Hollow forging

[Sam Salvati]

Would it be possible, If I had a set of drawing dies with a 5 inch radius, to hit a piece of flat bar stock in the center as if you were fullering it, but then cut it down the middle to get two hollow ground blades, which you could then just have to polish on a 5 inch wheel? Would the 5 inch radius on the dies be enough or too much so as to form the proper radius hollow?

 

[sunshadow]

That's a lot of work to save a couple belts
just my opinion

-Page

 

[JasonSCarter]

I'd go bigger if it we're me. I'm fininshing up a new grinder with a 23" wheel I hope to debut here soon. since your using dies you could set whatever radius you wanted, maybe cut up and use an old tractor PTO flywheel for a large diameter die set. and maybe some 10-12" sewer pipe for a smaller set. 5" would only put maybe (guessing) around a 3/4" high hollow . if your doing pocket knives that would be more than enough or even small knives but a bigun would look funny.

Jason

 

[Raymond Richard]

Sam, You have way to much energy.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

The lack of control over the curvature in hand forging would save little. It will have to be hollow ground on a belt to finish anyway. If you were making a huge die to press the blade shapes, I suppose it would work, but the cost in equipment would be huge to press finish shaped knives.
Stacy