Hi all!
After completing my registration process, I saw a email suggesting I introduce myself to you guys!
So here it is! My name is Erik. I am a 26 y.o Norwegian medical student. Or I was. My second year of studies, life decided to throw me a real curveball, and for the last 20 months I have been struggling with a autoimmune disease. At times I have been unable to get out of bed in the mornings, and at other times the disease is more subtle. After being restricted for so long, its starting to feel like I have some physical reserves again.
I accidentally stumbled across some youtube videos of some guys recreating weapons from movies and video games - the series known as Man at Arms. This held my interest for a little while, and after a while, youtube guided me to more bladesmithing, and a small fire was started. Since that time, I have spent months doing research, watching more videos, and trying to determine whether this was something that was even possible for me to do. One night, about a month ago, I asked my family if I could possibly setup a forge in the garage (my apartment is NOT suited!), and ever since that was approved, I have been getting ready to get my hands dirty. Cleaning the garage, building a workbench etc. The whole project has been a life-saver. Not being able to continue my life as planned was starting to take a toll on me, and this project is the first time I have felt any sort of passion since I fell ill.
Being a Norwegian student on sick leave - money isnt exactly flowing, but then something amazing happened. A family friend had a coal forge and a 200lb anvil he was more than happy to lend me. Long story shorter (I know I have been going on for a while) its looking like I will be able to forge my first blade within the next 7 days.
Personally, my heart skips a beat everytime I see a wellmade damascus blade, and I hope to be able to create my own in time. However, I have done enough research to realize that before I get there, I have a lot of skills to refine, and a fair amount of equipment to save up for. To begin with, I hope to eventually be able to create high quality blades according to plan.
Being a Norwegian, I am also obligated to acquire the skills necessary to create laminated blades. We have a long tradition with laminated blades, such that the majority of forged blades I have seen, are in fact laminated.
Well! This went on for a while. If you are still with me, thanks for taking the time. I hope you guys are available to answer questions I may have, especially during the upcoming time, when my forge is being finished, and supplies are being bought.
TLDR: Norwegian blacksmith. Hi.
Thanks for reading, hope you are all enjoying your weekend!
Erik
Erik your living proof that if one sets their mind to it they can accomplish anything , your well on your way ! keep going !!!
Look forward to seeing your creations !!
Rob
[font="Comic Sans MS"]'Never Quit On Improving'[/font]
Erik
Welcome to the American Bladesmith Society and the ABS Forum. Please ask any questions you have about Bladesmithing techniques and I know that our Moderators and members will answer you with very useful advice. It is great to have a new member from Norway!
Dan Cassidy
Journeyman Smith
Send an email to Dan
Welcome Erik.
As someone who uses coal on a regular basis, I encourage you to view that alone as a worthy skill to accomplish. It might be intimidating and it certainly has a learning curve it will set your work apart. I also encourage you to pursue the laminated blade after you master the basics of forging a mono steel blade. I would imaging that the crafting of culturally specific blades is dwindling in Norway much as it is in other parts of the world. I absolutely love it when someone takes it upon him or herself to preserve it. Please let us know how it goes and ask for help if you need it. Again, welcome.
Lin Rhea
Hi again!
I wanted to take the opportunity to thank you all for the warm welcome! I wrote my first post pretty early in the morning, and I can see that not everything made as much sense as I wanted too - though it could have been worse!
Sort of in response to Lin Rheas post as well as a bit of a clarification of my OP I wanted to mention a couple of things <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />
1. I absolutely agree that mastering the coal forge would be really cool, and something I imagine I could spend a fair few decades doing. My original plan was to spend whatever money I will be able to make, redoing my fathers floors in parts of the house, on a gas forge. When our family friend offered to lend me a coal forge, I no longer had any excuse to not acquire this skill. (part of me always felt that I *should* learn to work one, before getting a gas forge - dont ask why). My understanding is that the forge is a oldschool Norwegian one, and if there is any interest I might share some photos of it - more on that in a bit.
2. In terms of progression, I am still formulating a plan, and have not put it down on paper yet, but I will share my current thoughts; I have divided up my planned progression into 3 "steps". Step 1: Running the forge correctly, and producing mono steel blades that take the shape that I planned out before I start. Step 2: Laminated steel blades. Step 3: (Laminated) Damascus blades.
I havent decided how to determine when to move on from one step to the next (not that I wont ever try to make a laminated blade until "IM READY"), but I am thinking of something along the lines of being able to draw 5 different blades and reproduce them, and then have them pass the JS test (unofficially ofcourse). Although, the thought of ruining 5 blades in a row makes me cringe <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />
When it comes to tradition - yes - the vast majority of blades I have come across (at least those of 20-30+ years in age) are laminated. I feel its my duty to learn how to make "traditional" Norwegian forged blades, even if that isnt what I want to spend the majority of my time on. You are correct in that blade production has dwindled in Norway. Not only has the amount of crafted knives produced decreased - but there is a significant portion of "knife makers" in Norway, who either buy forged blades and put handles on or, naturally, the reverse. I firmly believe that the best result is achieved then the bladesmith completes the entire project. There is a understanding of the blade, the capabilities of the steel, the balance etc. that cannot be gained without having forged it (not that the results cant be outstanding even if you dont!!).
