Results 1 to 13 of 13
  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Not far enough away from Melbourne
    Posts
    1,384

    Default Making blades for woodworking tools - workshop

    There has been a lot of recent interest on the forum in making blades for woodworking tools.

    Quite a few threads have popped up on the subject recently and heat treating is something that many people are keen to do but do not have the knowledge or the equipment to confidently take on the task.

    While I am no expert, I have quite a few successful heat treatments under my belt and have sufficient basic gear to do the job in my shed in Hoppers Crossing, Melbourne. I was taught by a bladesmith who makes a substantial part of his living making hunting knives. After some discussion with a few local forum members I have decided to run a small workshop session to introduce interested people to the art of heat treating blades. I already have some expressions of interest.

    The purpose of this post is to allow members to express interest in attending such a workshop. I cannot give a date at this stage due to the COVID restrictions.

    Once restrictions are lifted I will make a date to run the workshop. It will be a one-day program. I will need to work out all the finer details as things progress. While I will not be charging tuition fees, I may levy a small cost to cover cost of consumables like gas, abrasives, steel, electricity etc.

    If you are interested, please reply to the thread and we can take it from there whenever we can.
    I got sick of sitting around doing nothing - so I took up meditation.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    1,184

    Default

    Sounds good Doug,
    Count me in.

    Cheers Matt.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    SE Melb
    Age
    65
    Posts
    218

    Default

    Me too.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    13

    Default

    Sounds great Doug!! Count me in as well please

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Not far enough away from Melbourne
    Posts
    1,384

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Oldmeadow View Post
    Sounds great Doug!! Count me in as well please
    No worries, but I thought you would be too busy playing with all the new tools you have picked up in the marketplace.
    I got sick of sitting around doing nothing - so I took up meditation.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    In between houses
    Posts
    185

    Default

    Would it be feasible to do a video link up to this? Or zoom or whatever it is?

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2018
    Location
    Dandenong Ranges
    Posts
    31

    Default

    I'd love to come too. Hope you have a big shed

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Not far enough away from Melbourne
    Posts
    1,384

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by riverbuilder View Post
    Would it be feasible to do a video link up to this? Or zoom or whatever it is?
    The biggest probelm with that is that a lot of the things you need to see do not really video too well. I think this is the reaso that despite watching a number of youtube videos on the subject I was still at a loss to understand until I saw it done by someone tho knew what they were doing in real life.

    So much depends on the color of the glowing metal in the forge. Video cameras do not show that clearly. Also, the process is generally done in dim light so that the smith can see the colors in the forge. There's a program called "Forged In Fire" on Foxtel History Channel with reruns on SBS on demand. Some of the best baldesmiths in the US compete for a cash prize of $10000. They regularly make basic mistakes because the forge area is lit up as a film studio and they can't see the colors properly inside their forges when heat treating their blades. They also get stress fractures in their blades from forging at too low a temperature because they cannot see the colors properly. Here's a video by Walter Sorrels talking about it here Knifemaker's Friday Five #8: My Forged in Fire Experience - YouTube look at about six minutes in if you don't want to see the lot.
    I got sick of sitting around doing nothing - so I took up meditation.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Millmerran,QLD
    Age
    74
    Posts
    1,761

    Default

    Doug

    Your workshop is just what is needed. The only real problem I see is that it is about 1800Km too far south!!

    It should be a must for anybody contemplating building their own planes or making their own chisels or indeed any other sharp object. I think you may have to limit the numbers, but of course the main bug bear is this Covid-19 thingy. I appreciate that a date still has to be set. If there is a way I could get there I would, but time and distance is against me.

    Having said that, don't rule me out, but equally don't count me in either.

    Regards
    Paul
    Bushmiller;

    "Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts, absolutely!"

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    East of Melbourne Aus.
    Age
    73
    Posts
    166

    Default

    Me too.
    I am learning, slowley.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Not far enough away from Melbourne
    Posts
    1,384

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Bushmiller View Post
    I think you may have to limit the numbers, but of course the main bug bear is this Covid-19 thingy.
    I have already been thinking about that, Paul.

    There will be a limit on class size of course, for safety reasons. Flaming forge, hot steel and the inevitable oil fire are hazards which have to be managed.

    In addition to limiting the size of the group, there will be dress requirements, safety briefing and anything else that is needed to give the best chance of a successful outcome.

    I may consider running more than one workshop if there is sufficient interest.
    I got sick of sitting around doing nothing - so I took up meditation.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    13

    Default

    Correct, I have been busy!

    I've not touched anything except unwrapping over the past two weeks as I've been facilitating online school programs. Over a month before that, I spent days fettling tools and flattening the backs of blades and chisels etc.

    Long term I want to learn blacksmithing and I have a list of things I'd like to forge.

    Thanks for this offering!

    Quote Originally Posted by doug3030 View Post
    No worries, but I thought you would be too busy playing with all the new tools you have picked up in the marketplace.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Location
    Foot of the Dandenong Ranges
    Posts
    60

    Default Update?

    Hi Doug,

    How are you going with organising this workshop? Is it still being limited by the most dreaded of lurgi's? I'm definitely interested in learning about heat treatment.

    Lyndon

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •