Lil Johnny Forge and blade forging demo

[Lin Rhea]

Wyatt and I managed to shoot a very amateurish video about forging a hunting knife blade using a forge built by a friend. My oldest son, Greg, helped with the resizing and such, so thanks to him we can show this. I thought some of you might want to see it even though you might not be able to understand the dialect.    Lin

 

[KHALVERSON]

awesome video lin
you make it look easy
kevin

[DANA HOLMAN]

Very nice, that's pretty much how I do it, but you do make it look easy
how long does it take to bring it back up to forgeing heat?  mine takes about 5 min
Thanks Lin
Dana

[Lin Rhea]

Not long Dana. The sun was out that day and the color was not showing well, but it was hot while I was forging. I dont let it get too cold before I put it back in the forge, so 30 seconds to 45 seconds, maybe. Thanks guys, Lin

[kbaknife]

How does it feel to be a movie star?!!??
Lin, I wanted to thank you for posting pictures of that forge some time back.
Because of that, I was inspired to make pedestals for my two forges and after I got them fixed up and on wheels, and then off of the table where they were PERMANENTLY in the way, it changed the atmosphere of my entire shop.
I can roll them out of the way and only pull them out when needed.
Thank you.
Of course, they need to be sand blasted and painted to be as pretty as Lil Johnny.
 

[gudspelr]

Thanks for posting the video-very interesting to get to see how it's done.


Jeremy

[tippit]

Lin that forge looks real familiar    Great demo on forging out a blade.  Thanks...Jeff

[sticshooter]

Great stuff Lin. This has to be made a sticky.<><

[Roughcountry]

Thanks for taking the time Lin. Really enjoyed watching and thats a dandy little forge.
I see you try to get all the use outta your gloves like I do.  

[oldpaths]

Thanks for posting Lin. I am always hungry for info on anything to do with knife make'n and really appreciate it.    
I for one,find it extremely helpful to "visually" see something done.

[Steve Nuckels]

Very nice video, and I like the dialect!  You did in 20 min what takes me 120 min.

Cool little forge too!

Thanks

Steve
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Potomac Forge

[Wampus]

Great video Lin. thanks a bunch for taking the time to make and post that.  I was a little surprised to see you using the flat face of your hammer held/swung at an angle to draw out the tang rather than the cross peen end.  Looked like it works great for that, really drew it right out.

[Lin Rhea]

Wampus,
         The hammer I used was an old Ball Pien that I flattened to make it a straight pien.

But, I did use the straight pien to draw with. It might be hard to see when I spin it around, but I change it around a lot. Lin

[STILL-HUNTIN]

Awesome!!! Thanks for sharing. Every lit bit helps, and actually being able to see it being done, helps tremendously.

[jpsowers]

Thanks for the great video Lin.

[Lin Rhea]

Wampus,
         I am having to take back something I said. I DID start the tang with the flat part of the hammer. Just the corner actually, but the face none the less. I learned this from Terry Primos a few years ago. I just get down there and get "set" and strike a steady blow as close to the same spot as possible. The sharp edge of the anvil starts the other side, then I flip it and work both sides to keep it sort of even. I did'nt mean to be confusing. Lin

[Irish]

Interesting demo, liked it a bunch!

[TheBigRedArcher]

Why did you have to go off and make a video Lin? I was perfectly happy with my grinders, now I need to get me a forge and try it. It looks like too much fun.

Thanks for posting the video, it was awesome
TBRA

[Wampus]

Originally posted by Lin Rhea:
Wampus,
         I am having to take back something I said. I DID start the tang with the flat part of the hammer. Just the corner actually, but the face none the less. I learned this from Terry Primos a few years ago. I just get down there and get "set" and strike a steady blow as close to the same spot as possible. The sharp edge of the anvil starts the other side, then I flip it and work both sides to keep it sort of even. I did'nt mean to be confusing. Lin

I was talking about the part starting about 9:10 where you use the edge of the anvil and the flat face a bit more, but I didn't catch that you then turned the hammer to the cross peen end.  You never really broke rythm so you have to really pay attention to see the switch to cross peen when you lay the blade on it's side.

I cheat and use my little homemade air/hyd press to start the tangs, but you can do it quicker on the anvil edge than it takes me to turn on my compressor and adjust the flat dies.  I need more practice on the anvil.

[Lin Rhea]

Yes Wampus. I really should take more time to verbalize so folks wont get confused. My handle is shaped so I can spin it and index it pretty well. I did not conciously do that, it just turned out that way. But I like it. I'm working at the museum today. I just forged a small hunter in the exact same way. I will try to video another some time when I have some help.

I also tried to fold a bar over and weld it for a hawk, but burnt it up. Just a little past welding heat. Actually a lot. That coal sure gets hot faster than gas. Lin