Ha ha; I have finally been successful in uploading those pieces of steel I have made in my blacksmithing experience!
Feast your eyes upon my failure in metalworking.
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/blacksmithing/Photoon10-10-14at735AM_zps4d78e5c0.jpg)
This is the first knife I made. (It was one of the first things I ever made. . .) Looking back, I cringe at it and my inexperience.
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/blacksmithing/Photoon10-10-14at742AM_zps5ef5fe4c.jpg)
Here are some later works. From left to right, there is a wall hanger, my try at welding a chain, a small fire poker (made the same day as above trench knife), and a meat turner. Notice the beautifully twisted handle on the turner, and the equally handsome ring I forged at the bottom. 8) ;D
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/blacksmithing/Photoon10-10-14at733AM_zps05102f14.jpg)
One of my favorites so far, is this mini-bowie knife I made. Mahogany handle. ;D ;D And there is the tank of a sheath I made for it; carved out of oak and made the belt strap with sheet metal. :P
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/blacksmithing/Photoon10-10-14at750AM_zps5bec7f64.jpg)
Some of you might know that I was making a fillet knife; now you can see it. I burned the tang of the knife (the metal part in the handle) through the wood so I wouldn't have to split the wood. The tang itself is tapered so as to have a tight fit, and I riveted it through the handle and the copper cap to give it a more solid construction.
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/blacksmithing/Photoon10-10-14at728AM_zpsc2c00057.jpg)
Most recent make, here is a skinning knife. I rather like this one.
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/blacksmithing/Photoon10-10-14at739AM_zps62257446.jpg)
Lastly, the work-in-progress. This dagger is made of 1084 carbon steel; excellent stuff. I still need to draw out the tang, make the guard, handle, and pommel, as well as harden and temper it.
I love blacksmithing. ;D :D
If any of you have questions as to how I made these or if you would like to see more of these in the future, please comment. :)
*Is freaking out* Those are amazing! When I saw the first one I was like. If you think that is bad then what dose something you think is good look like. ;D Really amazing. But I get it I will looks at my old art and be like. What alien influence induced me to draw this. But I could never do anything like that. Really really cool. No offence that I didn't ask you about how you made it. Its just that I wouldn't understand a word you said if you did. I'l Just admire them from the side lines. ;D
I better not show my brother those. He'd be so jealous. He's always wanted to do stuff like that. ::)
I'll take that as a compliment.
Thanks for looking!
Hm. You are more competent than I. Some of my stuff looks similar, but I'm sure isn't nearly as sharp or well-made. And I have constant help and instruction, which is something (from the way you refer to blacksmithing) that you don't seem to use.
I have to agree with Faiy, your first knife looks quite nice, though I can see the things you might not like about. I think.
Nicely done.
Yeah, instruction is always very nice. :P The last one (the unfinished dagger) I had some help from a knife maker, David Lisch (look him up; he's awesome).
As to what you said about my first knife: It's mild steel, the cross-guard is too large, it's not very well attached to the knife, it has no spine, the blade twists, and it's rusting. :P :P :P
Quote from: The Skarzs on October 10, 2014, 06:12:56 PM
I'll take that as a compliment.
Thanks for looking!
It was, and their really good.
Holy crackers! They're awesome! Although, seriously, the first knife you made isn't that bad. You made it, so you see it's flaws. Sure, the crossguard/hilt thingy is a bit big, and the blade has dents in it, and it's got a few rust spots here and there, but otherwise, it looks nice!
You were just talking about that skinning knife. And the bowie knife. They look nice!
Thanks. (I'm surprised no one asked about my gnarled hands. . .)
They don't look all that gnarled. ::)
Very good stuff ya got here! Me likey. Me likey a lot. ;D
That's what I want to do! But, when your backyard is the size of a penny... You can't really do much. It's hard to smith without a shop... :P
Wow. Those are all awesome!
Glad you like them. :)
Wow. These are pretty darn awesome. ;D
I showed these to my eight-year-old brother, and he wants you to make a katana for him. How much would you charge? ;D
Um. . . I haven't gotten into sword-making yet, and katanas are especially tricky for beginners like myself.
I would charge probably $50 - $100 for a good katana. :P
Hmm, that's a very good deal for a hand-made katana, definitely.
Quote from: The Skarzs on October 11, 2014, 12:40:21 AM
Um. . . I haven't gotten into sword-making yet, and katanas are especially tricky for beginners like myself.
I would charge probably $50 - $100 for a good katana. :P
Lol, okay.
Have you ever seen the site Cold Steel (http://coldsteel.com)? I've seen some of their demo videos once or twice - they sell knives and fully-functional replica swords.
Huh, I've seen 'em. I don't like them because they're all like "You
need this sword. This sword
will save your life." and "You can find no
better quality weapon than what
we sell." ::) (I'm sorry, but that whole marketing ploy isn't working for me. . .)
Quote from: rusvulthesaber on October 11, 2014, 01:05:31 AM
Hmm, that's a very good deal for a hand-made katana, definitely.
For the quality I would probably make, it's accurate. :P
Wow! You really got some talent!
Thank you!
Those are really cool-looking, Skarzs! Nice job!
Hey Skarz forgive my ignorance but, to shape the blade you need a cast right? And if so, did you need to make the cast?
Nope. Heat the metal and hammer it. Casting works for other things, usually when you need something more finely detailed than is easy with a hammer. I've not heard of casting weapons but I'd imagine it might be possible.
(http://forum.reapermini.com/index.php?/topic/48140-cashs-workbench/page-74)
Hopefully that image works, but that is what steel looks like when it's heated to workable temperatures. (Around 1000-2100 degrees F) You use an anvil
(http://www.abana.org/resources/discus/messages/2662/2913.html?1289782324)
as the working face to pound out the shape.
Quote from: The Mask on October 11, 2014, 07:27:46 AM
Hey Skarz forgive my ignorance but, to shape the blade you need a cast right? And if so, did you need to make the cast?
Ignorance forgiven. ;) When casting steel, the steel kind of turns into cast iron; not good for knives, especially.
Quote from: rusvulthesaber on October 11, 2014, 04:12:23 PM
I've not heard of casting weapons but I'd imagine it might be possible.
You could cast bronze weapons, but you would still have to work it to compress the material.
Those are awesome looking!
Quote from: The Skarzs on October 11, 2014, 02:54:57 AM
Huh, I've seen 'em. I don't like them because they're all like "You need this sword. This sword will save your life." and "You can find no better quality weapon than what we sell." ::) (I'm sorry, but that whole marketing ploy isn't working for me. . .)
Haha, okay. Just thought you might be interested, it being all about swords and such.
Well, if I hadn't known about them, I would have taken a look since you told me. :)
Quote from: Lady Amber on October 11, 2014, 10:57:47 PM
Those are awesome looking!
Thanks!
I'm going to be uploading a picture of a new knife shortly; thank you all for taking a look!
Sorry for the double post, but here is the new knife as promised.
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/blacksmithing/Photoon10-16-14at150PM_zps98be8913.jpg)
Pretty simple, but it's more experience for me. It's about 11 inches from tip to pommel, with oak handle and copper rivets.
That looks pretty nice. Simple, as you said, but nice. Rivets are annoying to drive in.
Yeah, I messed up a tiny bit on the top rivet, and was considering drilling it out. :P
Quote from: The Skarzs on October 16, 2014, 10:02:15 PM
Sorry for the double post, but here is the new knife as promised.
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/Photoon10-16-14at150PM_zps98be8913.jpg)
Pretty simple, but it's more experience for me. It's about 11 inches from tip to pommel, with oak handle and copper rivets.
Wow! This looks
Amazing!, I'm wondering would you sell these?
Glad you like it! :D
I would sell them, but I shall state the problems arising from doing so. :-\ This is to everyone, not just Rocktree here.
I must be responsible with whom I sell it to. That means you either know me in real life and I know you to be smart enough to be able to own a knife, or you are eighteen or older.
I don't want to open your location to the internet. In order to sell a knife, I would have to ship it or otherwise be able to get it to your house. This would mean knowing an address, and I don't want to force information out of people, especially when the whole world might be able to see it with a click.
