Another Extra Blog post... Making Razors

This shows all the steps required for not only forging the metal but everything till the finished product from tempering and annealing to polishing and honing. Awesome video with plenty of information.

Blog 8: Research and Working EQ

1. My working EQ is :What is the most effective way to manipulate metal using a hammer and coal forge?

2. The best way to manipulate metal using a coal forge is by keeping the proper heat in the metal without which the metal becomes to hard to move.

3. The most important source i have found is my 8th : properties, identifications, and heat treatment of metals.

4. My mentor is Caroline at the Orange county heritage museum where their is a blacksmith shop so I work on making tools and materials their. 

Independent Component 1 Approval

1. I plan to create 3 products that have income potential. I will plan out how to create them, what materials are needed, and then how long it would take to make them utilizing the skills I am learning as a novice level blacksmith. I am currently working on my Level 1 certificate for which I must successfully complete the following:

Level I: Novice

This certificate will be awarded to those who have completed the Level 1, basic training or the equivalent. They will have presented to their instructor the Farm Gate Hook (see drawing below) and have passed a safety test. By doing so they have shown an understanding of the basic skills of a blacksmith, including:

• Safety
• Nomenclature of the hammer
• Hammers and types of hammer blow
• Tapers (Square octagon, round)
• Handheld punch in a round hole
• Hot cut (chisel or top tool)
• Heat treatment
• 7/8 x 1/8 slot Punch (or equivalent)
• Hammer, eye drift (½ by 7/8)
• Monkey tool (precursor to making a hammer – level 2)
• Butcher (chisel or top tool)
• Upsetting
• Round tenon
• Smoosh-a-matic
• Forge welding
• Bending over the bick or horn

Find Level I Classes »

Class Project

Farm Gate Hook: Level I project figure 1

Farm Gate Hook: Level I project figure 2

2. I will show my 30 hours of evidence by keeping a log of time spent on: showing detailed drawings of the project, lists and cost of materials, estimated and actual production steps, and finally the products themselves. Examples of projects and drawings can be found at: http://www.calsmith.org/resources/education

3. Blacksmithing is a lot more than hitting a hot piece of steel with a hammer. To create something there are a multitude of steps needed. First you must find a purpose for the piece or vice versa. Next you must find what type of metal is best suited for the purpose, a soft metal or hard for example. Then, the final step, you have to plan out how to hit the piece and how you plan on physically making the item with the hammer and other tools. I've already learned there are lots of tools. With this idea in mind I will learn all of the necessary step and how to execute them properly using the art and science of blacksmithing.