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Beginning Knifemaker!

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  • msharley

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    Feb 28, 2021
    24,704
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    Central Pennsylvania
    I watched a couple of videos yesterday, and I have an old wheelbarrow that I started making into one. Thanks for the tip.
    Hey Axxe,

    When smelting lead for our own usage (use CERTIFIED ALLOY for customer's projectiles) we use house coal.

    The Mine is just across the road from my Chiropractor....We use a small fan for "draft"...heats the pot in a hurry.

    Later, Mark
     

    Axxe55

    Retiretgtshit stirrer
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    Dec 15, 2019
    47,021
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    Lost in East Texas Elhart Texas
    Hey Axxe,

    When smelting lead for our own usage (use CERTIFIED ALLOY for customer's projectiles) we use house coal.

    The Mine is just across the road from my Chiropractor....We use a small fan for "draft"...heats the pot in a hurry.

    Later, Mark
    I welded a pipe into the bottom that I can hook up a hose from the shop vac to. That way I can force air into the forge. I'll post pictures later today.
     

    msharley

    TGT Addict
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    Feb 28, 2021
    24,704
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    Central Pennsylvania
    I welded a pipe into the bottom that I can hook up a hose from the shop vac to. That way I can force air into the forge. I'll post pictures later today.
    Hey Axxe,

    That may be TOO MUCH? air??? (unless ya got the "kammy model"...which only SUX!)

    We use a 6" variable speed box fan ($10 at the Dollar Store)....mostly on low or medium...


    1647526965618.png


    You'll get a feel for how much air is "right"....

    Later, Mark
     

    Axxe55

    Retiretgtshit stirrer
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    Dec 15, 2019
    47,021
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    Lost in East Texas Elhart Texas
    Hey Axxe,

    That may be TOO MUCH? air??? (unless ya got the "kammy model"...which only SUX!)

    We use a 6" variable speed box fan ($10 at the Dollar Store)....mostly on low or medium...



    View attachment 309072

    You'll get a feel for how much air is "right"....

    Later, Mark
    One of my shop vacs has an exhaust port and pushes air out of it. I thought it might be too much air flow, but it seems to work pretty good so far.

    Thanks to @mongoose for the tip of making a wheelbarrow forge. Built one the other day.

    dSePfUNl.jpg


    <a href=""><img src="" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>
     

    IXLR8

    TGT Addict
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    May 19, 2009
    4,418
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    Republic of Texas
    When I was I high school before Karen was in charge, I took metal shop. My shop teacher said we could make a blade. He mentioned the two best choices for donor metal were a leaf spring, or a metal file.
    After annealing the metal file, I shaped it to its final form. After weeks of forming, grinding, and wishing, my blade was taking shape. An unexpected error broke the hilt off. After brazing it back on, it was never completed.
    I watch forged in fire with the enthusiasm I had wished I had at the time.
    I wish all of you the best in completing your projects. It is an item that will endure for a millennium.
     

    Axxe55

    Retiretgtshit stirrer
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Dec 15, 2019
    47,021
    96
    Lost in East Texas Elhart Texas
    When I was I high school before Karen was in charge, I took metal shop. My shop teacher said we could make a blade. He mentioned the two best choices for donor metal were a leaf spring, or a metal file.
    After annealing the metal file, I shaped it to its final form. After weeks of forming, grinding, and wishing, my blade was taking shape. An unexpected error broke the hilt off. After brazing it back on, it was never completed.
    I watch forged in fire with the enthusiasm I had wished I had at the time.
    I wish all of you the best in completing your projects. It is an item that will endure for a millennium.
    Old files can be fashioned into some good knives, because they usually are made of some pretty good steel to begin with.. Plus they are already hardened, so all they need is tempering, which can be done in an oven. But they can be forged as well. Leaf springs are a good donor as well, but require heat treating and tempering. Depends on the thickness of the leaf as to how to fashion a blade though. Can be forged or stock removal method.
     

    candcallen

    Crotchety, Snarky, Truthful. You'll get over it.
    Emeritus - "Texas Proud"
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    Jul 23, 2011
    21,358
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    Little Elm
    Link to non heat treated 5160 leaf spring steel. He mails it out in flat rate boxes.


    Screenshot_20220318-201522_Facebook.jpg
     

    mongoose

    Well-Known
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    Sep 10, 2012
    1,289
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    nm
    One of my shop vacs has an exhaust port and pushes air out of it. I thought it might be too much air flow, but it seems to work pretty good so far.

    Thanks to @mongoose for the tip of making a wheelbarrow forge. Built one the other day.

    dSePfUNl.jpg


    <a href=""><img src="" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

    My buddy used smaller firebrick to line the tub. But hey, whatever works.
     
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