My Home made forge

[TheCornishman]

Hey everyone…so I’ve been splitting time not spent working, fathering or stalking between reloading and something else equally as addictive…Knife-making with my homemade forge

Thought I’d post some pics here and hopefully inspire some others to have a go too..forge is made from a 3.2kg lpg bottle. It’s lined with ceramic glass & vermiculite blocks

Reaches welding temps easily with a high pressure regulator and burner from eBay

 

[TheCornishman]

The build…

 

[TheCornishman]

I am a butcher by trade and no stranger to a knife. Mostly I make hunting/stalking knives as naturally…these peak my interest

More recently I’ve been making some kitchen knives from Farriers rasps

I test the rasps 1st to ensure they will take heat treatment. This is simple…heat the tang to just above the point where it is non-magnetic & quench in oil…if it snaps clean when hit with a hammer in the vice and doesn’t bend your in luck

I then anneal them to soften the steel by heating the whole rasp the same way and letting it cool slowly. I uaually toss them in an ammo can full of ash

I then cut out the outline with a grinder and smooth things out on the belt grinder. I tend to grind the initial bevel as this stage but just enough to give the blade some definition. If you go too far the blade will likely warp or snap in heat treat. I also drill hols for pinning the handle
at this stage

The annealing process is repeated to relieve any stresses and then the blade is taken upto non-magnetic + a minute or so and then quenched. I use warm rapeseed oil

Once quenched it’s left to cool and I clean off any scale and then pop in the oven at 200c for 2hrs to temper

Then it’s off to the grinder to grind in bevels, and polish to rehired finish

I assemble the handle scales and usually dry assemble To check fit and then pin everything together with plenty of epoxy

Can’t tell you how satisfying this is

 

[woodmaster]

Looks great. Something I veey much hope to get round too myself someday. Forge work and blacksmithing really interests me. I juzt have to restrain myself as I think once I start ill be unable to put it down.
Glad your enjoying it so much yourself.

 

[enfieldspares]

Oh no! Along with Haribo I'll admit that watching "Forged in Fire" (133 on Freesat at 10pm and again at 11pm) is a vice. Thank you to the OP for sharing the pictures. It looks good.

 

[TheCornishman]

Looks great. Something I veey much hope to get round too myself someday. Forge work and blacksmithing really interests me. I juzt have to restrain myself as I think once I start ill be unable to put it down.
Glad your enjoying it so much yourself.

Thank you

 

[ejg]

Blacksmithing was part of my trade, I loved it.
edi

 

[Smellydog]

Awesome

 

[TheCornishman]

Awesome

Cheers

 

[Bowland blades]

A lot matters on what steel the manufacturer used for that batch but to try Water quenching with rasps , get as much dishwasher salts as you can get dissolved into it. I do very few now especially as it takes time and energy to just know what your working working with

 

[TheCornishman]

I have moved into the dark art of Stainless too but here’s a few more rasp based knives…

 

[TheCornishman]

Really hope this thread inspires people to try this for themselves. It’s a great hobby that sits well alongside stalking. For anyone that can’t be dealing with building their own please feel free to PM…

I am not in the business but do sell off pieces to further fund my Knifemaking adventures, & there’s only so many knives 1x man needs in the field….to be honest I have run out of pockets!…

I am usually up for a swap too

So far Ive met some great fellow stalkers and we’ve done some top kit trades together. It’s great knowing some of my knives have been given as gifts & used for that special 1st buck

 

[TheCornishman]

Just to add….if you have a go at this please, please, please make sure not to attack your gas bottle until you’ve removed the threaded valve & filled it with water

Failure to do so will result in an explosion for sure… the stench of gas from a bottle that has been left empty with the valve open for weeks will amaze you… leave the water in the bottle as per pics above when your cutting the holes

Have fun & be safe

 

[csl]

Just to add….if you have a go at this please, please, please make sure not to attack your gas bottle until you’ve removed the threaded valve & filled it with water

Failure to do so will result in an explosion for sure… the stench of gas from a bottle that has been left empty with the valve open for weeks will amaze you… leave the water in the bottle as per pics above when your cutting the holes

Have fun & be safe

I had a diesel tank blow (heating it to silver solder) and I know what you mean...

 

[TheCornishman]

I had a diesel tank blow (heating it to silver solder) and I know what you mean...

I’d imagine the side effects involves loss of hearing & stained underwear

 

[TheCornishman]

One of a pair finished today & off to a fellow SD member…another win-win trade

Thanks Army-Medic…I am really chuffed with the way the walnut handle has taken shape…I think you’ll love using it

Now off to try out that powder dispenser

 

[pj1]

Very impressive. I spent five years at agricultural college and loved it but left with the feeling I should have done blacksmithing. Just the feeling of making something useful that lasts a long long time unlike todays throw away world. Would love to try it and there is a local guy that does taster days. Pretty much make what you want. Think I’m more of a fire poker, hammer and hook type of guy rather than a knife maker. Having bought a couple of bowland blades knives I’m happy to dof my cap and let other do the really good stuff

 

[TheCornishman]

Well good folks of SD my journey continues as does my personal development…super stoked with my latest build I’d I do say so myself

I’m going to start marketing a few of my builds…I don’t plan to mass produce but focus on unique 1x off pieces with stories to tell… BARVUS_blades

 

[Woodenbeam]

That filleting knife is a cracking looking piece of kit. Don’t recall seeing the start of this thread back in 2022 but glad things are going in the right direction
Anyway, I’m sitting down, if you care to PM the sort of money you’re looking at for an 8” filleting knife I’d be intrigued/interested. Many thanks from a St.Just man relocated.

 

[Ratcatcher]

I have to say the injinuity of some people makes me feel very inadequate, I'm pretty sure I could survive the desert island thing, but clearly some of you would have built your own 5* hotel in that time! Seriously, fantastic knives being made and thanks for showing your considerable skills, r