OT: Small (very small) scale blade forging

Sylvrfalcn

Sylvrfalcn

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Jun 4, 2002
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If you're like me you eventually want to get a full size forge set up. And, if you're like me, you don't want to wait that long to hammer hot steel. Found out by hook and crook that square cut masonry nails are made out of the same W1 tool steel that metal cutting files are. Since they're so small a good propane burner will easily bring them up to forging temps. What you going to make out of something that small? Well, I made myself a set of wood carving tools, complete with a variety of chisels, a gouge, wharncliffe bladed whittlers, and even a full curve Swedish spoon carving knife. Used oak dowel rod to make the handles, and small diameter copper pipe caps for the ferrules. Whole rig, including the box of nails, set me back about six bucks. Payoff; properly forged, hardened, and tempered, these tools take and hold an extremely fine edge, far more satisfactory than any "store bought" carving sets I've used.

So, if you want to start learning how to forge and heat treat steel, but don't have the bucks to spring for the full rig, you can get some good training and experience by forging "micro-blades" out of concrete nails. Most better bookstores/libraries have books on blacksmithing to get you off on the right foot.

Dirty deeds done dirt cheap,
Sarge
 
That is really nice work. I think anyone into woodcarving would want some tools like that.
 
Sarge, you never cease to amaze me with the nice things you make from nearly nothing! We need a "bow down" smiley. Outstanding!

Steve
 
bowdown.gif


As I said...using img tags to use something from the web.

Thanks and good stuff Sarge!
 
Howard Wallace said:
Cool!


Can you forge several nails together for a larger blade?
Click to expand...

pattern welded micro-seaxes and micro-kukhris! email sent on 3/4" birds-eye damascus micro-kukhri with FeCl etch. you probably can use a micro-teapot from a doll house to differentially harden the edge! the possibities are staggering! just think of all the storage space we can revert back to the wife's tender care as we sell off our old macro-kukhris which are becoming obsolete and replace them with our new wootz micro-blades! - oops, scratch that, don't want to go there.
 
tho a 3/4in. damascus micro-kukhri might be just the thing for thinning a bonsai. mental note to self: add to 'to do' list to ask dannyinjapan

another mental memo to self: as the kukhri is only 3/4", this is unlikely to degenerate into another bear thread.
 
Sorry to disappoint guys, but pattern weld and damascus requires a real forge set up. To forge weld steel I'd need a higher temperature than I can obtain with my propane burner (which is actually my old backpacking stove cranked up on "high heat").

Still, tinkering with the concrete nails is more than just idle amusement. I got to learn how to draw the steel out and shape it like I want it, and how to properly harden it and temper it. By learning the skills involved and adding them to my "toolbox" I'll be able to hit the ground running when I do get a full size forge set up.

Glad y'all got a kick out of my little experiment.

Sarge
 
As they say, "the proof's in the pudding", so I've included a pic of my latest woodcarving project, carved entirely with my homemade tools.

No, it's not a horse (don't know why people keep asking me that), it's a dragon head inspired by Viking age burial remains at Gokstad. And no, it's not expensive basswood, it's inexpensive and readily obtainable poplar from good old Lowe's hardware. I'm still in the "roughing out" stage with it, the finished product should look fairly nice. I'll probably just give it away to a friend, as I'm often wont to do with such knick knacks. For me the satisfaction is in the making.

Three dollar dragon's head. Dirty deeds done dirt cheap. ;)

Sarge,
gang now that I'm retired I can give full vent to my creative energy, if I start getting to be a bit of a bore, y'all just give me a friendly slap upside the noggin, and I'll tinker more quietly
 
Sarge said:
Found out by hook and crook that square cut masonry nails are made out of the same W1 tool steel that metal cutting files are.
Click to expand...

Sarge, this is what I'd like to learn more about.;) :p :D
How on earth by "hook and/or crook" did you learn that these particular nails are W1 Steel? :confused:

And I *Wonder* just what other kinds of very useful information may be just laying around waiting for someone with "hook and/or crook" tendencies to unearth for the edification of the rest of us.:eek:

Dayum!!!! I'll bet if the *right* question were asked we could have the secret to Whirled Peas in an instant.:rolleyes: :p ;) :D :thumbup:
 
Yvsa, I learned a good trick by observing children. Often on the archery range they will find lost arrows the rest of us overlooked. Children don't take things for granted like we do, so instead of looking for what ought to be there, they see everything that is there. A whole wealth of useful information can be glossed right over by focusing on a fixed objective. Another way to put it is, when navigating through a swamp/jungle, don't look at the trees, look through them. Your eyes already know the trees are there, so by shifting your focus, you'll start seeing things that would otherwise be invisible to you.

Philosophy aside, there's no substitute for earnest and open minded research/study. You never know where you'll stumble across useful information to add to your "tool kit".

<break break> Cliff, if you're a fan of the Woodwright's Shop, you're a man after my own heart. Roy Underhill is one of my personal heroes, and can do more without electricity than most folks could do with a shop full of high tech tools. Guys like him are vitally important to keeping traditional skills alive for future generations to appreciate. I also saw the episode you described, and truth be told, it's the one that inspired me to make my own woodcarving tools. That's the sort of influence shows like his can have. I see no utility whatsoever in "drivel television" like Fear Factor and such.

Sarge
 
Nice work :thumbup: Greg!
Speaking of forges. this nice little tutorial was posted in "Shop Talk" a little while back: "Paint Can Forge". I also found some other examples and plans on the web and put them on a links page (towards the bottom).
As always, I enjoy seeing your work posted.
Regards,
Greg
 
A MAPP gas torch gets hot enough to forge small stuff. Looks like a propane torch only yellow instead of blue :) Costs about the same too.
 
Ripper aka Greg, those are the absolute Best Sword and Knife Links I have Ever Seen!!!!:thumbup: :D

Many, Many, Thanks!!!! :D :cool: I just spent a couple, three hours browsing around in them. Learned a helluva lot about the Seax and the Viking Weapons on top of what I already knew.:cool: :D
 
Thank you for the kind words Yvsa. I'm glad you found the page useful :)
Major kudos to all those that have taken the time to freely share their knowledge (including yourself and many others in the Cantina) and make the web such an amazing place.
Regards,
Greg
 
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