck after it survives the grinder you then have to move onto the endless possiblities, and dangers in heat treating ;)
 
Tazz,

Congratulations. Now I am afraid you have a lifetime illness!!!!!(but it is a great way to be sick) If you survive the first day you are hooked. Now you will start have weird dreams and be driving down the street and see a piece of steel on the road and wonder if it is High carbon steel or not. Just remember to have fun.

Chuck
 
Chuck,
I don't know if I would call it "surviving" or not. My arm hurts something fierce from muscles that aren't used to that movement or work. I am a computer programmer by day and a motorcycle re-builder / restorer by night, and those muscles don't get used in that way in those two jobs. :D

That being said, I have already been thinking about how to build my first gas forge. :rolleyes:

Here we go...;)
 
During our session, Mike told me that he's been interested in sharp things for a long time, and had been thinking about making them. This was his first exposure to knifemaking in person. At about the time we were wrapping up our session and putting tools away, I asked him if he is going to begin getting set up to do this at home and become a knifemaker. He said, "I'm pretty close to being completely convinced that this is what I'd like to do". I'm not sure if the quotes are accurate (due to my older brain and faulty memory), but it's pretty close.

I think we have a new member of our fraternity! Mike's a very gracious person and we had a great time. I look forward to spending a lot more time with him. His knife is forged out, was normalized three times and then fully annealed. I've invited him back to finish it out. He's going to be bringing a bunch of paint stirrers over to practive on, before putting his knife against the grinder. We'll also have him practice on some mild steel also, to get the feel of the difference between wood and steel.

Since he restores motorcycles, I have a feeling he already has a penchant for fine detail and doing the little things correctly. I predict that he'll be making some wonderful knives in the not to distant future.

Mark (aka, polishavenger on the forums) was also here and played around on my grinder and hit some steel also. Marks a great guy and is always welcome at my place. We enjoyed sharing knowledge and having a beer or two.

The area (Vancouver, WA) has quite a few newer knifemakers and some well established ones too. I suspect that we will soon begin having some hammer ins and other events.

Thanks to Mark and Mike for stopping over and sharing their time, knowledge and enthusiasm. I enjoyed the day!
 
Scottie,

Let me know when you are thinking of doing a Hammer in. I am very interested in getting one going. If you need any help let me know and we will get one going.

Chuck
 
A C Richards said:
Scottie,

Let me know when you are thinking of doing a Hammer in. I am very interested in getting one going. If you need any help let me know and we will get one going.

Chuck
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I think better weather time of year would be best. What do you think? I have room for multiple forges and anvils, if anyone has portable equipment that they could bring over. What kind of room do you have in Salem?
 
Scott, it was great to see you again! Thanks for being generous with your time, tools (in particular your KMG) and knowledge. It certainly was cool to see Mike just jump right in with both feet, wasn't it? Hope we can do it again when it's not so wet!
-Mark
 
Kevin R. Cashen said:
As per the title of this thread, virtually every stock remover I have seen that then starts forging makes a finer knife than the guys who never mastered grinding first before picking up a hammer. Compared to keeping a straight, smooth and crisp grind, hammering the steel to shape is pretty easy, and most of my students have been able to forge a knife that they were pretty proud of in the first or second time at the anvil, only to destroy it in around 30 seconds at the grinder:(
Click to expand...

I can forge just about any shape, heck even some geometries, keep nice crisp bevels but sure enough, 10 seconds on the grinder will blow that to $*#! hehe. Good advice i came up with, for every forged blade make 3 or 4 stock removal, keeps your forge skills up to snuff and only helps you get better at grinding.

Tazz, welcome to the hot work club!
 
Kevin R. Cashen said:
A whole lot is made about forging when it is only a small fraction of a very big process
Click to expand...


Oh boy ! And vast it is. So many directions a guy can go. It is certainly a lifelong learning experience, something new each and every day that you do it. And I've found that no matter who it is or how much experience they have, I always learn something new from everyone who comes to my shop. I am truly and hopelessly obsessed :D ;)
 
Tazz, I live about an hour north of Vancouver, 6 miles off I-5. I used to live IN Vancouver.

If we can ever work out a time (which is pretty hard with my work schedule) you'd be welcome to come by the shop. :)

Heck, maybe we could get you and Scott here on the same day?
 
Scott

Better weather would be nice. I have plenty of room outside. Under cover is a bit cramped I could fit one or possibly 2 more anvils into my garage and one more forge. If we set up outside we can have as many as we want. I do have a power hammer and a press. It all depends on what we want to do. Nick would you possibly be willing to come down for a Hammer in, work allowing of course? we should start planning soon though.

Chuck
 
Wow! A SW Washington/NW Oregon Hammer In might become a reality! Now, I'm really getting excited!!!! Whoo hooooo....
 
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