I would become a business. That means keeping charts of who I sell to, the amount of money received, the price of materials, etc. Unfortunately, I can't deal with that right now; I have enough on my plate already.
Anyways, those are the reasons I am hesitant to sell knives; I hope no one is too disappointed.
Quote from: The Skarzs on October 11, 2014, 02:54:57 AM
Huh, I've seen 'em. I don't like them because they're all like "You need this sword. This sword will save your life." and "You can find no better quality weapon than what we sell." ::) (I'm sorry, but that whole marketing ploy isn't working for me. . .)
Quote from: rusvulthesaber on October 11, 2014, 01:05:31 AM
Hmm, that's a very good deal for a hand-made katana, definitely.
For the quality I would probably make, it's accurate. :P
But, Cold Steel is amazing! >:(
Also, blades a fricken awesome. I love the pretty ones with the ruts in the middle...
I didn't understand that. :P
'Blades are freaking awesome?' I think?
"Pretty ones with the ruts in the middle. . ." The rivets in the handles, or does he mean swords with fullers? :P
Sounded like fullers to me.
Those are pretty cool!
I can definitely tell the first one isn't as good as the others.
My favorite would definitely be the skinning knife - That would have been very helpful for my 300 LB pig I shot a year ago. Anyway, Awesome!
That's kind of a funny typo...
A sinning knife? ;D (How the fluff does a knife sin?) Anyway, thanks for looking, Tam! I'm sure a skinning knife would be most useful in such an occasion. ;)
::) ::) ::)
I was being perfectly honest. :P I know how frustrating it can be without the proper tools. :P
Quote from: The Skarzs on October 16, 2014, 10:02:15 PM
Sorry for the double post, but here is the new knife as promised.
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/Photoon10-16-14at150PM_zps98be8913.jpg)
Pretty simple, but it's more experience for me. It's about 11 inches from tip to pommel, with oak handle and copper rivets.
Preeettyyyyyy. ^-^
;D ;D ;D ;D
Nearly caught my pants on fire today. . . So yeah. . . That was definitely. . . a thing. . . :P
"AND REMEMBER KIDS: ALWAYS BE CAREFUL WITH FLYING SPARKS WHEN CUTTING HIGH CARBON STEEL WITH AN ANGLE GRINDER." :P :P :P
*Facepalm* Really?! I mean, REALLY?!
Just don't do it. :P
Quote from: The Skarzs on October 25, 2014, 03:19:15 AM
;D ;D ;D ;D
Nearly caught my pants on fire today. . . So yeah. . . That was definitely. . . a thing. . . :P
"AND REMEMBER KIDS: ALWAYS BE CAREFUL WITH FLYING SPARKS WHEN CUTTING HIGH CARBON STEEL WITH AN ANGLE GRINDER." :P :P :P
That'll do it.
No kidding.
Well, I was cutting the leaf spring for this project here: a kukri for my brother for Christmas. Well, I had spent three and a half hours forging, another three hours grinding, and I decide to test it out. First six hits it was fine, cutting the wood literally as well as an axe. But then. . .
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/blacksmithing/Photoon10-27-14at831AM_zpsdc1d1136.jpg)
Ouch......
And that is really thick metal! It's more than a quarter inch nearly all the way to the tip! The blade is. . . was a foot long, and even with that piece broken off it weighs nearly three pounds. o-o
What were you throwing it into to make it do that?
I was hacking at a two-by-four. I know why it broke: I hadn't tempered it. In it's hardened state it was, in essence, as brittle as glass, the carbon having aligned in a crystalline structure, strong in some ways but weak in others.
On the up side, I know that I successfully hardened it. :P
Ooooohhhhhhh.......That would make sense.
Yeah.
Okay, so I tried to forge-weld it, but it turns out that there were numerous fractures along the entirety of the blade: unfixable. It might be because I neglected to anneal the metal before hardening it, but then again, leaf springs are notorious for fracturing. More testing is required.
On the upside, I made another one, and am currently working on it.
Oh I hate it when that happens... well not that exactly but when something you are working really hard on gets destroyed. Its good that you had enough time to make another one. How long dose it take you on average to finish one of those?
I'm keeping it just as a reminder to myself.
As to how long it takes, it depends. On something of this size, anywhere from two to six hours. Also, I have some advice for everyone. . .
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/Photoon11-1-14at1007PM_zpsd87212df.jpg)
. . . In the blacksmith shop, all metal is to be considered hot. You can't see it very well, but I have third and second degree burns all over my hand.
ow *cringes* That looks painful. The worst burn I ever got was a glue gun that touched my wrist. I can't even imagine how painful that must be.
I'm fine; I'm also sure I'll get worse in years to come. A lot of my skin is shriveled and hardened, so it's gonna be a couple weeks before I get full feeling back into them, but thankfully the pain is gone, for now.
...I now see the reasoning behind your username. *Overprotective naggy mother voice* Now Skarzsy-chan, you need to be more careful when smithing! My goodness, you'll be dead before you're thirty at this rate!
"Every thing that kills me makes me feel alive." -Counting Stars.
Yeah, there's not much left between the outside and the meat in that one spot. Frankly, I've gotten used to getting hurt, and my pain threshold helps.
Nice Burns Bro! ;D
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger ~ Kelly Clarkson - Stronger ;)
Quote from: Tam and Martin on November 03, 2014, 12:37:01 PM
Nice Burns Bro! ;D
The Brotherhood of Nice Burns
TM ;D
Quote from: Faiyloe on November 03, 2014, 05:44:20 PM
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger ~ Kelly Clarkson - Stronger ;)
Indeed.
:D
Oooooowwwwwwch. That's got to hurt. Porr guy! *Hugs* (I once burnt my arm and the crease between my pinkie and the finger next to it very, very badly, and I can't image that all over my hand. Do I even want to know how you did that?)
Quote from: Faiyloe on November 03, 2014, 05:44:20 PM
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger ~ Kelly Clarkson - Stronger ;)
You know, I really do love that song.
I picked up the kukri while it was still 600 degrees. :P
dang, 600 degrees?! o.0
And I thought it hurt burning my hand on a stove!... well, actually, it did. But probably not as much as a really REAAAAALLY hot stove that's 600 degrees lol. Good to see you're alright
Heh; make sure to wear some protective gloves. ;D (Like I didn't do. :P)
:D ;D
Hypothetically speaking, with your current skill level, would you be able to make a frying pan? ;)
Quote from: The Skarzs on November 04, 2014, 06:18:18 PM
I picked up the kukri while it was still 600 degrees. :P
Why did you pick it up?
Quote from: Faiyloe on November 07, 2014, 02:59:47 AM
Hypothetically speaking, with your current skill level, would you be able to make a frying pan? ;)
If I had the right piece of metal, yes, actually. ;D I would have to fold up the sides to make walls of the height I want, and then rivet a handle on.
Quote from: Leatho Shellhound on November 07, 2014, 03:24:53 AM
Quote from: The Skarzs on November 04, 2014, 06:18:18 PM
I picked up the kukri while it was still 600 degrees. :P
Why did you pick it up?
I was going to show it to my mom, who had stepped into the room to see how I was doing, and I forgot it was still very hot.
Quote from: The Skarzs on November 07, 2014, 03:40:43 AM
Quote from: Leatho Shellhound on November 07, 2014, 03:24:53 AM
Quote from: The Skarzs on November 04, 2014, 06:18:18 PM
I picked up the kukri while it was still 600 degrees. :P
Why did you pick it up?
I was going to show it to my mom, who had stepped into the room to see how I was doing, and I forgot it was still very hot.
I see, that makes sence.
Here is the second kukri I'm making, and it is plainly seen the tempering colors after I had it in the oven at 400 degrees F. for about an hour and a half.
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/blacksmithing/Photoon11-13-14at305PM_zps35a2a1d9.jpg)
oooooooooOOOOOOOoooooo fancy :D
You should try to make Martin the Warrior's sword!!!
I can't say I haven't considered it, though it might be a couple of years before I do end up making it, let alone a sword. :D
Have you considered making a smaller scale version? Perhaps Martin's sword as a letter opener? That way it'd be size accurate, too!
