Blacksmith Creations
Fernie
Sep 6, 2016 - Jan 8, 2019
by: Dave

I thought Blacksmithing was a natural extension from casting. I made a propane powered forge and hammered out a few swords and kitchen knives out of scrap car springs (if anyone wants to have a sword fight come on over, I have extras). For a bit more challenge I made a Damascus steel knife out of a bicycle chain. I also did a few other projects. Making the forge was a good challenge. I also made an anvil out of a piece of rail.

Here are some of the swords and knives I have made in the forge
Here are some of the swords and knives I have made in the forge
This is one of the few projects that I bought new supplies for. I welded the exterior out of steel sheets, the insulation is K23 kiln brick. The burners I made out of black plumbing pipe. It was challenging getting the chamber shape just right to keep the torch flame burning. The jet is a wire feed welding tip. It also needed a high flow propane regulator. The ends are open to accept long objects, but can be close them off with fire bricks to keep the heat in.
I made this anvil from a piece of scrap track. One day I want to finish it off by installing a hardy and pritchel holes.
Partially finished swords with the type of car spring I made them from. Spring steel is good for blades because it is high carbon so it can be hardened.
Early stages of hammering out the spring into a flat blade
After the blades are shaped and ground smooth, they need to be hardened. The red hot blades are quenched in oil to set the gain structure. You can tell the blades are hot enough once they loose their attraction to magnets. The result is a hard brittle steel. Since the swards were too long for propane forge, I could not heat the whole thing at once. So, I made this charcoal power coal forge to do the job. A shop vac worked as a high flow as a blower.
After hardening they need to be heated until they become less brittle. You know they are done when the metal changes to a blue or straw color. These are not perfect but I was happy enough with the result. They hold an edge and do not shatter when you clang them together during a sword fight.
The last step is to add the handle. This one is a deer antler. For others I used cutlers rivets to attach wood. Some I wrapped in leather
Damascus steel is made by forge-welding different steels together into one solid blade. I made this blade (and handle) from a bike chain. Borax cleaner is used as a flux to stop mill scale from fowling the weld. Acid is used to bring out the pattern of the links
I made this froe from a leaf spring. I used the forge to make the eye and a grinder to make the edge. Froes are used to split cedar shingles or rough planks. I need to think of a project to use the froe for. Maybe planks for a bridge on a bike trail.
I saw a you tube video that recommended making a bunch of these leaves to hone blacksmith skills.I guess it could be used as a key chain.
I made these tongs from coil springs. I used a hot rivet to join the pieces together. Keeping it old school.
Dave Richards
 (250) 423-0309