Luke Shearer Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 Beneath the beams of the super moon a few nights ago, my Muse stirred within me to forge a seax. The idea was to make a mid-sized knife, mabey 14" long in the blade, composed of many strands, forged in the old way, with the teeth of wolves, and eddies of swirling life-blood. I was reminded of Proffessor Tolkien's borrowed word "Warg" meaning wolf, in Old Norse. This was not the common word for "wolf" (ulfr), but a special word, with demonic connotations, often reserved for outlaws. So My friend, Ryan Stevens and I forged out some bars, patterned them, and have begun to weld them together.... Twisting up a core billets... To forge in the teeth, I mark out every centimeter with an angle grinder, and then we use a special fullering tool to forge them in. (Turns out the tool was too sharp and we sliced through a few of the layers instead of compressing them...) Grrrr! Meticulously fitting up the teeth. Its easy to make flaws if this is not done correctly. We decided to weld it up in two separate billets initially, one with the twists framed by wrought iron, and one for the wolf tooth, so we could keep an eye on it and give it special treatment if needed. “Then something Tookish woke up inside him, and he wished to go and see the great mountains, and hear the pine-trees and the waterfalls, and explore the caves, and wear a sword instead of a walking-stick.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Shearer Posted June 26, 2013 Author Share Posted June 26, 2013 One trick I have learned to get flux into the joint earlier is to heat thepiece to around 700 degrees and spoon borax saturated water onto it. Idon't know if it really helps, but I like to think it does. Wire brushing... Welding... Warg teeth emerge.... Scrubbed mostly clean... Next step is to stick these two together and forge into a blade. “Then something Tookish woke up inside him, and he wished to go and see the great mountains, and hear the pine-trees and the waterfalls, and explore the caves, and wear a sword instead of a walking-stick.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Green Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 WAY awesome, Luke. Best of luck going forward. Mark Green I have a way? Is that better then a plan? (cptn. Mal) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 I'll be watching this one with interest... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McCumber Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 Ditto to Alan, Gonna watch this one close. Very good work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawn patterson Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 Looking great man.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N. Runals Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 LUKE! http://www.etsy.com/shop/NateRunalsBlacksmith?ref=pr_shop_more&view_type=gallerynaterunals.com My Instagram Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Hardy Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 yaaahhh awesome love the teeth!! but dude shorts and forge welding .... ouch The blacksmith and the artist reflect it in their art. They forge their creativity,closer to the heart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew C. Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 (edited) yaaahhh awesome love the teeth!! but dude shorts and forge welding .... ouch I'm just glad to see he has shoes on for once.... ;-) Edited June 26, 2013 by Andrew C. He that will a good edge win must forge thick, and grind thin. -Colin Sampson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Christianson Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 Off to a great start! Troy Allen Christianson is NOT a "Licensed Bladesmith" so you may treat his posts with the contempt they deserve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Shearer Posted June 26, 2013 Author Share Posted June 26, 2013 I'm just glad to see he has shoes on for once.... ;-) Ha, I burned my foot pretty bad stepping on an RR spike head a couple days ago...hence the feet coverings. No way I could wear jeans though... I'd melt. “Then something Tookish woke up inside him, and he wished to go and see the great mountains, and hear the pine-trees and the waterfalls, and explore the caves, and wear a sword instead of a walking-stick.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petr Florianek Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 this is good! beard material GULLINBURSTI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dion Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 That's just too cool luke Dion Grethen D. Grethen Hand Forged Iron https://facebook.com/DGrethenHandForgedIron "In fire iron is born, by fire it is tamed" "Never touch the blacksmith's hammer . . . or his daughter." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLenaghan Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 Love it! Looking great I'm with Petr, beard material for sure! plus I think anyone that thinks 14 inch blade is a mid sized knife... -Michael Lenaghan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John F. Ellis Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 Sweet! Can't wait to see more My website- Dunstan Forge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelBrauer Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 Keep it comin' bro!! Two roads diverged in a road, And I, Took the one less traveld by. -Robert Frost Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoy's Forge Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 Well seems youve moved up to your big boy britches with this project ! even tho you forgot to put em on! HOT BORAX SQUIRTS OUCH!! Very cool design cant wait to see the done deal! www.hoyfamily.net Isa 54:16 Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.Lu 22:36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. Mr 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Toneguzzo Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 Looks great Luke "Old dogs care about you even when you make mistakes" - Tom HALL - Old Dogs, Children and Watermelon wine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Colwell Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 nice one, Luke. Lot of work so far. wish the best, looking forward to seeing this develop. kc please visit my website http://www.professorsforge.com/ “Years ago I recognized my kinship with all living things, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on the earth. I said then and I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it; while there is a criminal element, I am of it; while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.” E. V. Debs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielStowe Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 That is awesome Luke! I look forward to seeing this progress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter johnsson Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 Great start! This has the promise of a great looking blade. I will follow your progress with interest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howie Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 Looking good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard van Dijk Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 I like where this is going guys, good luck with the rest of it. Richard Richard van Dijk My link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Pikula Posted June 29, 2013 Share Posted June 29, 2013 Great start Luke. When I was starting out I use to play with super saturated borax as a method of getting flux on early, but I soon gave up the effort. If you are looking to get flux melted sooner you can add some Boric Acid to your Borax, but even easier than that is to simply flux your work quickly and back into the forge. I have also found it beneficial to not place your steel back in the forge with any unmelted borax, the amount that melts on the surface is all you need and it will save the borax from bubbling off your steel and collecting on the bottom of the forge. I also like to keep all my bars the same length for welding, and then cutting the tip back, but you seem to have got good welds so power to you. Keep up the good work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Shearer Posted July 22, 2013 Author Share Posted July 22, 2013 Bit of an update: there's more on my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.676799389012306.1073741830.674361129256132&type=1 “Then something Tookish woke up inside him, and he wished to go and see the great mountains, and hear the pine-trees and the waterfalls, and explore the caves, and wear a sword instead of a walking-stick.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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