Man, Skarzs, you're so talented! I've tried blacksmith myself and found it to be quite hard!
Quote from: Captain Tammo on November 13, 2014, 11:32:32 PM
Have you considered making a smaller scale version? Perhaps Martin's sword as a letter opener? That way it'd be size accurate, too!
Hadn't thought of that. . . Interesting.
Quote from: Conrad the Painless on November 13, 2014, 11:35:06 PM
Man, Skarzs, you're so talented! I've tried blacksmith myself and found it to be quite hard!
It takes a lot of practice and patience, and I've met people who've been blacksmithing for years and years and still claim that they're are always learning or improving.
Do you ever sell any of your works?
I'm getting to that point. ;)
Swords are hard. The difficulty of making something increases drastically when you decide it should be three feet long instead of one and a half.
Kukris are good. That one looks like a kukri, thus, it is good. Logic.
Logic= Logical. Though, I had to make it look like a banana before I could start forging the bevel :P (the angle for the blade edge).
Quote from: rusvulthesaber on November 16, 2014, 11:18:18 PM
Swords are hard. The difficulty of making something increases drastically when you decide it should be three feet long instead of one and a half.
I would imagine so, which is why I am going to wait a while before I make a sword for the first time.
What kind of sword do you think it'll be?
You seen my picture of Argunath? It's that sword.
And here is the finished product of the kukri I've made for my brother for Christmas.
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/blacksmithing/Photoon12-13-14at935AM_zpsbf5b9a15.jpg)
Finished before Christmas ;)
Yup! Can't wait to see what he thinks of it.
So pwetty. ^-^ (Seriously though, that's an awesome kukri. I really like the look of the hilt. :))
Thanks! :D It's hand-carved out of oak, with a copper cap at the transition of wood to blade to keep it from splitting. The tang goes all the way through, and is tapped so I could bolt it tight onto itself. It's also filled with epoxy, so it's going nowhere. ;)
That is some swell work bro!
Thanks, Leatho!
Very nice!
Awesome, I have a desire to own one of these. Mmmmmm......
I'm glad you approve. ;)
Here's one I finished today (Christmas Eve).
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/blacksmithing/wdknife_zpsf752a939.jpg)
I really like this little guy. :D
I have a desire to make one of these...Unfortunately not all of us are as gifted as you, Skarz-San. ;D
Wow, Skarzs. That might be the nicest shiv I've ever seen... Not makeshift in any way, just really small. :P
Amazing!
Thank you, Sage!
Quote from: Mask on December 25, 2014, 05:47:33 AM
I have a desire to make one of these...Unfortunately not all of us are as gifted as you, Skarz-San. ;D
Why, thank you for the compliment. ;D As to making them, it's really not hard. :P First metal knife I made was a sharpened sawz-all blade stuck into a stick. It's nothing I am proud of.
Quote from: rusvulthesaber on December 25, 2014, 01:36:46 PM
Wow, Skarzs. That might be the nicest shiv I've ever seen... Not makeshift in any way, just really small. :P
;D Thank you, Rus. ;D Yeah, I suppose it IS a bit of a shiv, but it's quite comfortable and it works alright for wood carving. Part of the reason it's so small was because I was trying to use up the last bit of material. :P
...Shiv. Two mana. Deal one damage and draw a card.
Hearthstone.
Wow, that is nice. Do you watch Skallagrim's channel and Lindybeige's channel on youtube? Just asking.
Yes I do, but I watch Lindybeige far less frequently.
'Kay, so I found out what kind of knife (shiv) that basically is: It is closest in shape to a very small seax.
(http://www.kultofathena.com/images/MP01B.jpg)
(Good website, Kult of Athena, wot?)
Anyways, this is a Viking utility/eating/fighting knife, and the overall length is nearly 7 inches, the blade being nearly 3.
And it costs $131.95.
GGAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
@Skarzs Cool, I watch them too, I love lindybeige's voice. Mmmmmm. That knife is overpriced, is it battle ready though? And does it need additional sharpening services. If it does, totally not worth it. And have you tried making a messer? Just asking.
It is overpriced, but it gives me hope in possibly selling my knives at a higher price than I think. ;D It says that it is sharp, and battle ready, but I have no way of checking that.
And yeah, I've considered making a messer before, but it's going to be a while before I make a sword.
@Skarzs. :o But a messer isn't a sword, it's a knife!
Um. . .
(http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=HN.608033173267547535&pid=15.1&H=106&W=160)(http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=HN.608044507691876669&pid=15.1&H=88&W=160)
These are what I'm talking about; I suppose the proper term is Grosse Messer, so I'll have to look up what a messer knife is.
Edit: You mean this little guy? :P
(http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=HN.608046745366432300&pid=15.1&H=160&W=160)
You've got the coolest hobby ever (and maybe hottest, too, judging by those burns...). If you don't mind my asking, why is a sword particularly hard to make? Is it the size of it, are special tools/skills/materials required, do you need to be a badger lord, etc.?
@Skarzs, watch Lindybeige's messer video to know what I mean.
EDIT: Here's a link to it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcLcsvw8rw0
Quote from: The Skarzs on December 29, 2014, 12:41:32 AM
Um. . .
(http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=HN.608033173267547535&pid=15.1&H=106&W=160)(http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=HN.608044507691876669&pid=15.1&H=88&W=160)
These are what I'm talking about; I suppose the proper term is Grosse Messer, so I'll have to look up what a messer knife is.
Edit: You mean this little guy? :P
(http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=HN.608046745366432300&pid=15.1&H=160&W=160)
Bro....
messer is simply the german word for knife....
Grosse Messer means big knife...
. . . I-. . . . . . . . . . *Goes to lie under a rock for infinity. . .* I don't know German. . . so. . . yeah.
With this additional knowledge, I might make a messer in the future. . .
Quote from: Mhera on December 29, 2014, 01:39:01 AM
You've got the coolest hobby ever (and maybe hottest, too, judging by those burns...). If you don't mind my asking, why is a sword particularly hard to make? Is it the size of it, are special tools/skills/materials required, do you need to be a badger lord, etc.?
Thanks! I really like my hobby as well. (Though the burns can be quite the pain in the rear, yes. . .)
What makes a sword difficult to make is a list:
The material: A sword needs a flexible and strong blade; that requires pretty specific materials if one wants a good blade. Such steels are available, they just require purchase.
The size: Problems arise when forging the sword because it becomes difficult to work around the piece itself. A lot of these problems can be solved with machinery like power hammers and big belt sanders, but I don't have those recourses right now. In addition to the making of it, tempering the blade properly and evenly without warping becomes more of a challenge with a longer blade.
And no; one does not need to be a badger lord to make a sword. ;)
Quote from: The Skarzs on December 29, 2014, 05:21:40 AM
. . . I-. . . . . . . . . . *Goes to lie under a rock for infinity. . .* I don't know German. . . so. . . yeah.
With this additional knowledge, I might make a messer in the future. . .
Quote from: Mhera on December 29, 2014, 01:39:01 AM
You've got the coolest hobby ever (and maybe hottest, too, judging by those burns...). If you don't mind my asking, why is a sword particularly hard to make? Is it the size of it, are special tools/skills/materials required, do you need to be a badger lord, etc.?
Thanks! I really like my hobby as well. (Though the burns can be quite the pain in the rear, yes. . .)
What makes a sword difficult to make is a list:
The material: A sword needs a flexible and strong blade; that requires pretty specific materials if one wants a good blade. Such steels are available, they just require purchase.
The size: Problems arise when forging the sword because it becomes difficult to work around the piece itself. A lot of these problems can be solved with machinery like power hammers and big belt sanders, but I don't have those recourses right now. In addition to the making of it, tempering the blade properly and evenly without warping becomes more of a challenge with a longer blade.
And no; one does not need to be a badger lord to make a sword. ;)
Isn't grosse french? Skarzs, can you make an axe head, or maybe even a spear head?
An axe head needs forge-welding, and it'll be a bit before my forge can do that, though a spear head will be made sooner.
Quote from: Lord_Ashenwyte on December 29, 2014, 09:53:12 AM
Isn't grosse french?
No, the french word for that would be "grand".
Okay, that all makes sense. Except what part would a belt sander play in making a sword or other metal work?
