The next step...

[Thadbow]

I purchased some knife building supplies at the St. Jude's auction this year and I would like to try my hand at a piece of 1095 stock removal to start.
  I have read a bunch of posts about heat treating and the multi-uses of a small forge. I believe that I will build more than one knife so I am leaning towards making a forge using a turbo torch on an acetylene bottle into a piece of pipe lined with boiler wool. The question I have about a gas  forge is about the location and angle of the flame. It seems to me that there would be an uneven heat on longer blades.  Whereas a coal forge would give you an even heat? Am I over thinking this?
I made a template and shaped a few out and now I am in the process of trying to sand the edges on even.
 Forge, oven, kiln? Pros, cons?am I crazy?  
Any help on my next step would be greatly appreciated!

 PICS TO BIG. PLEASE RESIZE.<><

[madness522]

Since you already have them cut out I'm guessing you'll only be using the forge for heat treating?  1095 can be heat treated in a forge with decent results but to get the most out of the steel an oven where you soak the blade at a certain temperature without over heating would be a better choice.  You can get really good results heat treating 1080 and 1084 in a forge.

[Lin Rhea]

Thad, I guess you know you just opened a can of worms!    

How long a blade  do you intend to make? The ones you show are pretty small and the type of forge you are talking about will work. Every forge has it's pros and cons. It might come down to deciding which you are willing to make or use. From there, you'll have to go through a learning curve to use it. Again, each type of forge has it's own good things and not as good things. For smaller knives, you will just need a smaller chamber that can be heated.

 You will always have to do the work and not let a blade sit there and expect the forge to heat it evenly. You will have to have tongs or pliers and will have to move the blade through the hotter areas, if that is the case, to achieve even heating. Back and forth to get keep control.

[Thadbow]

I would like to say that I am going to make a few small hunters but I don't want to short change myself on the size of the forge.  If this as addictive as everybody sais, I want to be ready for it!     What do you think a good size is for small to medium blades?

 If I were to use an oven for these 1095 blades, could you give me the standard procedure?

  I know these questions have come up before but I find so many different answers when I search!  

Thanks,
Thad

[Ray Hammond]

I suggest going straight away to the nearest decent book store and purchase Wayne goddards book - the 50 dollar knife shop

You will use it as a reference over and over and it answers so many beginner questions

Also take a stab at googling what your questions are and a few different blade forums will show in the results.   Don Fogg has a great one with a beginners forum chock full of answers for us new guys.

I was very conservative and sent blades away to be professionally HT the first couple years so I wouldn't screw them up!

[Lin Rhea]

Thad, There are several threads from the past right here on TG that would bear on your question. Try to look back and check out some of them. Here are a couple.

Ray's suggestion is spot on. Any books on the basics will not only help you with the metalurgical part of knife making, it will assist in the terminology as well.

  web page  
  web page

[Thadbow]

Thank you  for the great advice! I will check out the local book store this weekend!   I will also keep searching through the TG threads!

Thanks
Thad