2 questions before I go; 1- as I come up with more questions, and start setting up the forge (probably early this week), do you guys think it would be an idea to make a thread for it? Sort of a, follow me getting started, where I can post photos of what the setup ends up looking like, my first blades, and questions I may have?
Second. The local guy who sells coal, charges a fair bit (I cant say whether its "expensive" as I dont know what prices are usually like), is the type of coal you use important (besides from the obvious, wood coal or variants)? That is, would it make much of a difference if I bought coal from a store that sells it to bbq (dont hate, Im new!)? If memory serves, the guy is asking 30USD for 20kg (45lb) - how much coal do you generally use in an hour?
Look at that, I got another question in there <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//tongue.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':P' />
Again, thanks so much for the warm welcome <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />
Erik
I as well would like to welcome you to the ABS, and the forum. And I pray that all will be good.
The coal that we use for the most part is the mineral or fosilized carbon type coal that is mined from the ground.
Wood coal that you may be referring to for barbequing is what we call charcoal. Charcoal is very good. It is clean
but you will use 3 to 4 times as much of it to do the same work as you would using the mineral type coal. Coal varies
a great deal in price here in the US. I belong to a Blacksmithing club and can get my coal through them very reasonably.
Maybe there is a Blacksmithing club in Norway that can help you out.
Anthony
Welcome Erik. It is great to have you here on the forum and in the ABS. I wish you the best. Your plan sounds good. You can post your questions here on the forum and I think starting a thread would be great.
Welcome again
Brion
Brion Tomberlin
Anvil Top Custom Knives
ABS Mastersmith
Hi all, I had a quick question with regards to coal!
How much is usually expended during an hour for mineral and fossil types? Is 30USD for 45lb a reasonable price or should I start looking for a different supplier?
Elsewise, things are trucking along and I will be making a new thread to keep those who are interested updated <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> On the plus side, today was the day my pops decided he wanted a 200v mig welder at home, and the same store gave me a 30% discount on a tinitiny beltsander, with heavy hints from the store manager that he really wanted a forged knife for xmas. Given my situation, I took both occurrences with a huge smile, and cant wait to drive up and collect anvil and forge tomorrow!
I estimate that I will use 20-25 lbs of coal in a day of forging. We buy by the ton and one ton will last most of a year since we don't forge every day.
Thanks a bunch <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> at that rate - expensive or not, its something I can live with <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> 15 bucks for a day of forging is more than fine. Well.. tomorrow I pick up the forge and anvil, and from there on it really looks as if Im only lacking coal and steel! Pops called a local junkyard which apparently had spring steel lying around, which I think will suit me well for practice. And Ill have to find a suitable quenching oil, but the prospect doesnt scare me much <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />¨
Thanks so much for your response - it certainly clears some things up.
Welcome Erik! Good to have you on the site. I have family in Oslo and Bergen and am a proud Norwegian American. If you have any questions, we have some of the best master smiths addressing questions. You are in good hands. Best of luck in your new adventure. We like pictures so post them up as you begin your journey.
Best regards,
Scott Mindrebø
Hey guys,
Just wanted to give ya'll a quick update since I haven't made a thread for my forge project yet! <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />
I have been holding off until the forge is up to create the thread, so that the photos line up etc. I am hoping to be ready Monday. Why did this suddenly take so long? Well, the coal forge that our family friend lent me is 2 things; its traditional. its OLD. It hasn't been treated all that well the last decade, and for the last 4 days I have been working on it. From steel brush to compressed air sanding, and on to a new coat of paint. Its been a journey, and its not over yet. Yet, to me, there wasn't much of a choice. Although it would have run perfectly well last Monday, the combination of the item being something borrowed, and traditional, I feel like there is no other choice but to refurbish this thing properly and take care of it the way it should have been. The forge is arguably my most important piece of equipment, and I have always (well, since my military time) been a firm believer in that, if you take care of your equipment, your equipment takes care of you.
The last week has certainly tested my patience - as all the pieces needed are just waiting for me to finish up the forge - but this is the philosophy I want to approach my entire bladesmithing journey. Do things RIGHT or don't do it at all.
When I have created the new thread, including a bunch of before and after photos, I will post the link here <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />
I promised I would link the post where I have the photos of the forge etc so here it is!
http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/index.php?/topic/2637-forge-on-a-budget/
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