Quote from: The Skarzs on December 29, 2014, 03:42:48 PM
An axe head needs forge-welding, and it'll be a bit before my forge can do that, though a spear head will be made sooner.
Oh okay, do you also collect weapons?
Quote from: Leatho Shellhound on December 29, 2014, 05:28:48 PM
Quote from: Lord_Ashenwyte on December 29, 2014, 09:53:12 AM
Isn't grosse french?
No, the french word for that would be "grand".
Oh, well, I'm pretty sure grosse is a french word.
Quote from: Mhera on December 30, 2014, 12:27:32 AM
Okay, that all makes sense. Except what part would a belt sander play in making a sword or other metal work?
Belt
grinder: It allows one to get good grinding done on the metal that cannot be done with a hard-wheel grinder. It makes more uniform lines.
Quote from: Lord_Ashenwyte on December 30, 2014, 02:46:19 AM
Quote from: The Skarzs on December 29, 2014, 03:42:48 PM
An axe head needs forge-welding, and it'll be a bit before my forge can do that, though a spear head will be made sooner.
Oh okay, do you also collect weapons?
Not really. I mean, I've bought a cheap sabre, and I have an old China-made "katana" (piece of junk; $20. I didn't know what I was doing at ten years old. . .), but other than that, I don't have much in the collection of swords. :P
A katana... from China? Amaterasu help you
I want to break it.
I still think that you should make a replica of Martin the Warrior's sword, but on a small scale like a letter opener. It'll make it easier (hopefully), AND a mouse would actually be able to wield it XD
Quote from: The Skarzs on December 30, 2014, 06:31:17 PM
I want to break it.
Skallagrim broke cheap knives with a machete.
I bet it would be very satisfying to break it (Dat cheap katana) with your bare hands.
It's 3/16 in. thick; I'll have a heck of a time breaking it with my bare hands. :P
Quote from: Captain Tammo on December 31, 2014, 05:30:22 AM
I still think that you should make a replica of Martin the Warrior's sword, but on a small scale like a letter opener. It'll make it easier (hopefully), AND a mouse would actually be able to wield it XD
Once again, I would love to attempt it some time.
@Skarzs Well, you could do it with a good machete or dadao or axe or blah blah blah.
What?
I saw the photos. They're really good Skar!
Thanks a lot, Sky! :)
So. . . Here I can show you my extremely poor workmanship making armor.
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/blacksmithing/armor_zpsfb9db20e.jpg)
(Mmmmm. . . Bulging biceps.)
The forearm guard is built like a tank, and even though it's not tempered, it can stop a good hit.
The gauntlet, however, is too bulky, the pieces poorly fit to each other, and the metal hardly thick enough to be much protection.
These are pretty bad, but they're a start.
Mmm...Bulging biceps...mmmm...
;D
Well, at least you have the ability to make armor. And you're bound to improve.
Still, you built a gauntlet. The only armor I've ever made was shin guards... Basically that just involved cutting a stop sign (Don't tell anyone) and bending it. :P
This isn't much better: It's heat ducting sheet metal. :P Of course, what I did was double that up, then put a layer of roofing metal on top (the brown metal) and riveted them all together. So it's really thick, and I feel like giving it a good whack with my machete.
Quote from: Mask on January 03, 2015, 08:35:33 PM
Mmm...Bulging biceps...mmmm...
;D
;D ;D ;D ;D
Quote from: The Skarzs on January 03, 2015, 08:32:00 PM
Thanks a lot, Sky! :)
So. . . Here I can show you my extremely poor workmanship making armor.
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/armor_zpsfb9db20e.jpg)
(Mmmmm. . . Bulging biceps.)
The forearm guard is built like a tank, and even though it's not tempered, it can stop a good hit.
The gauntlet, however, is too bulky, the pieces poorly fit to each other, and the metal hardly thick enough to be much protection.
These are pretty bad, but they're a start.
Thats awesome. And you actually built it! That's way father then I would have done!
Same here! Doesn't help that you still gow out of armor... witch sounds weird.
Nice armour. Have you ever tried to make a hoplite cuirass?
Nope; I need some good sheet metal for something like that.
Quote from: The Skarzs on January 05, 2015, 02:58:22 AM
Nope; I need some good sheet metal for something like that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bg1iPL8eVeE
I was talkin' about something like this.
Ah. No, I've never really been interested in doing something like that. :P
Quote from: The Skarzs on January 05, 2015, 03:02:42 AM
Ah. No, I've never really been interested in doing something like that. :P
Ach, okay.
*Tries not to comment on how much it looks like an automail forearm*
Very awesome, Skarzsy-chan! You can make armour five thousand times better than I can! :P
It looks great, Skar! You'll get better at it.
Thanks, guys!
Now, I had gotten some good time to do some smithing on Saturday, and this is what I made:
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/blacksmithing/Photo%20on%201-26-15%20at%2012.53%20PM_zpswmpcwfgt.jpg)
After draw filing and rough outline shaping, here is the start of a bowie knife! (I have no idea when this'll be finished. . .)
Awesome. I was looking at the armor and realized it looked like OOM's armor. ;D
Thanks!
D'you think so? *Looks at OOM's armor, then at that.* Hmm, I do have a tendency to stick to relatively similar ideas. . .
BTW, that knife there is over 14 inches long, with 8 being the blade. It's awesome.
That's really cool!
*Wipes forehead.* Whew! Didn't realize that moving items into their own albums would cause every photo to be a box announcing that I had deleted or moved the image. :P
Soo. . . now that they are back to normal, I've got another picture for you guys: the fully heat-treated blade.
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/blacksmithing/WIN_20150221_220601_zpsweogbefk.jpg)
Ah, if you could only see the true beautiful colors. The back is blue, and the edge is the same color you see there.
Nice. Although I am not a fan of modern knives, this looks nice.
Bowie knives are so cool. 8) Great work!
Quote from: Lord_Ashenwyte on February 22, 2015, 06:47:42 AM
Nice. Although I am not a fan of modern knives, this looks nice.
May I ask what you mean by "modern"? :P
Quote from: The Skarzs on February 23, 2015, 12:05:35 AM
Quote from: Lord_Ashenwyte on February 22, 2015, 06:47:42 AM
Nice. Although I am not a fan of modern knives, this looks nice.
May I ask what you mean by "modern"? :P
Bowie knives and the like. Prefer pre-eighteenth century knives anyway.
I see.
Thanks guys, for the compliments! I will hopefully have this finished before the weekend.
Can't wait to see the finished knife, your work is amazing!
Thank you, Dippler! And here is the finished knife.
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/WP_20150226_008_zpscdeezn3u.jpg)
Might not be able to see it well, but I have bronze pieces between the wood and the steel guard, which looks amazing in full color, I made an interesting shape on the top guard, and I cut in a nice design on the back of the blade which you can see part of.
I got this razor sharp, and it cut through paper like nothing I've seen.
...Gimme. ;D (No, you probably don't want to give me a weapon. I'll most likely cut off a finger in the first five minutes. ::))
Very cool, Skarzsy! Me likey. Me likey a lot. ;D
Looks sharp. 8)
Quote from: Mhera on March 02, 2015, 04:41:47 AM
Looks sharp. 8)
I see what you did there. Heh. Heh heh.
EDIT: Ahahahahahahahahaha... Silly Shainy thought you said "Looking sharp", not "Looks sharp". I seely. I very seely.
Thanks, you guys!
And you're correct. I would not really trust you with a thirteen-inch long, twenty-four ounce hair splitter.
That is scary... and I don't like handling stake knives... XD ... What I don't like blood. even the thought of potential blood makes me sick. :P Still cool though Mr. Spock keep it up... While I sit on the other side of the screen worrying that you will cut your finger off.
Wow, that's awesome!
Quote from: Faiyloe on March 05, 2015, 04:01:05 PM
While I sit on the other side of the screen worrying that you will cut your finger off.
Aww, how sweet of you! ;D
You have done some terrific stuff, dude.
