Blacksmithing
and Cutlery
by Gérard HEUTTE
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The equipment to start
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To start to forge, you do not need a super workshop!
Hearth
To heat steel, it is essential to have a hearth which can contain fuel (coal) and resistant
to temperatures of about 1000 °C. This hearth needs a tuyere for the air flow. For that,
many makeshift solutions:
> Recycled barbecue
> Bricks posed on the ground
> Rim of car
The tuyere can be made from a metal tube.
The bottom of the forge and the tuyere could be covered with refractory bricks and/or of
brasque
Here are two possibilities among several others:
> A Ground forge,
With simple design and realization.
> A U-shaped forge,
more adapted to the cutlery.
Ventilation
Any air blowing device can be used:
> Blower from a vacuum cleaner
> Hair drier
> Ventilator or fan
> Blower from a fuel boiler
To connect the blower to the forge, you can use any flexible tube. It is necessary to
have a system for output control (electronic with a speed variator or mechanical by a
valve).
Here is an example with a
vacuum cleaner.
Fuel
For practical reasons (supplying, cleanliness), I advise the use of
charcoal.
Support
To forge, one needs a support. The anvil is not the only solution!
> Rail of railroad
> Makeshift anvil (any steel part with a plane surface)
> Mass (5 kg) posed on the ground
Ideally, the surface of work should be hardened to be quite hard, but it is not essential
to start. The hammer is not supposed touch the surface of work.
Tools
Some tools are really essential...
> Hammer: You need a
hammer
between 800 g and 1.5 kg. It is possible to start with any salvaged hammer.
> Tongs: You need a pair of tongs to handle the parts in the hearth and on the anvil.
For lack, a strong clipper witg lengthened branches can be appropriate to start. You
can also make a pair of
tongs.
> Files: A good set of files makes possible to give easily a shape to the blade.
> Abrasive: For the completion of the blades, you can use paper for coachbuilder's.
Start with the 120 grit to finish with the 400, 600 or 1000.
You can use a
sanding block.
Accessories
Many accessories will help even if they are not essential:
> Kitchen oven with thermostat for the tempering.
> Sander, angle grinder, grinding machine or any other system of mechanical abrasion.
> Drilling machine (preferably with column).
> Hacksaw.
Basic equipment
Here is a sample of equipment for beginner that enables making blades.
A - Drill and abrasive discs.
B - Angle grinder (low cost).
C - Stack.
D - Clamp.
E - Files coarse and medium.
F - Hammer.
G - Scrap tongs.
Raw materials
To start, it is necessary to buy or to get some indispensable raw materials:
> Steel : See the page on steel
. It is possible to buy small quantities at
Eurotechni, for example a bar of 26x3 in XC75
suits perfectly.
> Wood : Slabs can be bought at specific suppliers suc as
Mercorne. The wood department in DIY store can give correct substitutes
for a limited budget, for example oak in 9x27 and 2m50 length for 7 euros ! Some wood boards for floor
in exotic wood can also suit. Avoid pine, too soft.
> Axis and rivets : Nails and rods (steel or brass) can be bought in DIY store.
And now, go to work!
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