R.W. Deavers Posted June 16, 2017 Share Posted June 16, 2017 As some of you may remember a little while back, I was asking about steel types for a rapier project. Well, I opted to use what I have on hand, spring steel. To refresh everyone's memory, I included pictures of my design drawings along with progress pictures. The design drawings show a general idea of what I want to accomplish. In the second drawing, I zoomed in to show the basket. The next pictures shows the start of the build. I started off with a long leaf and split it length-wise. Starting with the tang, I drew it out to roughly the shape and size I need then proceeded to start the blade taper. Next, I started to refine the shape on the anvil before any grinding. During this stage, I noticed what seemed to be a few small inclusions and possibly a small crack starting. Genuinely concerned, I chased the inclusions with an angle grinder and found the small crack and inclusions were only surface deep. Relieved, I decided to begin the cleanup grinding. During this part, the length of both the blade and tang was fine tuned. The blade length is 38" and the tang is 8" to give an overall length of 46". So far, I have about ten hours logged in for this. There will be more pictures as more progress is made. 2 You are NEVER too old to learn something new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveShimanek Posted June 16, 2017 Share Posted June 16, 2017 Good start! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.W. Deavers Posted June 16, 2017 Author Share Posted June 16, 2017 Thank you Steve. It seems it is so far, and hopefully this project will be as smooth as possible. You are NEVER too old to learn something new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Collin Miller Posted June 16, 2017 Share Posted June 16, 2017 Looking good so far! I'll be interested to see how you keep the whole thing straight and symmetrical “If you trust in yourself. . . believe in your dreams. . . and follow your star. . . you will still get beaten by the people who have spent their time working hard and learning things, the people who weren't so lazy.” ~ Terry Pratchett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ Simon Posted June 16, 2017 Share Posted June 16, 2017 Its a very good start. I will make a suggestion since I've attempted two of these and snapped the tip off both. Forge thick, Grind thick. Heat treat thick, grind post heat treat to final dimension. They have a tendency to get a bit noodle like in heat treat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.W. Deavers Posted June 16, 2017 Author Share Posted June 16, 2017 3 minutes ago, JJ Simon said: Its a very good start. I will make a suggestion since I've attempted two of these and snapped the tip off both. Forge thick, Grind thick. Heat treat thick, grind post heat treat to final dimension. They have a tendency to get a bit noodle like in heat treat. JJ, I thought about that, and right now, the blade thickness is about 1/4" or so. 1 You are NEVER too old to learn something new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.W. Deavers Posted June 16, 2017 Author Share Posted June 16, 2017 47 minutes ago, Collin Miller said: Looking good so far! I'll be interested to see how you keep the whole thing straight and symmetrical Yeah, this is going to be a challenging build, and my motto for this is 'slow and steady'. You are NEVER too old to learn something new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.W. Deavers Posted June 17, 2017 Author Share Posted June 17, 2017 I started to grind the bevels in today. The work you see done is after about three hours, so yeah, I still have a good way to go yet. The only problem with a blade this long, one goes through abrasive materials, even on annealed steel. 2 You are NEVER too old to learn something new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted June 17, 2017 Share Posted June 17, 2017 Looking good so far! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.W. Deavers Posted June 18, 2017 Author Share Posted June 18, 2017 7 hours ago, Alan Longmire said: Looking good so far! Thank you Alan. You are NEVER too old to learn something new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C-S Posted June 19, 2017 Share Posted June 19, 2017 Very keen to see how this one comes out. Following with interest. GL. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshua States Posted June 19, 2017 Share Posted June 19, 2017 Oh boy. Time to click that follow button again. 1 “So I'm lightin' out for the territory, ahead of the scared and the weak and the mean spirited, because Aunt Sally is fixin’ to adopt me and civilize me, and I can't stand it. I've been there before.” The only bad experience is the one from which you learn nothing. Josh http://www.dosgatosdesignsllc.com/#! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdJMFMqnbLYqv965xd64vYg J.States Bladesmith | Facebook https://www.facebook.com/dos.gatos.71 https://www.etsy.com/shop/JStatesBladesmith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Florian F Fortner Posted June 19, 2017 Share Posted June 19, 2017 Nice to see that others also make rapiers! I suppose this one is not designed for fencing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.W. Deavers Posted June 19, 2017 Author Share Posted June 19, 2017 1 hour ago, Florian F Fortner said: Nice to see that others also make rapiers! I suppose this one is not designed for fencing? No, this one and the next one are based from the rapiers from the Elizabethan era, so these will be ceremonial blades but still functional (sharpened). You are NEVER too old to learn something new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.W. Deavers Posted June 19, 2017 Author Share Posted June 19, 2017 More progress today. I got the bevels defined and did a basic cleanup. I still have another hour or so of some fine tuning then the nervous part... heat treating. 