And the first knife you said it was rather bad, I have to disagree, it looks nice to me ;)
As for my favorite piece: It would have to be that WIP dagger shown on the first page. It's been so long since I saw any (let alone knowing the blacksmith) :D
Quote from: Faiyloe on March 05, 2015, 04:01:05 PM
That is scary... and I don't like handling stake knives... XD ... What I don't like blood. even the thought of potential blood makes me sick. :P Still cool though Mr. Spock keep it up...
Thanks! I've gotten a bit used to blood. . . do you think that's a problem? :P
Quote from: Jukka the Sling on March 05, 2015, 04:06:05 PM
Quote from: Faiyloe on March 05, 2015, 04:01:05 PM
While I sit on the other side of the screen worrying that you will cut your finger off.
Aww, how sweet of you! ;D
*Holds knife warningly at Jukka.*
I appreciate your concern, Faiy. ;)
Quote from: TheTaleOfSierra on March 05, 2015, 04:35:35 PM
You have done some terrific stuff, dude.
And the first knife you said it was rather bad, I have to disagree, it looks nice to me ;)
As for my favorite piece: It would have to be that WIP dagger shown on the first page. It's been so long since I saw any (let alone knowing the blacksmith) :D
Thank you very much, Sierra! While the first knife might look nice in the picture, I could snap it with my bare hands: that should tell ya something about its construction. :P
And the work in progress is still just that; I haven't been able to work on it much.
You're more than welcome!
Well, even if the knife is a little blunt, I still like it a lot :D
Great work on these. I know little about blacksmithery myself so this is really interesting to see. :)
Do you think you'll be working with bronze anytime soon?
Quote from: MeadowRabbit on March 05, 2015, 06:11:00 PM
Great work on these. I know little about blacksmithery myself so this is really interesting to see. :)
I'm glad you find it so.
Quote from: Lord_Ashenwyte on March 19, 2015, 09:29:49 AM
Do you think you'll be working with bronze anytime soon?
I would really like to do some bronze forging, and I'm sure I will eventually, but I just don't have any to work with. Bronze has its own technicalities for forging, so it will prove interesting when I do try my hand at it.
As the title change suggests, I am elated. I mean, I am so excited I was literally singing out loud not long ago.
Why? Well, so far nearly all the projects you see on this topic have been made at a monthly conference I go to (others were made at classes, and were tossed together at home).
But at 12:37 PM today, I got a forge at my own house!! A smith I know was very kind and gave me a Venturi burner (it's a propane burner), offering that, if it worked, I would pay him next time I saw him. I got to test it today, and it works AWESOME!
. . . So well, in fact, that the firebrick I was using as the forge walls melted. . . Yeah, I had lava. It was rather squishy, actually. O_o
Anyways, I'm just really happy that I got to do some forging at home; I'll need to get better brick, so until then I won't be able to do forging, but I'll be satisfied for a while now.
Awesome Skarz! Make something epic with it!
I already made something, actually. XD
A knife. . . :P
But in all truth, I am trying to get away from only doing knife making, as it really is the ruination of smiths. I'll still make them, but I'm hoping not as much.
Yay, finally got some pictures of my forge(s)! First off, I'll post the quick view of the both of them, and at the bottom right corner you can see the broken and melted brick that I used to test a Venturi burner (look it up, if you want) that someone gave me. Can't tell to easily in the pic, but they're all blue and glasslike from being turned into lava. :P
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/WP_20150403_11_17_01_Smart_zpsm3q4eypx.jpg?t=1428027459)
Anyways, the one on the left is the propane forge, the right one is the coal.
Here are two close-ups.
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/WP_20150403_11_17_48_Smart_zps9cbfinx9.jpg?t=1428027462)
Mindy moop le pooch! ^
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/WP_20150403_11_17_22_Smart_zpsqwdbhuem.jpg?t=1428027462)
If you have any questions as to how these work, feel free to ask away.
. . . Sorry about the triple post, but here is a picture of a fillet knife I made (top), and a utility-type knife I made for my sister on her birthday.
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/blacksmithing/WP_20150405_001_zpsyw7whd2m.jpg)
Yes, that is a fish for the handle. ;)
Cool!
(And your forge is cool too.)
That handle is awesome. ;D
Nice. Not sure how you hold that fish handle blade though.
Quote from: Jukka the Sling on April 07, 2015, 05:15:37 PM
Cool!
(And your forge is cool too.)
Thanks! (Which one? ;))
Quote from: Rainshadow on April 07, 2015, 09:44:39 PM
That handle is awesome. ;D
Yes it is.
Quote from: Lord_Ashenwyte on April 09, 2015, 10:17:26 AM
Nice. Not sure how you hold that fish handle blade though.
It's really a lot more comfortable than you might think; I made it so that two fingers would go above the fins, and one and a half would go below. :D :P It works.
So what are you trying to make now?
I want to make a flower.
3D or 2D?
THERE CAN ONLY BE THREE!!
It's going to be hard, I tell ye. (At least from a newbie's view)
Cute fish. ;D
Why thank you, Faiyloe. ;D
And for my next magical trick, I shall show you my. . . erm, shop. (And there are my two ASOs: Anvil-shaped objects. :P I'm saving up for a good one.)
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/blacksmithing/WP_20150422_001_zpseujs1dnd.jpg)
I'll be happy to answer any questions about it.
And here are the ugliest tongs in the world, built for holding railroad spikes.
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/blacksmithing/WP_20150422_002_zpszkkowow8.jpg)
. . . Along with a lovely cut-off hardy I made from a piece of axel. It works real well.
Mindy is adorable.
Your forge looks like it's in the open. Maybe you've already answered a question like this, but are you able to work in your forge year-round?
Dude, that shop looks awesome! (not going to put the quotation marks there, that is really a good blacksmiths shop ;)).
Also, why do you say that the tongs are ugly? Maybe a little off, but that's it.
Quote from: Banya on April 25, 2015, 06:42:16 AM
Mindy is adorable.
Heh.
Quote from: Banya on April 25, 2015, 06:42:16 AM
Your forge looks like it's in the open. Maybe you've already answered a question like this, but are you able to work in your forge year-round?
What you can't see is the canopy going overtop the whole thing, making a nice dry 10 x 10 square in which I can work. I've only had it up for a couple weeks, so whether or not I could do it year round has yet to be seen. ;)
Quote from: TheTaleOfSierra on April 25, 2015, 07:29:17 AM
Dude, that shop looks awesome! (not going to put the quotation marks there, that is really a good blacksmiths shop ;)).
I appreciate that you think so. I've seen more than a few shops, so I know mine isn't very good. However, the gravel on the ground is desirable (and not present in some shops) because it gives the feet more cushion than concrete. It is really surprising how much of a difference to your back the gravel does.
Quote from: TheTaleOfSierra on April 25, 2015, 07:29:17 AM
Also, why do you say that the tongs are ugly? Maybe a little off, but that's it.
I've seen some really beautiful tongs, made by professionals of course, so I know what I'm striving for. Part of it is that I didn't brush the scale off, so there is some unsightly gunk on the outside; another part is that I had forge-welded two different pieces on for the handles (not really well-seen), so it doesn't make the prettiest reigns. However, they work, so in that aspect they're perfect.
QuoteI appreciate that you think so. I've seen more than a few shops, so I know mine isn't very good. However, the gravel on the ground is desirable (and not present in some shops) because it gives the feet more cushion than concrete. It is really surprising how much of a difference to your back the gravel does.
I have been in quite a few myself, and I can tell you from experience that yours doesn't look anything less than any of them. I wouldn't have told you so if I didn't think it was true :P Also, yeah, none of them had gravel on the floor.
QuoteI've seen some really beautiful tongs, made by professionals of course, so I know what I'm striving for. Part of it is that I didn't brush the scale off, so there is some unsightly gunk on the outside; another part is that I had forge-welded two different pieces on for the handles (not really well-seen), so it doesn't make the prettiest reigns. However, they work, so in that aspect they're perfect.
I think that it is amazing that you are aiming for beauty as well as functionality. But if you aren't a 100% pleased with your work on them, can't you make a new pair? Also, you are a professional, just younger :)
Quote from: TheTaleOfSierra on April 25, 2015, 05:03:14 PM
I have been in quite a few myself, and I can tell you from experience that yours doesn't look anything less than any of them. I wouldn't have tell you so if I didn't think it was true :P Also, yeah, none of them had gravel on the floor.
