[TheForge] Finishing Swage Blocks

Wed Jan 15 18:45:00 2003

Gheez! - Ashphault and acid!  Oh boy! Here we go. Just try a little "elbow
grease". You're making blacksmithing way too complicated again, Bruce. Just
read John Newman's response on finishing swage blocks and follow
instructions!  I remember a master blacksmith tell me once, a long time
ago, - "sometimes ya' gotta put down the text books and pick up the hammer".

Tell us the truth now. I've gotten e-mails in the past week and the
consensus is you're in academia(remember ..."put down the text book"). Tell
the truth now, Bruce.

Asphaultum and acid, phew - that's a good one   :o)))

Phil
Jordan Forge

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bruce Freeman" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2003 4:01 PM
Subject: [TheForge] Finishing Swage Blocks

Lotta talk recently on this subject.  I have a Green and Mengel block I need
to finish.  I had previously tried flexible sanding disks, but found it
rather tedious and didn't get very far.  I just picked up a couple flap
wheels I'd intended to try on the angle grinder.

What techniques have the rest of you used, and how effective were they?

I was wondering whether acid etching would work.  Coat the block in
asphaultum - which resists etching compound.  Then lightly sand the regions
you want to finish, so that you cut through the asphaultum down to the HIGH
points only.  Acid etch ? should reduce the high points, selectively.  Then
rinse off the acid, sand a little MORE asphaultum off, and re-etch.
Presumably this would take a few cycles.  When the area is smooth, recoat
with asphaultum and leave it alone until the rest of the block is finished.
Finally wash off the asphaultum.  Note that I haven't tried this and am not
advocating it.

Bruce
NJ

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