2 You are NEVER too old to learn something new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C-S Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 That looks scary fast, maybe not as fast as a bullet, but still scary. lol 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeroen Zuiderwijk Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 Wondering how you will heat treat that, without it warping under it's own weight as you lift it. Jeroen Zuiderwijk Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/barbarianmetalworking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.W. Deavers Posted June 20, 2017 Author Share Posted June 20, 2017 6 hours ago, Jeroen Zuiderwijk said: Wondering how you will heat treat that, without it warping under it's own weight as you lift it. The only answer I can give is; very carefully. You are NEVER too old to learn something new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Florian F Fortner Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 Do you have any possibility to heat it in vertical position? I can really recommend this for long blades, I did 6 foot blades without warping in my vertical kiln. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.W. Deavers Posted June 20, 2017 Author Share Posted June 20, 2017 11 hours ago, Florian F Fortner said: Do you have any possibility to heat it in vertical position? I can really recommend this for long blades, I did 6 foot blades without warping in my vertical kiln. Unfortunately no vertical heating, but I did take delivery of my coal fired trough forge today. A good friend of mine welded one up for me as he had the plate steel. The panels are all 3/8" thick with a 3" diameter air inlet. I still have some tuning to do to it and hope to have it up and functioning soon. You are NEVER too old to learn something new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeroen Zuiderwijk Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 19 hours ago, R.W. Deavers said: The only answer I can give is; very carefully. I guess straightening post heat treat is pretty much inevitable on such a long thin blade anyway. Jeroen Zuiderwijk Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/barbarianmetalworking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 A word or three to the wise on that trough forge: Use charcoal. Much more forgiving and faster to use than coal. I have heat-treated all my long blades in a charcoal trough. Well, trench in the flowerbed, but same idea. Two sets of tongs, one to grab the tang and one to support the middle of the blade when lifting it out. Practice the motion of getting a smooth lift and quench before the blade is hot. This will show you where the danger zones are for putting a bend in a hot blade. Finally, double-edged blades must be quenched vertically. Plan accordingly. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.W. Deavers Posted June 21, 2017 Author Share Posted June 21, 2017 3 hours ago, Alan Longmire said: A word or three to the wise on that trough forge: Use charcoal. Much more forgiving and faster to use than coal. I have heat-treated all my long blades in a charcoal trough. Well, trench in the flowerbed, but same idea. Two sets of tongs, one to grab the tang and one to support the middle of the blade when lifting it out. Practice the motion of getting a smooth lift and quench before the blade is hot. This will show you where the danger zones are for putting a bend in a hot blade. Finally, double-edged blades must be quenched vertically. Plan accordingly. Thank you Alan. To me, this is priceless advice and I will take heed. Also, The only quench tank I have big enough is my vertical tank, so overall a few practice runs will be done (okay, maybe more than a few). Again, your input is GREATLY appreciated. You are NEVER too old to learn something new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.W. Deavers Posted June 24, 2017 Author Share Posted June 24, 2017 Well, today was heat treating day for the rapier. I must say, my nerves have never been so frazzled over a heat treat. But, the good news is, this step is done. Tomorrow begins the cleanup and final grinding. In the picture, you see my hand cranked blower, the trough, and the vertical quench tank. The skinny piece in front and center of the trough is the rapier blade. The trough is made from 3/8" thick plate and the quench tank is 3/8" wall square tube. You are NEVER too old to learn something new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles dP Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 Congratulations. By the way, what do you use for tempering? My kitchen oven would be a bit small. "The way we win matters" (Ender Wiggins) Orson Scott Card Nos, qui libertate donati sumus, nes cimus quid constet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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