My 6th forged knife (3rd forge welded), cable from Bruce.

S

stefanj

Joined
Aug 5, 2007
Messages
748
I've been busy with work and am now preparing for my future deployment to Iraq.
I wanted to say Thank You to Bruce for being kind enough to send me some of his cable and advice! I really appreciate it!

My work is still lacking in comparison to the great pieces I see here daily but I am working on learning so fire away.

Knife was forged in my forge using Borax (a lot of Borax, needed to reline my forge multiple times), I clay coated to try and develope a hamon (you can actualy see it from an angle, in plain direct looking you can see the difference in the steel), heated to non magnetic and quenched in P50 Quick Quench, did some finishing work and then etched in Muriatic Acid used for concrete etching from Ace Hardware. I neutralized the acid with baking soda in Hot water (soaked the blade in the baking soda rich hot water for a good length of time to try and neutralize any acid). I applied baking soda numerous times to ensure I neutralized any residual acid. I then wet sanded the blade with 1500 sand paper and used some metal polish. I will use an automotive car wax to help prevent corrosion of the blade from the elements and help protect against the damaging effects of peoples fingers.

My hammering and grinding still sucks as well as my execution of what I want to make. I just haven't figured out fully (or even partialy minus the brute force and ignorance of plain and wild hammer blows:D) how to move the steel correctly.

One of these days before I deploy i would like to try and link up with a knife maker in the Fort smith or close proximity to observe if I can. Till then the adventure continues!
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im in joplin about 2 1/2 hours away, i will be happy to share a day with you some weekend before your deployment- send me a email if you are intrested - hope all the guys in the area helps you- get ya hooked before you leave
that will hook ya, give ya alot to think about in the sandbox bruce bryant
 
I might have to take you up on that if I can take off for a day.
I'm currently up here at Fort Smith/Fort Chaffee, AR (in one of the three Active Duty AC/RC BN's at Chaffee).

Thank you,
Stefan
 
just let me know we can plan something i worked on chaffee for 2 years
when jrtc was there my brother jeff still works there in the miles section
bb
 
You are getting the hang of it Stefan. Keep at it and it will all come together.
Thats a neat lil cable knife. bruce
 
Thanks Bruce!

Cadillac,
Jeff probably just recently dealt with one of my guys. We just had a change of command yesterday and had to borrow some equipment.
 
Stefanj Great Job! looks similar to Ariel's pressed cable knives! May I ask did you pre-clean the cable? if not you might try this next time, you will get a better weld. To clean it set it in a can of Gasoline over night to loosen the oil and grime in the middle of the cable. then flush with new gas and let dry over night. also when working with cable you need to bring it up to red, borax and re-twist in the same direction I normally do this 2x then start forging my overall shape. anyway GREAT WORK!

Jason
 
birdog4 said:
Jason, this is clean cable, no grease or oil.
Click to expand...

I recieved the cable from Bruce. It was clean and by far the easest thing I have ever worked (in my limited experience). I need to measure it out, I think it is about a foot long.
 
I was amazed at how easy it was to forge weld. Now the Cable Damascus knife I made for my boss needed that treatment (I didn't even think about doing that, but now I know). I am waaaaaayyyyyyyy to wastefull of the Borax and my forge floorssssss.

Someone said to mix the borax in water and place the cable in there before welding.

I need to order more borax! With how I keep burning up my forge floor I will keep ellis in the refractory business for a while (except when I'm deployed next year).
 
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