- Joined
- Sep 29, 2015
- Messages
- 501
I feel like making a friction folder today and need a little help on getting started.
the blade:
I don't really feel like setting up my forge today (mostly because I have no coal left) so would using a file for a blade and just grinding the profile work? My thought for this was that if I cut off a section of the file and grind the shape and edge I would not have to HT the blade (which is helpful because I'm not able to HT much until I get more coal). I figured I should bride the shape then put the blade in the oven at about 425 degrees for an hour to bring down the hardness a bit. Dose this seem like a good idea considering the blade won't be for hard use, mostly just whittling?
The steel:
I have many different old files (just about every American company out there. I'm not sure if If I want to use and American file wich is most likely 1095 or a similar steel or one of my Japanese files which I'm assuming from much use before are blue #2. Would one work for my blade technique better than the other? Or should I just make one of each and find out?
Handle:
I have a very massive sheet of copper I have spent the last month working with. I'm not sure why but working with copper is a ton of fun. I figured that folding a piece of the copper sheet into a rectangle shape (similar to Japanese friction folders) would be the best plan, is this a good idea?
Spacers:
For the pivot that the blade will rotate around I have some very soft steel pins about 1/8" that seem suitable. But to keep the steel from coming in contact with the copper too much I figured I should add in spacers. In my mind brass would be ideal but I don't have any, would copper work just as well?
Any advice or help is appreciated.
the blade:
I don't really feel like setting up my forge today (mostly because I have no coal left) so would using a file for a blade and just grinding the profile work? My thought for this was that if I cut off a section of the file and grind the shape and edge I would not have to HT the blade (which is helpful because I'm not able to HT much until I get more coal). I figured I should bride the shape then put the blade in the oven at about 425 degrees for an hour to bring down the hardness a bit. Dose this seem like a good idea considering the blade won't be for hard use, mostly just whittling?
The steel:
I have many different old files (just about every American company out there. I'm not sure if If I want to use and American file wich is most likely 1095 or a similar steel or one of my Japanese files which I'm assuming from much use before are blue #2. Would one work for my blade technique better than the other? Or should I just make one of each and find out?
Handle:
I have a very massive sheet of copper I have spent the last month working with. I'm not sure why but working with copper is a ton of fun. I figured that folding a piece of the copper sheet into a rectangle shape (similar to Japanese friction folders) would be the best plan, is this a good idea?
Spacers:
For the pivot that the blade will rotate around I have some very soft steel pins about 1/8" that seem suitable. But to keep the steel from coming in contact with the copper too much I figured I should add in spacers. In my mind brass would be ideal but I don't have any, would copper work just as well?
Any advice or help is appreciated.