prefered size for forging stock

[T. J.]

On the general principle that if your buying your steel by the pound, you might as well get it in the easiest size to start with, What size do you guys prefer to use when forging a blade? (yea yea, I know, it depends on how big a blade, so throw that info in too

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[Phillip Jones]

The only thing I have to put into this is, use a size that keeps you from having to do a lot of extra work in the fire. The more heats you give a blade the more carbon you can burn off.

Somebody correct me if I am wrong and save me the embarassment.

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[Osbourn]

I like to start with round stock when I can. It's easier to shape. Flat stock tends to roll up on the sides when it's being profiled. I use stock that's a little shorter than the finished product will be, and a bit thicker. That way I have room to draw out the length, and grind down all of my awful hammermarks on the width. It also takes care of some decarburization in the grinding that way by removing the burnt steel.

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Oz

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It's a waste of time and it annoys the pig."
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[lively]

I prefer round stock, for a bowie I start with 7/8" diameter usually. Round stock is cheaper by the pound, But I think it's real advantage is in it's ability to be forged into any shape. You can forge round stock flat if you want to but it would be a lot tougher to forge flat stock round. So for me it just seems more versitle for contolling the movement of the steel. But I'm trying to keep my stock reduction down to absolute minimums. If this isn't a concern then flat stock would be faster.