It's pointed...its metal...but not quite a weapon.

katana · 21st August 2008, 12:21 PM

Lemmy, I really like the idea of creating your own anvil ....and then using it to create other things

Do you use it to forge blades ? Do you use coke as the primary fuel in the forge ? I have seen plans to create a forge that uses waste oil and is clean burning. Not certain if it would be a good choice as I thought carbon from the coke/coal/charcoal found its way into the work piece?

'A G', thank you for your suggestions and the link. Those blades are beauties

If I can produce something half as good ...I will be a very happy man. Are you 'self taught' or did you learn from another bladesmith?

Regards David

A. G. Maisey · 21st August 2008, 01:08 PM

Thanks for your compliment, David.

My first teacher was Gordon Blackwell, who is probably one of the last traditional smiths in Australia.

My second teacher was Empu Suparman Supawijaya, of the Kraton Surakarta, Central Jawa.Empu Suparman passed away in 1995.

However, I taught myself to weld damascus, and I had made my first keris before Empu Suparman accepted me as his pupil.

Apart from these two gentlemen, I have learnt much from other smiths, pandai keris, and especially from Empu Pauzan Pusposukadgo of Surakarta.

lemmythesmith · 21st August 2008, 09:26 PM

Hi David, my forgework consists of bladesmithing only these days!! I used to be a professional smith who specialised in blades but did anything from making nails, repairing farm machinery, wrought ironwork etc. I use coke as fuel-"smithy breeze" also known as "three washed coke" pretty small pieces about 10-20mm, burns reasonably clean but as Alan mentioned you get clinker. Good fire management is half the battle!!
If you put "meteoric patrem" into the search there's a couple of my pieces and some fellow smiths work too.... Forging keris is fairly new to me my background is Nihon-To based, tamahagane, yakiba and hada!

VANDOO · 22nd August 2008, 06:04 AM

CONGRADULATIONS ON THE ANVIL EVEN VULCAN WOULD BE PROUD TO USE ONE LIKE THAT.

katana · 22nd August 2008, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VANDOO

CONGRADULATIONS ON THE ANVIL EVEN VULCAN WOULD BE PROUD TO USE ONE LIKE THAT.

Thank you Vandoo,
I just hope that Vulcan will not think the anvil is 'wasted' on me

Regards David

A. G. Maisey · 22nd August 2008, 02:34 PM

David, I've used coal that I coked myself, manufactured coke, charcoal, and gas. I've also used an oxy torch as a heat source for forging, and propane and oxy blown into a brick enclosure as a heat source for forging.

I like coke the best because I find it the easiest to work with.

Gas is very, very easy. Welding in a gas forge is like making a cake, but easier. Anybody can weld in gas. However, I personally do not like gas, and I have never been able to heat treat successfully with gas. Coke is very easy to heat treat with.

In my opinion the best set up is to have a gas forge to weld with, and a coke forge for all other work.

katana · 23rd August 2008, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

David,
Gas is very, very easy. Welding in a gas forge is like making a cake, but easier. Anybody can weld in gas. However, I personally do not like gas, and I have never been able to heat treat successfully with gas. Coke is very easy to heat treat with.

In my opinion the best set up is to have a gas forge to weld with, and a coke forge for all other work.

Thank you very much for the advice Alan, I think that is a good compromise between 'traditional' and 'practical'

David

Rick · 22nd August 2008, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katana

Thank you Vandoo,
I just hope that Vulcan will not think the anvil is 'wasted' on me

Regards David

It wasn't made by ACME ?!?

http://home.nc.rr.com/tuco/looney/acme/anvils.html

Wiley gets all of his stuff from them ...

Congrats !

katana · 23rd August 2008, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

It wasn't made by ACME ?!?

http://home.nc.rr.com/tuco/looney/acme/anvils.html

Wiley gets all of his stuff from them ...

Congrats !

I wonder if ACME manufactured this Californian road sign

BEEP BEEP !!

.

katana · 22nd August 2008, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemmythesmith

Hi David, my forgework consists of bladesmithing only these days!! I used to be a professional smith who specialised in blades but did anything from making nails, repairing farm machinery, wrought ironwork etc. I use coke as fuel-"smithy breeze" also known as "three washed coke" pretty small pieces about 10-20mm, burns reasonably clean but as Alan mentioned you get clinker. Good fire management is half the battle!!
If you put "meteoric patrem" into the search there's a couple of my pieces and some fellow smiths work too.... Forging keris is fairly new to me my background is Nihon-To based, tamahagane, yakiba and hada!

