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Matt Doernhoefer




Location: Reston, VA
Joined: 16 Apr 2007

Posts: 12

PostPosted: Tue 08 May, 2007 6:02 am    Post subject: Starting a piece         Reply with quote

I was wondering if I could poll the various sword makers on to how they start a piece. I realize everyone does it differently, but I guess my question is, where do you begin? Do you have a thick sheet of steel and then use like a plasma cutter to cut out the shape, and grind from there? Do you melt down ingots and pour it? Can you even purchase high-carbon steel or do you need to do preliminary purification? I'm just curious as to which method is preferred and why.

Thanks!
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Justin King
Industry Professional



Location: flagstaff,arizona
Joined: 12 Apr 2004
Reading list: 20 books

Posts: 551

PostPosted: Tue 08 May, 2007 6:19 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Lots of different ways. I think most makers use mill-run carbon steel, although there are those who actually make their own steel and they get my respect for the effort. I believe Tinker uses a bandsaw to profile the blade shape from mill run steel.
Angus Trim uses machining equipment to cut the rough bevels, fullers, and profile, and this method is used by a few others.
Smiths have the option of shaping by hammer, or dies in a power hammer, etc.
Some just start grinding...and keep grinding....
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Sean Flynt




Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Joined: 21 Aug 2003
Likes: 10 pages
Reading list: 13 books

Spotlight topics: 7
Posts: 5,981

PostPosted: Tue 08 May, 2007 10:47 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Read this myArmoury.com feature article:

http://www.myArmoury.com/feature_groundpound.html

-Sean

Author of the Little Hammer novel

https://www.amazon.com/Little-Hammer-Sean-Flynt/dp/B08XN7HZ82/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=little+hammer+book&qid=1627482034&sr=8-1
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Aaron J. Cergol





Joined: 02 Aug 2006

Posts: 45

PostPosted: Tue 08 May, 2007 4:26 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

when i start a piece I usually purchase or find (legally of course) a good sixed piece of high carbon steel. almost every piece of rebar is very high carbon so look at junk yards or construction sites. so take the rod and just start pounding it to shape. I will forget the shape, forge in somewhat of the edge in and then grind it all, heat treat and temper (still working on the recipie though) and then sharpen hone and polish.

junkyards and construction sites are your freinds...

Aaron
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Arne Focke
Industry Professional



Location: near Munich, Germany
Joined: 13 Mar 2006
Reading list: 34 books

Posts: 204

PostPosted: Sun 24 Jun, 2007 6:54 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Except for pattern welded pieces, we usually start with an old cutting chisel from a turning tool. Since I am not sure about the things name in English I'll just add a (bad) picture. Wink


 Attachment: 119.94 KB
Bad lighting, bad camera ...
Many things might ruin a picture!
[ Download ]

So schön und inhaltsreich der Beruf eines Archäologen ist, so hart ist auch seine Arbeit, die keinen Achtstundentag kennt! (Wolfgang Kimmig in: Die Heuneburg an der oberen Donau, Stuttgart 1983)
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