Oh? Cool! I love being in other people's shops.
Quote from: TheTaleOfSierra on April 25, 2015, 05:03:14 PM
I think that it is amazing that you are aiming for beauty as well as functionality. But if you aren't a 100% pleased with your work on them, can't you make a new pair? Also, you are a professional, just younger :)
That's what all smiths strive for. And yes, I can make another pair, but it all comes with practice, so I shall continue to make tongs, of different styles and uses, so hone my skills.
And I'm flattered that you think so. :)
Upload time! I've been working on quite a few other things, but I'll only be showing a few.
First off I'll allow you to take a peek at me. (I'm a size comparison.)
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/blacksmithing/photo_zpsdj57ttep.jpg)
More bulging biceps. Anyhow, I picked up this piece of wood from the river bank, and, as one should always do, tried to break it. When it didn't break when hit against something, and bent when I applied pressure, I decided it would make an excellent walking stick. So I cleaned it up and applied the copper wire around it. It's rather nice.
Here is a hammer I made not long ago from a piece of a massive pry bar.
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/blacksmithing/photo_zpsl26rpcy9.jpg)
One side is rounded while the other is flat. The rounded face allows for the hammer to spread more metal more quickly.
Lastly we have my piece de resistance (for which I am being paid):
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/blacksmithing/image_zpsevaqogfl.jpg)
A recurved Bowie, with top and bottom guards and mmm. . . bloodwood handle. (Delicious.) That stuff is hard as snot, so I had to use a horseshoe rasp to scrape away at it.
Rasp
(https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSAScmqquRtPwQzDSYju38JLLizTxrz6acEuJuLsTZXUvO307j4)
If you have any questions, feel free to ask them.
Ooh, yeah, I've used that sort of rasp thingy on wooden boards while helping build the deck. I don't like that tool. Got way too close to scraping away at my own hands. :P
Very nice! The only criticism I have on the whole thing is WHY ARE YOU WEARING A MICHIGAN SHIRT YOU TRAITOR?! (Says the girl whose sister regularly wears a University of Alabama shirt to the gym, causing the one Alabama guy to "ROLL TIDE!" her every time we walk in. It's really embarrassing. :P)
I like the staff, by the way. Very cool. Slightly elven, in my opinion. Very cool. And nice muscles. ;D Also, nice tiny car in the background of the first picture. Is that your car? ;D :p
Quote from: Rainshadow on June 06, 2015, 05:29:37 AM
Ooh, yeah, I've used that sort of rasp thingy on wooden boards while helping build the deck. I don't like that tool. Got way too close to scraping away at my own hands. :P
They're so very useful though.Quote from: Rainshadow on June 06, 2015, 05:29:37 AM
Very nice! The only criticism I have on the whole thing is WHY ARE YOU WEARING A MICHIGAN SHIRT YOU TRAITOR?! (Says the girl whose sister regularly wears a University of Alabama shirt to the gym, causing the one Alabama guy to "ROLL TIDE!" her every time we walk in. It's really embarrassing. :P)
. . . I visited Michigan. I got a shirt.Quote from: Rainshadow on June 06, 2015, 05:29:37 AM
I like the staff, by the way. Very cool. Slightly elven, in my opinion. Very cool. And nice muscles. ;D Also, nice tiny car in the background of the first picture. Is that your car? ;D :p
It is rather elven, isn't it? And thanks; I've been working out. ;D (Quite literally. :P) No, that is my four year old brother's. He knows how to drive, I don't.
Very neat pieces, man! I actually love the hammer, it looks so professional :)
And I'm very glad to know that you are getting paid for your work on the knife. Needless to say, it is a very impressive and nice piece of work (hey, I would pay you just to have one too... that's how much I like it ;D).
I love the staff, and it's not just because you where in the picture too XD, The mettle work on the staff is really beautiful.
Quote from: TheTaleOfSierra on June 06, 2015, 06:31:04 PM
Very neat pieces, man! I actually love the hammer, it looks so professional :)
I don't know about professional, but it certainly works. :D
Quote from: TheTaleOfSierra on June 06, 2015, 06:31:04 PM
And I'm very glad to know that you are getting paid for your work on the knife. Needless to say, it is a very impressive and nice piece of work (hey, I would pay you just to have one too... that's how much I like it ;D).
That means a lot to hear; thanks. :)
I'm actually thinking of getting an account on Etsy (an online shop thing where you can sell stuff you've made).
Quote from: Faiyloe on June 06, 2015, 06:34:45 PM
I love the staff, and it's not just because you where in the picture too XD, The mettle work on the staff is really beautiful.
Why thank you. :D
Quoteit's not just because you where in the picture too
But why not? ;D
Because the staff was just that awesome. ;D
Okay then. ;D
Staff: @josephbellmaker
Quote from: The Skarzs on June 06, 2015, 06:36:29 PM
Quote from: TheTaleOfSierra on June 06, 2015, 06:31:04 PM
And I'm very glad to know that you are getting paid for your work on the knife. Needless to say, it is a very impressive and nice piece of work (hey, I would pay you just to have one too... that's how much I like it ;D).
That means a lot to hear; thanks. :)
I'm actually thinking of getting an account on Etsy (an online shop thing where you can sell stuff you've made).
You are more than welcome, my friend.
And I would totally encourage you to get an account there, you definitely have talent and having an income for such an awesome work can't hurt ;)!
Made some bronze.
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/blacksmithing/Bronze_zpsqf9nmwxc.jpg)
Keep in mind that these are in my palm, so it's only about 4 ounces. :P
Nice! How did you do it?
Cool job man. What are you going to do with that? (Sorry if the question is way too stupid, I know nothing about blacksmithing).
. . . Okay, odd. It didn't show that I had any new replies until I clicked on this from "Who's Online". :P
Quote from: TheTaleOfSierra on June 22, 2015, 03:00:54 AM
Cool job man. What are you going to do with that? (Sorry if the question is way too stupid, I know nothing about blacksmithing).
What am I going to do with it? I don't know; first I'll show the little nuggets to my friends before I melt them down again so I can make more, but eventually I'm hoping to make a decent-sized ingot of the stuff. :P
Quote from: Mhera on June 22, 2015, 02:51:51 AM
Nice! How did you do it?
Well, I bought a crucible from Ebay to use, and I stuck it in my coal forge to heat it up. Then I got some copper melted. (One of the most interesting things to see, watching that stuff go from solid to liquid.) I think what I may do next time is let the copper cool a bit before adding the tin, because I may have burned up a bit when I threw it into the molten copper. (Copper and tin have a melting point ratio of about 4:1, meaning I can literally burn tin up into smoke when copper isn't halfway melted.) Thankfully the two can alloy themselves, so not all of it was lost.
Then I began adding some scrap bronze and brass into the mix before pouring it into a poor excuse for a form. Hopefully next time I'll be better prepared.
And then you can sell the ingot? Cool!
No, I'll use it for projects. :P
What would you use it for?
I'd use some on knife guards, perhaps some on other little artistic things like leaves, but other than that I don't really know, partly because of my lack of experience with bronze and my continued path into artistic things.
It's all cool. ;D I love embellishment.
Excellent. :P
Another knife here. :P
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/blacksmithing/Photo%20on%207-5-15%20at%204.27%20PM_zpsdwnfijgl.jpg)
This one was a bribe for someone. I went to a shop that my brother goes to volunteering, and one of the owners said I could use their welding machine and scraps to make my gas forge. One of the other owners wouldn't leave me alone about not helping with the shop project (my brother says he was joking around), but I told him that I would make him a knife if he would get off my back. Three months later it's finally done. :P
That looks great. What are the spots on the blade?
Made it out of a useless piece of a farrier's rasp.
(https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSmjWam3_WW3joCSWvgg3rqRUnXMhbE_IRpHxJJq1_h0aUvnBEKYA)
The other side has those file lines.
Oh, cool. How did you make the blade from the rasp? Did you sand it down or something?