Thanks Lemmy,
the link is
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...0&page=3&pp=30

Excellent work, love the blade....another 'talented' formite

I would really like to see some of your Nihon pieces, could you post some pics ? Did you produce your own tamahagane ? a skilled art in itself. After reading the comments in the thread above I am beginning to think that using gas or similar for the forge may be better. There is a guy in Britain that has made a 'waste oil' furnace, capable of melting iron. Others have modified his plans for use as a forge. It is clean burning and gets up to 'heat' very quickly. There would be several advantages, the cost of the fuel (waste oil) is incredibily cheap or even free. The components to create the forge can be made from scrap and 'recycled' parts, again keeping costs down. An added advantage is that it could still be used as a furnace to cast crossguards, pommels etc with copper, brass, bronze or even iron.
http://artfulbodgermetalcasting.com/3.html

Kind Regards David

katana · 22nd August 2008, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Thanks for your compliment, David.

My first teacher was Gordon Blackwell, who is probably one of the last traditional smiths in Australia.

My second teacher was Empu Suparman Supawijaya, of the Kraton Surakarta, Central Jawa.Empu Suparman passed away in 1995.

However, I taught myself to weld damascus, and I had made my first keris before Empu Suparman accepted me as his pupil.

Apart from these two gentlemen, I have learnt much from other smiths, pandai keris, and especially from Empu Pauzan Pusposukadgo of Surakarta.

Wow, what a privilege to have the opportunity to learn from such great teachers...

and for you having the talent to be accepted by Empu Suparman

I'm very impressed

Kind Regards David

21st August 2008, 12:21 PM	#1
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Lemmy, I really like the idea of creating your own anvil ....and then using it to create other things Do you use it to forge blades ? Do you use coke as the primary fuel in the forge ? I have seen plans to create a forge that uses waste oil and is clean burning. Not certain if it would be a good choice as I thought carbon from the coke/coal/charcoal found its way into the work piece? 'A G', thank you for your suggestions and the link. Those blades are beauties If I can produce something half as good ...I will be a very happy man. Are you 'self taught' or did you learn from another bladesmith? Regards David

21st August 2008, 01:08 PM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,992	Thanks for your compliment, David. My first teacher was Gordon Blackwell, who is probably one of the last traditional smiths in Australia. My second teacher was Empu Suparman Supawijaya, of the Kraton Surakarta, Central Jawa.Empu Suparman passed away in 1995. However, I taught myself to weld damascus, and I had made my first keris before Empu Suparman accepted me as his pupil. Apart from these two gentlemen, I have learnt much from other smiths, pandai keris, and especially from Empu Pauzan Pusposukadgo of Surakarta.

21st August 2008, 09:26 PM	#3
lemmythesmith Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 93	Hi David, my forgework consists of bladesmithing only these days!! I used to be a professional smith who specialised in blades but did anything from making nails, repairing farm machinery, wrought ironwork etc. I use coke as fuel-"smithy breeze" also known as "three washed coke" pretty small pieces about 10-20mm, burns reasonably clean but as Alan mentioned you get clinker. Good fire management is half the battle!! If you put "meteoric patrem" into the search there's a couple of my pieces and some fellow smiths work too.... Forging keris is fairly new to me my background is Nihon-To based, tamahagane, yakiba and hada!

22nd August 2008, 06:04 AM	#4
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	CONGRADULATIONS ON THE ANVIL EVEN VULCAN WOULD BE PROUD TO USE ONE LIKE THAT.

22nd August 2008, 02:34 PM	#6
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,992	David, I've used coal that I coked myself, manufactured coke, charcoal, and gas. I've also used an oxy torch as a heat source for forging, and propane and oxy blown into a brick enclosure as a heat source for forging. I like coke the best because I find it the easiest to work with. Gas is very, very easy. Welding in a gas forge is like making a cake, but easier. Anybody can weld in gas. However, I personally do not like gas, and I have never been able to heat treat successfully with gas. Coke is very easy to heat treat with. In my opinion the best set up is to have a gas forge to weld with, and a coke forge for all other work.