New guy with beginner questions...

F

FOX-

Joined
Nov 6, 2004
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I new here and know relatively nothing about the craft of making blades so I'm not even going to pretend I know what I'm talking about.

I've been carving knives and swords from wood for a little while and I think I'm finally ready to move up to the next level. I think I'm going to start with a small blade made out of a light metal, aluminum? Should I make some blanks and go from there? I want to heat it up in a furnace, and hammer it out. I think there is a special term for that but it escapes me. How hot should I let the metal get before I hammer it, Melting or just red? What type of hammer would be best, ball or flat? How many ounces? Can you temper aluminum? I think that all I need to know right now. Sorry for the stupidity of this post but I figured I had to do it some time.

Thanks for any help,
FOX-
 
It is called forging. I don't know about hammering on hot aluminum. Sounds scary to me. The bladesmiths (those that forge) can advise you better about that.

RL
 
rlinger said:
It is called forging. I don't know about hammering on hot aluminum. Sounds scary to me. The bladesmiths (those that forge) can advise you better about that.

RL
Click to expand...

Thanks, as for the aluminum, will it splatter/chip?
 
I would not bother with aluminum. I am sure it can be forged, but the metal will not move the same under the hammer as steel does. Plus aluminum will not make a good knife that can hold an edge.

If you just want to practice grinding and or forging metal, go to your local scrap yard or hardware store and buy some 1/4 x 1.25 bar and practice with that. At least you will be using steel. But again that wil not be able to be hardened either.

To forge you will need a heat source (the forge), an anvil or anthing suitable to beat on, and a hammer. I use a 2 pound cross peen hammer 90% of the time.

Anyway, welcome to the world of knife making. Ask a bunch of questions and use the search function frequently.
 
I would advise you to go to the library,view a few online tutorials,and purchase a book on knifemaking.Before you start heating metal to 1600+ degrees you should have a good understanding of what is about to happen.You are in N.C.,there is a great assn. - the North Carolina Custom Knifemakers Guild.Go to their web site.They have classes all the time.There are a lot of bladesmiths in NC. that would be glad to help you learn.Contact the guild. www.ncknifegiuld.org
Aluminum won't work.Don't do it.
 
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