Hello All,
I've decided to start blade smithing, i've always wanted to try my hand at it and I think that now is a good time. I dont have any skills related to smithing except some cad and cnc work I did in High School. I am wanting to start in stages. I have already ordered a pre made knife I just need to add the scales. I've got some antler sheds that I've found while working so I really wanted to use those.
After working with the scales I wanted to try and make a knife with the stock removal method. Then I want to try and forge one from billet. I think the end goal is able to make a beautiful knives with pattern welded steel.
I have been reading up on working with antler and I had a few questions. Do I rough cut the antler then send it to be stabilized? I have an old Uncle Henry folder where the antler is darkened in the resesses can I accomplish with shoe polish? Because most of the antler I have is bleached and is very porous and a little soft. So I guess how much do I prep the material before getting it stabilized. (Also is there a FAQ I missed for working with antler or does most of the tips for wood apply towards antler aswell?)
The other question is about forge size. My end goal is to be able to make pattern welded Bowies with a max OAL of 15". What should be the total length of my forge chamber be or should I try and craft a pass through style forge and work on the knife in sections? I plan on making the forge with reil style burners with an insulated 10" pipe. I know that I am at least a month or more away from creating the forge but I like to plan. Also I have considered making a coffee can style forge to get by, but I really would like to build things once and be done and I don't think the price difference is not that much.
I guess what started this was I made a trip to the Alamo and I got to see some original Coffin Handled Bowies made by James Black. I love that style of knife and I really would like to have the skills it takes to make one. I don't really want to go into professional knife smithing. If I could produce maybe 6 quality knives a year I think I would be happy. Unfornately I more of mechanic/tinker then a craftsman. I only own a few tools. 8" 3/4 hp bench grinder, Hand held cordless drill, corded drill, bits, tap and die set, dremel tool. So I have little shopping list of tools I need to buy. Which include: Drill Press, 1x30 belt grinder, and a small welder, and files then after a little bit and my wife stops being mad at me for buying stuff I'll get the other things I'll need. I guess the only real help I need is for files is there a place that missed that has a beginer set of files that I could get? Also I got a nice section of rail road track I am going to make into a post anvil for free. And I'm going to visit the salvage yards to see if I can get a broken Fork Life tine.
Sorry for the long post I guess I just wanted to put my plan in writing so it's more clear to me and maybe a little advice so I don't make simple mistakes that other people have done.
I've decided to start blade smithing, i've always wanted to try my hand at it and I think that now is a good time. I dont have any skills related to smithing except some cad and cnc work I did in High School. I am wanting to start in stages. I have already ordered a pre made knife I just need to add the scales. I've got some antler sheds that I've found while working so I really wanted to use those.
After working with the scales I wanted to try and make a knife with the stock removal method. Then I want to try and forge one from billet. I think the end goal is able to make a beautiful knives with pattern welded steel.
I have been reading up on working with antler and I had a few questions. Do I rough cut the antler then send it to be stabilized? I have an old Uncle Henry folder where the antler is darkened in the resesses can I accomplish with shoe polish? Because most of the antler I have is bleached and is very porous and a little soft. So I guess how much do I prep the material before getting it stabilized. (Also is there a FAQ I missed for working with antler or does most of the tips for wood apply towards antler aswell?)
The other question is about forge size. My end goal is to be able to make pattern welded Bowies with a max OAL of 15". What should be the total length of my forge chamber be or should I try and craft a pass through style forge and work on the knife in sections? I plan on making the forge with reil style burners with an insulated 10" pipe. I know that I am at least a month or more away from creating the forge but I like to plan. Also I have considered making a coffee can style forge to get by, but I really would like to build things once and be done and I don't think the price difference is not that much.
I guess what started this was I made a trip to the Alamo and I got to see some original Coffin Handled Bowies made by James Black. I love that style of knife and I really would like to have the skills it takes to make one. I don't really want to go into professional knife smithing. If I could produce maybe 6 quality knives a year I think I would be happy. Unfornately I more of mechanic/tinker then a craftsman. I only own a few tools. 8" 3/4 hp bench grinder, Hand held cordless drill, corded drill, bits, tap and die set, dremel tool. So I have little shopping list of tools I need to buy. Which include: Drill Press, 1x30 belt grinder, and a small welder, and files then after a little bit and my wife stops being mad at me for buying stuff I'll get the other things I'll need. I guess the only real help I need is for files is there a place that missed that has a beginer set of files that I could get? Also I got a nice section of rail road track I am going to make into a post anvil for free. And I'm going to visit the salvage yards to see if I can get a broken Fork Life tine.
Sorry for the long post I guess I just wanted to put my plan in writing so it's more clear to me and maybe a little advice so I don't make simple mistakes that other people have done.