No, see, I found a piece about six inches long that someone had already tried to forge, knocking down the teeth and flattening out one end like a spoon. Had to press that wide end down to make the tip, and just left the teeth as they were. The hammering took out most of the visible marks, and everything else came out with sanding. So I did sand it, as you said, but most of the work was by forging.
Oh that is cool! I am sure people have asked you this before but I am lazy. How long does it take you to make one piece?
Well, on things like knives it can take anywhere from five to ten+ hours total.
On artistic things like leaves, fire pokers, meat turners, or other things, they usually don't take more than an hour.
That's a nice piece of work there. Have you ever tried making armour?
Short answer: yes.
Quote from: The Skarzs on January 03, 2015, 08:32:00 PM
So. . . Here I can show you my extremely poor workmanship making armor.
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/blacksmithing/armor_zpsfb9db20e.jpg)
I still want to make some armor in the future, mostly a helmet and chestplate/backplate, but I don't have the metal for it right now.
Also, here is a project I finally finished: a decorative knife.
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/blacksmithing/braided_zpsebq2utcp.jpg)
Man, that knife handle is awesome!
Ohhh, I'm in love with that knife handle. . . . . You did the braiding very well, Skar! It's very pretty.
(Although I'm becoming increasingly more nervous about you being over there with sharp knives. . . . And flames. . . . )
Thanks! My sister wants me to braid a metal tiara thing for her, so I'm kinda excited to do braiding again. :) (And you don't need to go all mother hen on me. . . :P Flames are fun, and I've been around knives for quite a while.)
...could you make a flaming knife? ;D
That handle is very cool. Since it's decorative, did you put much thought into the blade shape or just let it turn out in any which way?
. . . The latter. Unless I have an actual shape in mind, I usually just let the blade take its own shape, particularly noticeable in the rasp-knife. :P
And what exactly did you mean by flaming knife?
Quote from: The Skarzs on July 17, 2015, 04:00:33 AM
. . . The latter. Unless I have an actual shape in mind, I usually just let the blade take its own shape, particularly noticeable in the rasp-knife. :P
Oh, okay. Neat :)
Quote from: The Skarzs on July 17, 2015, 04:00:33 AM
And what exactly did you mean by flaming knife?
Good question...
Well, actually, when I quench them in oil the oil sticks to them and they come up flaming, so that might count. :P
Quote from: The Skarzs on July 17, 2015, 03:54:37 AM
Thanks! My sister wants me to braid a metal tiara thing for her, so I'm kinda excited to do braiding again. :) (And you don't need to go all mother hen on me. . . :P Flames are fun, and I've been around knives for quite a while.)
But. . . .
But what? I'll be fine. :P If anything you should be more worried about the grinder I use. :P
*Horrified look* NO MORE FORGING FOR YOU, TROLL!
Dude, that knife is beautiful. Terrific job there, man (also, the armor was quite impressive too).
Blacksmithing is no more dangerous than driving or... Anything else, really, as long as you're careful. Cars are really quite terrifying if you think about it, but because it's a risk we're used to, we regard it as 'safe.' And it is fairly safe- if you're cautious, the odds of you getting into a car crash are quite low. Same goes for blacksmithing.
Metaphors!!
The braided knife is interesting... It looks really good, but I can't imagine it would be comfortable to hold.
The only reason it isn't too comfortable is because my hand is too big for it. If someone had a smaller hand I'm sure they'd be able to have it just fine.
At the same time, it's meant more as a decoration. It doesn't have an edge and the steel I used wasn't very good.
Quote from: Cornflower MM on July 17, 2015, 06:41:18 AM
*Horrified look* NO MORE FORGING FOR YOU, TROLL!
;~;
But. . . my life.
Quote from: TheTaleOfSierra on July 17, 2015, 07:49:55 AM
Dude, that knife is beautiful. Terrific job there, man (also, the armor was quite impressive too).
Thanks, Sierra!
Skarzs, you can forge as much as you like, just be careful, if you mess up I'll set Corn on you and never forgive you. ;D
Depends on your idea of "messing up."
If you die or cut your hand off we will kill you, so just be careful. ;D
Quote from: Faiyloe on July 17, 2015, 10:22:19 PM
If you die we will kill you
Logic.
Anyhow, this is kinda turning into spam. I appreciate you guys viewing the topic, but I don't want this to turn into a Cellars topic. ;)
Got it, we'll get back to discussing your metal. ;D
Right, well, I'm not trying to go all shamelessly plugging on you guys, but I have started a Youtube channel called Cave of Skarzs (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC50_JJIWveG7KiKQyQb3Y4g), in which I will post videos of some projects. I will continue to post pictures here as I will not record everything, but I just want to let everyone who might be interested that my channel is there.
cool channel! Looking forward to more videos!
Yeah, it's pretty cool. :) I've suscroibed to your channel, too.
Heh, wouldn't it be funny if you became this famous YouTube guy. We'd all be able to say, "I knew that guy before he was famous. Yeah, we're friends." :P
(And that braided knife is beautiful. I love knives. Maybe that's bad, but that knife is amazing. How hard was it to braid? And how do you braid it?)
Thanks, guys!
Quote from: Eulaliaaa! on July 22, 2015, 02:07:50 AM
Heh, wouldn't it be funny if you became this famous YouTube guy. We'd all be able to say, "I knew that guy before he was famous. Yeah, we're friends." :P
First, doubtful I'll become famous. Second, I don't want to be. :P
Quote from: Eulaliaaa! on July 22, 2015, 02:07:50 AM
(And that braided knife is beautiful. I love knives. Maybe that's bad, but that knife is amazing. How hard was it to braid? And how do you braid it?)
Glad you like it, and knives. ;) Braiding isn't too hard; as long as you have three pieces (a pain to cut, though) and a heat source, it's not too hard. Just keep the ones you're not braiding out of the way and you're good. What would make it easier would be to use an oxy-acetelyne torch to heat them up individually, but since I don't have that luxury I can get along without it.
Quote from: The Skarzs on July 22, 2015, 02:19:20 AM
Quote from: Eulaliaaa! on July 22, 2015, 02:07:50 AM
Heh, wouldn't it be funny if you became this famous YouTube guy. We'd all be able to say, "I knew that guy before he was famous. Yeah, we're friends." :P
First, doubtful I'll become famous. Second, I don't want to be. :P
well, if you do, I just hope you don't forget Faiy and us humble Redwall folk back at the forum. ;D
Quote from: Eulaliaaa! on July 22, 2015, 02:07:50 AM
(And that braided knife is beautiful. I love knives. Maybe that's bad, but that knife is amazing. How hard was it to braid? And how do you braid it?)
Glad you like it, and knives. ;) Braiding isn't too hard; as long as you have three pieces (a pain to cut, though) and a heat source, it's not too hard. Just keep the ones you're not braiding out of the way and you're good. What would make it easier would be to use an oxy-acetelyne torch to heat them up individually, but since I don't have that luxury I can get along without it.
[/quote]
It looks hard to do... and sounds hard, but I've never blacksmithed before.
Have you braided hair or rope before?
I watched just enough of the second video to hear what you sounded like. You sound...older.
Vatch dem erl.
Interestingly enough, Corn said she thinks I sounded younger. :P
Quote from: The Skarzs on July 22, 2015, 04:45:28 AM
Have you braided hair or rope before?
I haven't really braided rope, and I think I've braided hair... once or twice in my lifetime ;D
Braiding is pretty simple is my point. You have three strings or lengths, and cross them in this pattern:
A B C
A over B
B A C
C over A
B C A
B over C
C B A
A over B
C A B
. . . and so on.
Or, three strands. Take the one on the right. Move it to the middle. Now take the one on the left. Move it to the middle. Take the one that's one the right. Move it to the middle. Repeat until you run out. See? Simple.
What's the hardy hole in the anvil for?
The hardy hole is for holding tools, like cut-offs, spring swages (top and bottom tools), and others. People have made many, many useful and creative hardy tools, like one made to more easily make tongs, or another which is literally like a Swiss army knife. The hole can also be used for punching holes, or for holding a holdfast (a tool used for keeping metal to the anvil, like a third hand.)
Soooo. . . Finally took a picture of a flower I made my mom for Mother's Day.
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/IMG_0993_zps2voy8zaf.jpg)
. . . Or was it her birthday? :P Anyway, it was a while back.
