- Joined
- Nov 1, 2005
- Messages
- 325
I have stated previously that a smith has agreed to teach me. This past weekend I got started. The smith's name is Wayne Short. We sat for a time talking about smithing and the processes involved. He discussed general safety and handleing of the steel. We then went into his shop and took the tour. He let me watch as he oiled his 100# little giant. He said," If I ever let you do this, son. It means I trust you." I looked on line later and found out why. He then told me that What we were going to do today was start forging a clip point bowie.
As the forge was heating up he drew out what he was aiming for. He placed a piece of steel in the forge and fired up the giant. I was shown the way that the peddle worked and got to see how my foot perssure made the hammer respond. With the steel heated I watched as he used the dies to thin and round the point. I got to act as a striker and cut the tip off. Not sure of the terminoligy. Mr. Short took a retangular bar 1/4 thick and made the corners touch. Thats what we cut out. He forged the blade out to a rough shape and asked how I was with a hammer. H explained that he was gonna tap an area on the blade and he wanted me to hit it with the larger hammer. . When we finished hammering he heated the blade up and shoved it down into a barrel of powder.
Next time I get to forge a blade for myself. I chose W1. I hope to get pics.
Sorry for the longish post
As the forge was heating up he drew out what he was aiming for. He placed a piece of steel in the forge and fired up the giant. I was shown the way that the peddle worked and got to see how my foot perssure made the hammer respond. With the steel heated I watched as he used the dies to thin and round the point. I got to act as a striker and cut the tip off. Not sure of the terminoligy. Mr. Short took a retangular bar 1/4 thick and made the corners touch. Thats what we cut out. He forged the blade out to a rough shape and asked how I was with a hammer. H explained that he was gonna tap an area on the blade and he wanted me to hit it with the larger hammer. . When we finished hammering he heated the blade up and shoved it down into a barrel of powder.
Next time I get to forge a blade for myself. I chose W1. I hope to get pics.
Sorry for the longish post
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