A couple of pieces I've made during the pandemic

[KermitGKona88]

I like Mr Smashy... Lots...

 

[My_Teenage_Self]

Waaaay back in march last year, Our old doggo died. I was working on a knife at the time, made of wood that he carried home, and it left me quite flat TBH. I love that knife though - whenever I use it I'm reminded of him.

I finally managed to get my mojo back into them - this one may be called 'Punchline'... I won't say why yet, but it may have an unexpected turn right at the end...

2x Used saws (never used the third) and a sheet of 0.7mm 1095 steel;



25 Layers;



All stacked in alternating layers. Now, in the forge, thin steel like this bends and distorts all over the place, so I sandwich them between two layers of 6mm 300 series stainless;




Then into the forge, heated up to welding temp and Smashy Smashy. Repeat. Once done, the Stainless (which won't forge weld) can be split off with a chisel;



Cut into 3, cleaned up, welded, back in the forge for more SmashySmashy. Making about 75 layers of steel. At this point I start to get creative with the drawing out and pressing to create a pattern within the layers.





And then I forget to take any more pics for a while. SmashyHeatSmashySwearySmashy. Makes this;



This will become an integral bolster kitchen knife - the handle/blade junction is a solid block of metal. Still needs a lot of work here - The heel of the blade needs to be drawn back a lot, It's still about 4mm thick as well, so I can gain a lot of length too (currently about 7" blade), and the tang needs to be drawn out of the bolster.

The punchline? It may not have one yet, but I *THINK* it will. I won't find out until it's nearly finished.

 

[Iwasgoodonce]

Does using the stainless mean you have to throw less borax at it? I spent quite a part of yesterday surrounded by knives. Trouble is they were all blunt and I had been volunteered to sharpen them. Took ages.

 

[My_Teenage_Self]

Does using the stainless mean you have to throw less borax at it?

not really, it's just to stop the thin layers bending all about the place. I don't really use much Borax anyway - soak in WD40 to start, and only use a Sprinkle of borax if I'm not happy with the first press.

 

[mk one]

Glad you have started creating again

 

[Iwasgoodonce]

I hope you don’t mind me chiming in here @My_Teenage_Self but there seems little point starting another similar thread. How did you find your fly press? Does it make a lot of noise? I have shied away from forging as I live in a quiet residential area. I do have a length of railway track that I was going to turn into a small anvil…
Plus, I recently found a piece of leaf spring that will at least need to be flattened. I reckon it came off something quite large and I’m thinking of some kind of chopper or even a comedy, “Call that a knife?” type thing.
Here is a recently finished Bush knife clone made for a Scout’s activities:

And fitted into the sheath:


I will remember in future not to pattern the leather on this style as it interferes with the second row of saddle stitching. He just needs to pick it up now.

My winter project is to have another go at simple folders.

 

[KermitGKona88]

This thread is one of the most impressive on the whole site, I stand in awe of you guys who can create such beautiful items.

If any are available to purchase please contact me...

 

[Mod-Master]

I could cnc a knife…

And then anodise it.

Don’t have a forge but I would like to try it out at some point.

Edit, loving the knifes

 

[Iwasgoodonce]

I could cnc a knife…

And then anodise it.

Don’t have a forge but I would like to try it out at some point.

Edit, loving the knifes

Easy to make a simple gas forge. I used one of those mini beer kegs, (mmm, beer) and a 50:50 mix of clean sand and plaster of Paris to make the refractory lining. It worked very well.

 

[My_Teenage_Self]

I like Mr Smashy... Lots...

He's a lot of fun

I hope you don’t mind me chiming in here @My_Teenage_Self but there seems little point starting another similar thread. How did you find your fly press? Does it make a lot of noise? I have shied away from forging as I live in a quiet residential area. I do have a length of railway track that I was going to turn into a small anvil…
Plus, I recently found a piece of leaf spring that will at least need to be flattened. I reckon it came off something quite large and I’m thinking of some kind of chopper or even a comedy, “Call that a knife?” type thing.
Here is a recently finished Bush knife clone made for a Scout’s activities:
View attachment 686309
And fitted into the sheath:

View attachment 686308
I will remember in future not to pattern the leather on this style as it interferes with the second row of saddle stitching. He just needs to pick it up now.

My winter project is to have another go at simple folders.

That's lovely! I really like the leatherwork (which I don't really enjoy!). No worries about hijacking the thread - I'd love to see what other people are making!

The flypress is damn near silent, way quieter than a hammer on the anvil, or even the forge itself. But... it's not a replacement for a Hammer & anvil, and certainly nothing like a power hammer. It's equally nothing like a 20t hydraulic press so don't get any ideas about it doing what you've seen on forged in fire. It does excel at small accurate work. My garage is in my garden about 30ft from the house, and an angle grinder is more of a nuisance than the forge or anvil. But... again, out of respect for my neighbours, I don't run the forge when people are in their gardens as it could be a bit intrusive. At this time of year everyone has their doors & windows closed so it's game on!