Forging Ahead...

[Jelly]

Following from the chisels and planes you've made thread... I finally reached a point where lack of a back-bent chisel was stalling my table build to the point that I needed to do something about it.

One duplicate firmer chisel later...

Full Gallery.

Turned out to be relatively easy to forge the shape once I drew out the metal a little to thin it, which took rather longer than the shaping. I do wish I'd had a larger hammer though, as a lump hammer and 3lb ball pein hammer were not sufficiently powerful to make the most of each heat.

What surprised me was how much quicker the heats became once the metal was drawn out. The final heat to get the whole tool to a dull cherry red for hardening was difficult, and actually forced me to re-configure the firebrick "hearth" to direct the heat more evenly.

Taking the mill scale off with a wire brush, and cleaning up with flapwheel and mop before tempering allowed me to check for defects, and an electric fan oven at 220 for 3 hrs, then gradual cooling in the oven (still closed) until room temp delivered that lovely almost golden straw colour you see in the photographs.

It works really well for the task in hand, and takes a very keen edge, I'll definitely be experimenting more with this in the future.

Anyone Else for Forging?

 

[Derek Cohen (Perth Oz)]

Well Jelly, with a curved chisel back, you will struggle to sharpen the edge. Better flatten it before you go any further .... :lol:

Regards from Perth

Derek

 

[Cheshirechappie]

Jelly, I admire your 'get stuck in' attitude, but why spend the time forging your own when back-bent gouges are offered by both Ashley Iles and Henry Taylor (and quite probably others, too)?

http://www.henrytaylortools.co.uk/ampro.html

http://www.ashleyilestoolstore.co.uk/ca ... /back-bent

 

[rxh]

Well done. I enjoy the challenge of learning new skills. Silver steel rod is also a good starting point.

 

[Jelly]

CheshireChappy: it has two advantages: it's much cheaper and I get exactly the sweep and bend I needed.

It's a good learning experience too, and I never pass up the chance to do something new.

 

[bugbear]

What surprised me was how much quicker the heats became once the metal was drawn out.

Yeah - so once you've made a piece of iron non uniform (as you work towards a final shape) the skills required become rather more difficult.

Even a simple point, e.g. on a poker, can burn or spark long before the whole piece is hots

Makes you look on even something as simple as this with a new respect

BugBear

 

[Jelly]

What surprised me was how much quicker the heats became once the metal was drawn out.

Yeah - so once you've made a piece of iron non uniform (as you work towards a final shape) the skills required become rather more difficult.

In this respect using an oxy-mapp torch and ceramic "hearth" was a major advantage for me as an inexperienced person, as I had a lot of control over the direction and envelope of the heating, compared to a conventional hearth or a furnace.

Makes you look on even something as simple as this with a new respect

BugBear

Too right, it doesn't look simple anymore!

 

[Cheshirechappie]

CheshireChappy: it has two advantages: it's much cheaper and I get exactly the sweep and bend I needed.

It's a good learning experience too, and I never pass up the chance to do something new.

I certainly can't argue with the second sentence!

However, I'd be surprised if someone couldn't find the right sweep/size combination from those commercially available. The cost is, of course, another matter!