Now, I wanted to do another one for my grandma for a while, and now that I finally got it done, I feel a little bad how much better it turned out. (Of course, my mom is like "It still looks beautiful and it means a lot to me!", but I'm a bit of a perfectionist. . .) Anyways, here's the other rose.
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/IMG_0994_zps0ea0e9j7.jpg)
I actually knew what I was doing for this one.
Is that a railroad spike for a stem? Interesting use of what you have. ;)
Nope; it's a random piece of metal I filched off a piece of pier washed up on the beach.
Those look awesome!
Those are both amazing! I'd never be able to do that in a million years...
They're awesome looking!
Quote from: Mhera on September 04, 2015, 10:36:59 PM
Those look awesome!
Quote from: Jukka the Sling on September 06, 2015, 12:16:53 AM
Those are both amazing! I'd never be able to do that in a million years...
Quote from: Lady Amber on September 06, 2015, 12:47:29 AM
They're awesome looking!
Thanks! Though, if you saw them for real, you'd be able to tell which one is nicer. By a long shot. :P
And Jukka, if you tried, you'd be surprised.
Puuuuuuuuurrrrrddyyyyyyy. :3
Seriously, they look really cool. :D
How'd you get started with this?
Quote from: Rainshadow on October 05, 2015, 06:09:56 PM
Puuuuuuuuurrrrrddyyyyyyy. :3
Seriously, they look really cool. :D
Why thank you. :3
(I still have yet to send it. . .)
Quote from: Vilu Daskar on October 05, 2015, 06:20:09 PM
How'd you get started with this?
My mom showed me a video of someone making a bear's head from steel, and I thought "That's what I want to do". So I looked into it more, tried getting materials and whatnot, became part of an association for blacksmithing, and after two, three years I'm where I'm at now.
Made a celestial bronze blade yet? :}
My attempts at making bronze/melting brass have proved. . . unfruitful. All I'm left with is a uselessly crumbly clump of metal, a fraction of the material put in, or a lump of dross (leftover gunk) that I don't know how appeared because I thought I did it right. I'm still trying to figure it out.
The roses are sooooo preeeeeeetttyyyyyyyy. . . . . . . . . And I can't really tell one's better than the other, except Rose #2 has more petals - I think? How long did they take to make?
Rose #2 doesn't have more petals, just more detail. I spent some time thinning the petals and crinkling them to give them a more natural look. And the second one took somewhere between one and two hours.
And now the moment you all probably haven't been waiting for: the photo dump of three projects I'm pretty happy with. So. . . seven photos in all. I think I'll put them in a spoiler.
Photo Dump
Ram's head! Been meaning to make one of these for a long time.
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/IMG_1045_zpstoykn9fa.jpg?t=1445884462)
For a first try I don't think he turned out too bad. He's made out of 1/2" square stock.
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/IMG_1046_zpsks031cuc.jpg?t=1445884455)
Here's a set of eating utensils. Quite nice, if I may say so myself.
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/IMG_1049_zps1pfho5qe.jpg?t=1445884462)
Made out of 3/8" rebar. ;D :P I like the texture it can give on the handle.
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/IMG_1050_zpskeq3gnhq.jpg)
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/IMG_1051_zpsoghfrvpa.jpg?t=1445884462)
And finally:
The legend is here. . .
BEHOLD. . .
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/IMG_1047_zpskq71ne7q.jpg?t=1445884462)
The mighty Splork!
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/IMG_1048_zpsrx4gbrd3.jpg?t=1445884462)
All hail!
Once again, I can try to answer any questions you have. :)
What's the L part in splork?
Spatula. :P
Short for SpatuLork! ;D SpLork! SpLork! SpLork! SpLork! ;D ;D ;D all hail. ;D
So. . . no one is going to say anything about the other two projects? Okee. . .
If you don't try to break down a door with the ram head and shout Grond I will be disappointed in you.
-_-
Do you eat with the silverware you made?
The silverware is very nice too. ;D ;)
Why thank you. ;)
@Vilu: I have eaten with them, yes.
You're silverware looked like a snake at first glance. It's good though, looks very professional. :)
Wow, awesome! The fork looks lethal. :P
Lethal, huh? Well then. . .
So, it's been a while since I've posted here, and I have several projects I could show, but all I have pictures of at the moment is this.
Fighter
This is a Damascus, or folded steel, knife I was working on for a while. It took 15 hours to complete: eight hours forging and seven in finishing.
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/IMG_0068_zpsipzh86pd.jpg)
You can see the pattern here.
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/IMG_0071_zpsifjehj4l.jpg)(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/IMG_0072_zpst0musyt4.jpg)
This one is a close up to try to get some detail on the lines in the blade.
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/IMG_0073_zpsvy3z1moz.jpg)
As always, questions will be answered.
Did you change whatever you upload the pictures to?
What do you mean?
I think he's asking if you still upload the photos to the site you used to.
That knife is awesome. :o Did you make the sheath too?
Well in that case, yes.
And yes, I did make the sheath. ;)
Whoa, that knife is really cool!
Thank you!
*Whispers* Pwettyyyyyyy. OwO
Seriously though, the knife is awesome.
I can see them now.
Good.
Quote from: Rainshadow on January 11, 2016, 07:23:56 PM
*Whispers* Pwettyyyyyyy. OwO
Seriously though, the knife is awesome.
Why thank you.
I forgot to mention it, but the brown bit on the blade right above the guard has been removed. It was just some gunk that needed to be cleaned off.
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/The_Skarz/blacksmithing/IMG_1094_zpschmkau3x.jpg)
Just a couple things I made yesterday. You can see how I made them on my channel.
It's a poking thing and what?
Oh, sorry. One is a barbecue fork and the other is a fullering tool. Since it's round it'll make circular indentations, and I can move metal in whatever direction I want in a round shape.
Flowers, Battering Ram, Silverware, Splork. All awesome and great. ;D
Awesome knife! I love the handle. ;D It is really pretty.
Thank you both! And the handle is a deer antler piece. ;)
Oh my gosh, that is to cool! ;D
Yeah! A knife maker I know just ended up giving me five of them; they were $20 apiece.
Giving them to you free? or you had to pay the $20?
For free.
Awesome. ;D That is $100 worth of antlers ;D
And I had to pick my jaw up off the floor as he gave them to me. :P ;D
The latest things you made are very cool!
your stuff is really awesome!! i have a metal snake that i got to watch get made while i was selling tickets for a crafts fair for a fundraiser (but that is a story for another day) and the guy was so nice he gave it to me. i might take a picture of it sometime. (his name is Poindexter, named by one of my bros)
Sounds cool!
Quote from: Jukka the Sling on January 20, 2016, 02:15:45 AM
The latest things you made are very cool!
Thanks!
Ah, by the way, this is my old topic. The new one is in the Orchard. :)
..i knew that. Sort of.
Quote from: The Skarzs on January 18, 2016, 08:17:57 PM
You can see how I made them on my channel.
I there a link?
In my signature. "Cave of Skarzs."
are the people on the forum the only ones that look at it? (granted your family, i mean everyone besides them)
Any suggestions for how to clean rust off a sword and throwing knife?
Give it a light sanding then a polish
(Not professional, just what I do)
I heard someone mention how he made Martin's sword, where's that?
That person is Skarz, I can post some more pics of Martin's sword if you want.
Hello.
The person above me is the one that you should speak with. ;D
@One-Eye the wildcat He *is* a metal worker
Wow, I just watched the video. How are you able to do that?!
Not sure how to answer that.
;D
That is seriously cool! (All of it, from the first knife to Martin the Warrior's sword) I especially like the bit of wood you used to display some of the knives on. Very neat.
Welcome t' th' jolly ole' flippin' forum, ole' chap!
Quote from: Jarky Thistlebrush on September 16, 2019, 07:23:10 AM
Welcome t' th' jolly ole' flippin' forum, ole' chap!
Are you talking to me? 'Cause I'm pretty sure Skarzs has been here for a while.
I was talking to you.
Oh, okay. Thanks for the welcome then.
Wow some awesome work in here, especially your Martin the Warrior sword! :o Just watched the video.