After many months of construction (and a few setbacks) we welcome a new addition to the workshop - the hydraulic press. This machine puts about 25 tons of pressure on hot steel - forge welding with ease.
Initial tests in making damascus billets have come in about 16 times faster than by hand, without rushing! We didn't even break a sweat in making the first 180 layer billet. This should get faster as we get some practice.
It is the strong silent type and complains much less than a striker, and will dramtically lift productivity levels in the shop.
This press makes damascus courses accessable to students of the Tharwa Valley Forge.
Now we are looking at making a rolling mill to quickly draw out billets.
Many thanks to Myles and the guys at M and G Industrial for their help, support and advice
Gas Forge usage
Some thoughts on using the LPG (propane) forge, is it not meant to be a definitive guide and it is to be used at your own risk
Safety
Please
use common sense and be careful
The
use of a gas powered forge can be hazardous if not done correctly.
Serious burns, explosions and worse are possible if the forge is
misused.
Always
use in well ventilated area – toxic gasses can quickly build up in
enclosed spaces.
It
gets hot in there – over 1000 degrees C, sometimes despite the
insulation the outside gets hot too, be careful.
Remove
all flammable materials from around the forge. Do not leave
unattended when lit.
Have
a fire extinguisher handy.
Don't
open the regulator too much, most forging can be done around 70kPa
with welding done a little higher, use just what you need with the
pressure – your gas will last better.
Use
approved gas bottles
Check
for leaks with soapy water. Use tape thread to reduce leaks in
joints. Any hoses with leaks should be immediately replaced.
Wear
good fitting PPE (personal Protective Equipment) including sturdy
boots, eye protection, gloves, apron and sturdy cotton or wollen
clothes. Do not wear synthetics!
Staring
at the inside of a lit forge can cause permanent eye damage –
there is a lot of IR radiation being generated. If you need to look
into the forge often, acquire safety glasses which protect your eyes
from IR radiation.
This winter we worked hard on upgrading the forge workshop. We have added to our facilities
a large coke forge
a new number 7 fly press (with lots of dies, punches and attachments)
a new anvil (bringing the total to 5)
additional tongs and tools
a ventilation fan
new shelving system
a new cutoff bench
a whiteboard
new stand for the leg vice
Forge floor
Number 5 Flypress
a Henrob - Dillon Oxy-acetelene torch for fine work (and saving fuel)
A big thanks to Iain, Grant and Myles for a big effort. We are looking forward to using the improvements in the upcoming courses.
Get a Grip
Fixing handles on knives can be a challenge. This simple modification to a standard Quick -Grip makes it much easier to get nice tight glue-ups of you handle. Remove the yellow pad and cut a vertical slot 4mm in one end of the Quick-Grip. You can then put the yellow pad back on an use it as a normal grip or remove it and use it for you handles.
To use glue your handle and place the blade in the slot. Gently squeeze the handle. Before final tightening check alignment of the layers, then tighten it up.
For best results make sure each layer in the handle is flat and do a dry run to check the joins before gluing.
Why we edge harden blades
A great blade needs to perform in all kinds of situations. A blade snapping under pressure poses a serious safety risk to the user (or abuser). The carbon steel blades at the Tharwa Valley Forge are edge hardened using a three step process to ensure a hard edge and soft back. The knife can be bent through 90 degrees without snapping!
heat the edge to the point where it loses magnetism. Quench in oil.
temper blade in oven at 215 degress Celcius for 90 minutes. Turn off oven and slowly cool overnight
heat tang to "blue" colour then place edge in water and heat back to "blue" colour. repeat this step three times
“Store your knives in a knife block either horizontally or upside down, so the edge doesn't wear against the block each time you take them out” -Common sense
Essential Supplies
From our Store
Gift Vouchers available
Gift vouchers are available for our courses. Each voucher comes as a beautiful full colour certificate with the recipients name on it and the course you have organised. The price is the same as the course. They are valid for a year after purchase.
Contact us to organise a gift they will never forget.
After many months of construction (and a few setbacks) we welcome a new addition to the workshop - the hydraulic press. This machine puts about 25 tons of pressure on hot steel - forge welding with ease.
makes it much easier to get nice tight glue-ups of you handle. Remove the yellow pad and cut a vertical slot 4mm in one end of the Quick-Grip. You can then put the yellow pad back on an use it as a normal grip or remove it and use it for you handles.
