Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Primitive Skills => Topic started by: KHalverson on July 05, 2013, 10:34:38 pm
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after dinner I decided I needed a break from forging and finishing knives(been swamped lately)
so I forged up this little flint striker from a small file drop.
3 pops on some good chert (thanks cuz)
and the char cloth took
thanks for lookin
Kevin
(http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh264/oxbowsteelheader/017_zpsb97db072.jpg) (http://s258.photobucket.com/user/oxbowsteelheader/media/017_zpsb97db072.jpg.html)
(http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh264/oxbowsteelheader/014_zps56c57180.jpg) (http://s258.photobucket.com/user/oxbowsteelheader/media/014_zps56c57180.jpg.html)
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That looks great. I really like the spark picture. I bet that took some work to get that shot.
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Cool! I've got one your cousin, JW( ;D ) sent me a few years back, complete with tin box, flint, char cloth and pine fatwood kindling. Now I just gotta get good using it. ::)
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I got to see KH try that bad boy out. He made sparks but no fire :'( But...his char cloth was just about gone so I'll give him a pass on this one. Might give it a try myself. Good work KH!
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owlbait
iv'e got a kit done for you
made a bunch of char cloth today.
now its your time ta shine brother!
KH
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Very nice work. Got to get me one of them. :)
Pappy
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KH stopped by with my kit tonight and I made FIRE!!! He wouldn't let me get naked to celebrate but he was afraid! ::)
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KH sent me one of his trial strikers and I went straight to the rock he is now working on in the pic above. The sparks I struck burned hot all the way to the ground and bounced! You could hear them snapping and sizzling as they fell...a sure sign that the steel was good and hard. I have littered the West with low grade strikers that I have bought/traded for/won. If they aren't top notch stuff I drop 'em where I stand because when I need a striker, I NEED A FIRE NOW!
I carry a striker and kit as part of my "four ways to fire" section of my bug-out bag. Waterproof matches, zippo lighter, butane lighter, and flint and steel. Oh, and a bag of Fritos...cuz they will burn like heck! Kevin's striker is now my #1 striker, it beat out the 4 others I consider good enough to keep.
Good work, cuz'. Seriously good.
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KH stopped by with my kit tonight and I made FIRE!!! He wouldn't let me get naked to celebrate but he was afraid! ::)
Mike
iv'e seen you in boxers at RAHC and that's really more than I wanna see.
congrats on the fire.
JW
I am honored that the striker I sent you is your #1
as you prolly noticed by the pic that they are on a weight loss program now.
much like the fella forging em up
KH
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Wow, that's a great piece of work. Like Pappy I got to get me one like that someday.
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Nice job KHalverson.You've got a life time friend there.
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That is awesome work! Going to have to get one to use at deer camp.
Tracy
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I've made a couple of those, but I don't quite have the knack of getting the hardening right. Too hot of a quench and they're brittle, too cool, and they don't spark well. Got a clue for a neophyte smith?
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I've made a couple of those, but I don't quite have the knack of getting the hardening right. Too hot of a quench and they're brittle, too cool, and they don't spark well. Got a clue for a neophyte smith?
[/quote
I treat them the same way I treat a knife
I thermo cycle 3 times and the on the 4th heat to non magnetic
quench in cold oil
a little slower quench that way
no temper cycle
I hope this help ya some
KH
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I think it would help...if I understood what you meant by "thermo cycle". What color do you heat the metal to do this? Cherry red and anneal in ashes? Forging temp and quench isn't it...makes them too brittle.
I have some of the older blacksmith books which use terms that are too vague for a dunderhead like myself. "...quickly heat to light straw and quench in brine...." Great if you know the terms and how much salt. If not, well, it's back to guessing and nearly infinite experimentation. Best would be to take a class in blacksmithing, but these are summer classes at the local community college, cost a couple of hundred dollars (unattainable presently) and with the last 30 days being above 95 degrees, not very inviting. It's hot enough by the forge without the weather. So--
I remain your most ignorant servant,
David
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during the forging process you get grain growth in the steel as well as stresses
excessive grain growth makes for weak steel.
thermal cycling helps reduce the grain structure as well as alleviating some of the stresses.
after forging I heat to 1 color past critical temp (non magnetic) I hold with tongs and in a darker room you will se the steel start to lose color and then the color comes back
this is the grain reducing and producing its own heat. allow the steel to cool to black heat.
second heat I heat to barely non magnetic and allow to cool the same as the first cycle.
third cycle heat to just under non magnetic and allow to cool to black heat
fourth heat to barely non magnetic and quench in room temp used motor oil and wha-la it should be hard but not brittle
if ya have any more questions feel free to give me a call on by cell after 4pm est on the week days or anytime during daylight hours on weekends
(231) 460-3738
Kevin