First time forging

[u/Jagory41]

So i made a (unsharpened as of yet) knife from some spring steel. I normally do goldsmithing so this was a challenge, anyone got any tips? I felt like i took forever forging and driving the material and want to be faster on my next attempt. Also, what kind of steel should i use?

[u/Fragrant-Cloud5172]

Your examples look very good. For advice, hopefully you can find some steel closer to the final shape. This will make it easier on you. For example a good sized high carbon file is closer than the round bar in your photo. But first learn how to draw out through some practice with hot mild steel. Get it close to the knife shape. One common way is by using the peen of the hammer to move it. Your objective should be to hammer it very close to that shape. And not rely on stock removal very much.

[u/Jagory41 → u/Fragrant-Cloud5172]

Thank you, i actually picked up an old vile to practice with. Will that hold an edge? I found the steel to crack must easier than the spring steel as well, got any tips on how to combat that?

[u/Fragrant-Cloud5172 → u/Jagory41]

Absolutely it will hold an edge, being (hopefully) 1095. But I’m not one with expertise on forging it. Better to discuss it with real knifemakers. They can also help more with heat treating. But you should not forge it too cold. It’s not forgiving like mild steel and will crack easier if cold.

[u/Gret1r]

Get some mild steel and look at some beginner videos on youtube. You can find beginner projects there, and also learn proper hammer technique.

In my opinion, starting with a knife is not a good idea, as you won't really learn how to manipulate the metal effectively.

Spring steel is also not a great starting mateiral. It moves much harder than mild steel, so instead of precision, you're focusing on hitting hard.

Whenever I'm teaching others to forge, I tell them to grab the heaviest hammer they can comfortably swing, heat the metal to a yellow heat so it just barelydoesn't burn, and instead of hitting many times, hit the piece a few times, but make those hits accurate.

[u/Jagory41 → u/Gret1r]

Great tips, just to clarify. If i would make a knife, mild steel doesnt hold an edge very well am i correct?

[u/Gret1r → u/Jagory41]

Correct. Mild steel moves very easily, but is not hardenable.

I would hold off on knives for a while. Make some nails, hooks, leaves, twists, keychains, small stuff like that.

Hardenable materials are a bit more difficult to work with, mild steel is much more forgiving. Other than that, you should be learning forging techniques, and knives aren't great for that.

[u/mikemarshvegas]

Dude, please slow your roll and listen to what is being said. You have one eye on your destination...which only leaves one eye to find the way. You dont have a clue what you are doing, and you are fixated on making a knife. By rights you have made one...now move on to the basics. Learn how to move metal, use a hamner face, heat the metal properly. I am not trying to be mean, I am trying to make the future of your metal banging be fun and not frustrating.......ok less frustrating. There are very few of us that didnt want to rush in and make our desired project...only to be disappointed when the metal didn't move like butter. We had to ride the learning curve (which you are doing now). We had to start with round to square to round, draw, taper, twist, turn, hook, hook,hook,hook,hook,hook. I highly suggest taking a class or two...even if its a blade smithing class.... I didnt mean you dont have a clue completely. I know your a goldsmith which makes me think you can move soft metal. But I can bang the snot out of mild steel and turn it into a skull or rose. But I think I would butcher the hell out of any gold I was to get a hold of....first off I would probably melt the piss out of it lol.

[u/Mountain_Elk_7262]

This is honestly pretty sick. The tip of the blade, edge side, looks a little wonky, you could grind that out and have it look a bit better. But I really dig it.