Bushcraft

I have included a video of my first forging attempt that I just had converted.

Also, I believe I have solved most of the problem with the forge.

I have discovered that it is possible to weld using just car batteries. I could use some very simple tack welds to create a handle to hold the work piece.

Adjusting the position of the fan should sort out the issues with airflow, and I have made changes to my improvises anvil (although I probably still need to get a real one).

I have completed a test firing of my forge.

It seems to work well, I can easily bring the Damascus steel up to forging temperature. I have noticed some problems however.

First, my anvil is insufficient for the kind of work I am doing, secondly, the air flow is not strong enough, and thirdly, my method for holding the work piece is too weak.

I can fix all of these issues fairly easily, and even despite them, I was able to work with the steel relatively easily.

I have noticed that, even with a small bar of steel like the one I started with, it does stretch quite a bit when worked. As I made the end of the steel narrower for the point of the knife, the sides protruded quite a lot.

I was originally trying to make a small knife for the purposes of bushcraft, and general use, however, it looks like the blade will end up being longer than I planned to make it. I could cut some of the excess steel off, if I need to.

I have mostly completed my forge design. I am using regular (non-fire bricks) to make the outside of the forge, and I am lining the inside with fire bricks. I am then using fire cement to seal the cracks and joints between the fire bricks.

The air pipe is a 2 inch diameter exhaust pipe tube, 1 meter long. I have drilled 10 small holes in it, and sealed the end with a thick layer of fire cement. The holes are placed in such a way that the length of Damascus steel that I will be working with fits over them exactly, without wasting airflow.

I am introducing air into the forge by using a 12V fan. I am somewhat concerned that this will not be powerful enough to heat the forge to the right temperature, especially since this forge is a simple open-top design.

I have cured the fire cement by lighting a small fire in the forge and allowing it to burn for about two hours. After some rain, I noticed that the cement seems to lose it’s hardness. It seems that it is certainly not waterproof, so the forge will need to be covered when not in use.

I need to get two more fire bricks to finish off the forge.