midnight 657 Posted February 11, 2012 Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 (edited) iv done a work in progress sequence of pics for you with wright up so you can 1 see what i do and 2 see how much work it is !! its gonna kane your down load limet tho ok staret with 20 layers of steel 15n20 and cs60 10 layers of each .grind them clean as possible with grind lines paralel (you see why later) arc weld them to a handle and grind flush. light the forge and let it build up to welding heat getting there so add the billet and raise to cherry once at a full cherry add boric acid as flux and let it melt in this where the parralel lines come in the flux will use these to move into the billet and help the welds . back in the heat and bring to welding heat . thats very hot by the way a light orange lemmon colour thats tasty so run a gentle course of blows with a 2lbs hammer to set the weld in theaory that now 20 into 1 but repeat the welding course 3 times to make sure . yep all 20 became one !! Edited February 11, 2012 by midnight Quote Link to post Share on other sites
midnight 657 Posted February 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 ok thats cooled abit . grind the end to look for welding flaws like scale inclusions cold shuts etc . looks good cut in half and stack . weld togeather with handle . remember i will need to cut lumps off this that hold nasty things like the arc welds etc so its not square because im gonna have to cut it . back in the heat for welding course its borax time again hot int it ! very carfuly rund the welding course . gotta keep it square and set it with out mis shaping here is where it get exciting . we split it at welding temp with a cold chisel . you will see why soon, my very small and femanine mrs has the crappy job of holding this still as i hit it fast and accuratly . it not easy loads can go wrong but we are a good team . and all goes to plan . like a light bulb, but as hot as the sun ! cooled and handle removed they are now 2x 40 layer slabs . thats enough for today . inside of the cut , you might see patterns ? i fluffed up and forgot to take pics of this bit but i welded it all back togeather with a bright 15n20 layer sandwiched with a high carbon (dark) layer of 01 either side and welded that all in the forge back as one peice . you might be able to see it ? ground so i can see it . had a quick etch in sulphuric acid to expose the grain / patter , at this stage its a feather pattern of my own design , looks nice ? back in the heat to square it up all the nasty stuff has been cut off . in the bin all that lovely steel used up and lobbed ! cooling for cutting Quote Link to post Share on other sites
midnight 657 Posted February 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 are you enjoying this ? ok let cut two billets enough for knives a peice . im doing one as straigh feather the other im going to try something very new for me . its is the straight feather with the bits removed that will form the tang . in and out the forge til i have the blank ready for shaping and grinding lets do the other while that cools cut out wedges to make a consateena , waistful int it . but worth it we hope . this bit will make sence soon . in and out of the forge she goes until i have hammered flat all the high points of the consateena so it have now become one straigh longer but thinner peice . i missed this cos i was alone and wanted it done right so could not photo it and do it at the same time . forged to shape and rough ground . a scrap ws there so i hammered it to asmall neck knife that will remain pure steel no handles , so i got 3 peices . all went in the acis and came out looking like this . thats it for now . they all where "normalised" which is in a nut shell taking all the stress out of the metal so it wont tear apart on heat treating and stop warping . you have to het to critical (non magnetic) and then alow to cool to ambiant (room temp) you do it 3 times to a littel coller each time . they have all beed ground much closer to finnished now and had a proper soak in the acid . im going to gun blue them next . so there is a huge dark/ligh contrast (i hope) with the bright shiney 15n20 and the dark pitted cs6o with the cs60 taking the gun blue and the 15n20 bright white . you will have to wait for me tho got alot on so when i get chance i will carry on . paulus has first refusal on what ever comes from this . so form a nice que . only pulling your ploncker im sure they will sell fast enough . plan is to have walnut handles and leather sheath. 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
skycat 6,172 Posted February 11, 2012 Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 Thank you for putting those photos on. The amount of time and skill through all the different stages is amazing. Can't wait to see the finished articles! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dfee 1 Posted February 11, 2012 Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 great write up i would love to be able to do that. looking forward to the finished pics. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
midnight 657 Posted February 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 (edited) thank you ladies and gentleman . just had a play with the gun blue . new skill for me ! did anyone notice everything is hand made ? the forge the anvil even most the hand tools are what i have repaied or modified . no expence spaied with me ha ha , but in all honesty iv never taklen a penny out of this for myself it all goes back in to the next project , materials or equpment . needs to pay soon Edited February 11, 2012 by midnight Quote Link to post Share on other sites
the big chief 3,099 Posted February 11, 2012 Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 love the patern in those matt looks grate Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rapidjenky 97 Posted February 11, 2012 Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 mate you have a skill. you can tell you love it. top work mate. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
torchey 1,202 Posted February 11, 2012 Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 Proper enjoyed reading through that mate come on crack on and get them finished,looking forward to seeing the end result .. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spike25blue 55 Posted February 11, 2012 Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 Hi Matt that walk through was great really enjoyed reading it I will have to visit you soon buddy and take a look at your stuff if that's ok Atb rob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paulus 26 Posted February 11, 2012 Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 looking good mate good article in the countrymans aswell skycat it will all pay off in the end anyone with your enthusiasm has to make a success of it Quote Link to post Share on other sites
midnight 657 Posted February 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 yeah your welcome over anytime . thanks guys , all the best , matt. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rake aboot 4,929 Posted February 11, 2012 Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 What a brilliant post, well done The pattern looks fantastic and I can`t wait to see the finished articles, You sir, are an artist. ATB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
midnight 657 Posted February 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 thanks again , if you liked that wait til yopu see the flemish winged spear head im making for a fella from wisbeach who hunts boar all over the world . has to be finnished before the end of feb cos its going straight into action ! iv failed 4 times to make it so far !! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gin 496 Posted February 11, 2012 Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 Great read and step by step photos Matt. "You" dont realise how much work goes into knives. Good read about you and your knives in the Countrymans Weekly this week. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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