Brandon Buford Posted December 17, 2012 Share Posted December 17, 2012 I have a technique question. When drawing out metal for a tang or even a handle on a "Blacksmith knife" where do you start. I have a tendency to start drawing out the tip and work my way back, but should I start where I want the taper to begin and work my way towards the tip? Hopefully this makes sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Page Posted December 17, 2012 Share Posted December 17, 2012 I've only done a blacksmith's knife once, so take this for what it's worth.. I started with the end and worked towards the blade, drawing out more as I needed it. For me, it was mostly a matter of how much I could draw out of it, and I didn't want to over do it. I suppose it also depends on if you are working with a piece of steel that is not going to be cut down on the blade end, as that would be the determining factor (you want a blade of length x, so you start drawing the tang there and then cut off the excess when you are done drawing it out). For regular tangs I start at the end and work up towards the blade, as the way I hammer makes it easier to form a smooth transition that way. If you are using a guillotine, that wouldn't be too much of a problem. John Not all those who wander are lost. -J.R.R. Tolkien-Shards of the Dark Age- my blog-Nine Worlds Workshop--Last Apocalypse Forge- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon Buford Posted December 17, 2012 Author Share Posted December 17, 2012 I need a guillotine tool. I know someone on here has a really cool home made tool. Who is it. I need to get directions on how to make one myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Keyes Posted December 17, 2012 Share Posted December 17, 2012 I use one. They aren't difficult to make. I used two pieces of heavy (.5") truck spring. They had a slight curve to them, so I took a heat on each and flattened them. I used the piece from the center of the spring because it already had a hole in it. I used a piece of square stock for the post and two pieces of .5" mild for the uprights. I left the blades of the guillotine as forged, no heat treat. It is nice to have an arm the sticks out past the pivot end of upper blade, that way you can open the jaws with your hammer. Mine doesn't have this feature, and it hasn't been a big enough deal for me to change it. Here are a couple of other fullering tools I've built, one has a round tool face, the other is square. "The worst day smithing is better than the best day working for someone else." I said that. If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly. - - -G. K. Chesterton So, just for the record: the fact that it does work still should not be taken as definitive proof that you are not crazy. Grant Sarver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B Finnigan Posted December 17, 2012 Share Posted December 17, 2012 I have some video of drawing out and tapering a tang. When it comes to forging there are not a lot of "proper ways" but more what works for you. FF to 1:50 to where I start the tang with a guillotine swag. And no I don't forge in the white heat. I had a cheap camcorder back then that didn't filter the IR out so it records as visible light. This is just one way to do it. There are certainly many others to try also to see what works best for you. Hope it helps some. Everything I need to know I learned from the people trapped in my basement. I'm out of my mind but feel free to leave a message. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freya W. Ward Posted December 17, 2012 Share Posted December 17, 2012 My guillotines and fullers are very similar to Geoff's. They really do make drawing out tangs a breeze once you get the hang of using it. But again, the only improper way to do something is if the result is failure <a href="http://darkfireforge.mymiddleearth.com/darkfire-forge/">Darkfire Forge</a> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freya W. Ward Posted December 17, 2012 Share Posted December 17, 2012 I need a guillotine tool. I know someone on here has a really cool home made tool. Who is it. I need to get directions on how to make one myself. I think I was the one who mentioned guillotine tools to you, but if you look at Geoff's photos you can see how easy they are to make. <a href="http://darkfireforge.mymiddleearth.com/darkfire-forge/">Darkfire Forge</a> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B Finnigan Posted December 18, 2012 Share Posted December 18, 2012 My vids show me using two different sized ones. Leaf spring works great since it already has a nice radiused edge and moderately easy to drill if you go slow and use a coolant. They don't have to be welded together, but use lock nuts if you bolt them. The impacting will loosen the tightest bolts within minutes. Everything I need to know I learned from the people trapped in my basement. I'm out of my mind but feel free to leave a message. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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