[TheForge] make shift anvil

Fri Oct 17 21:04:01 2003

Ralph, I don't use flat bar stock that is close to the finished blade size,
because the grain flow of the steel is usually orientated wrong.
The sheets of steel as they are rolled at the mill have the grain flow along
the long axis of the sheet.
When the steel supplier sells it to you in smaller pieces, he generally
sheers the pieces from the end of the sheet. Consequently the grain flow is
now at right angles to the long axis of the steel.
 To reforge the steel to the proper grain alignment you would have to
reforge the steel to about 1/3 of its supplied thickness.
When I forge down a ball bearing, I first etch it in acid to reveal the
grain structure.
If my customer doesn't care if the blade is made from a ball, but just wants
it made from 52100 steel I'll purchase round bar stock and forge it from
that. The grain structure of round stock, as a result of the rolling
process, has to have the grain flow along the long axis.
The proper grain alignment is believed to increase blade strength by about
5%, and hold a better edge.  this may not be significant to some people, but
when I make a blade I try to make it as good as possible, and when my
customer is paying big bucks for a hand forged knife he/she expects to have
my best effort.
Chuck
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ralph" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, October 17, 2003 6:47 PM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] make shift anvil


> At 02:26 PM 10/17/2003, you wrote:
> >Nor was I.  My point being, that for serious forging people who are
trying
> >to make a living blacksmithing, a 50 to 75 lb anvil isn't going to put
much
> >food on the table.
> >I don't think I know any professional smiths except for some farriers,
who
> >use an anvil less than 100 lbs. for production work.
> >Demonstrating is another story. Your average spectator has a very short
> >attention span, so when you make a  simple hook,nail,steak turner etc.  a
> >small anvil is quit adequate.
> >Try forging out a 2" ball bearing into a knife blade with a 50 lb. anvil.
It
> >will turn into a career project.
> >Chuck
>
> And why would you want to forge a 2" bearing into a blade..... flat stock
> is closer to size and is of known quality. So on both accounts it would be
> more cost effective to use that and put food on the table.....
>
> Ralph
>
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