Tamahagane gyoto WIP

[Bill Burke]

This WIP actually started in Febuary at the Gary House Big sword Invitational. While there I set up a bloomery furnace and made some Tamahagane.

Here is the furnace running.
http://www.fototime.com/5975AB816EA0AF5/standard.jpg http://www.fototime.com/DD3BD78261591B6/standard.jpg

Tapping the arch, Pushing over the furnace to remove the bloom
http://www.fototime.com/451B6393326E929/standard.jpg http://www.fototime.com/A5BAD1496B47315/standard.jpg

that darker spot is the bloom it wieghed about fifty pounds. the second photo is of quenching the bloom.
http://www.fototime.com/F4570BE4458BA7B/orig.jpg http://www.fototime.com/7B70B53AA2F7C88/orig.jpg

ok from here on it is at my shop

here are a couple pieces of the bloom
http://www.fototime.com/06946C5833E658C/standard.jpg http://www.fototime.com/27ECAE3305BB1C6/standard.jpg

One of the blooms after flatening. the stack of pieces after quenching and breaking
http://www.fototime.com/B56BED8BDBA6A85/standard.jpg http://www.fototime.com/C5A187165B4AB91/standard.jpg

a shot of some of the broken pieces. the stack wrapped in wet paper and clay with rice straw ash.
http://www.fototime.com/18A992222A5E65F/standard.jpg http://www.fototime.com/AC8AE1496362B70/standard.jpg

I have some more but it will have to wait till tomorrow

[BobH]

Starting with your own steel. This is going to be great.

[bubba-san]

Nice bloom , lots "O" work but, its worth it , good luck . this is what I ended up with after 4 days work .I spent a lot of time , cant make up my mind what I want to forge . A couple smaller ones or another sword ???:confused: Great pictures

[Bill Burke]

Hey Bubba that looks good. I am posting more pictures later this evening.

[bubba-san]

Cool brother , I always like them pics . anxious to see what you get , looks like you got some help , what are friends for . good luck ....Ganbatte ne!

[Bill Burke]

well here are some more pictures.

here is the stack of wafer in the forge. and after about five minutes.
http://www.fototime.com/4A0EEF3F4337CC8/standard.jpg http://www.fototime.com/4A0EEF3F4337CC8/standard.jpg

Here it is after six folds. it is three inches wide a little over twelve inches long and about three quarters thick.
http://www.fototime.com/2DF7A2B06F4C2C1/standard.jpg

[Steven Kelly]

That is awesome Bill.. So, what's it gonna look like at Blade?????

[bubba-san]

Looks real good Bill, looks like you are doing all the right stuff ! nice fat billet .thanks for pics. .......... Bubba

[Bill Burke]

That is awesome Bill.. So, what's it gonna look like at Blade?????

Hey Steve, If I told you now then I would't have to finnish the thread.



Looks real good Bill, looks like you are doing all the right stuff ! nice fat billet .thanks for pics. .......... Bubba.

Thanks Bubba, I like welding it with the clay and straw ash because it amazes me that this works.

[Mike Turner]

Bill that looks great, I love this kind of thread. Can you do a little WIP on how you do the paper wrap and clay with straw ash. I been wanting to give this a shot and I am the type that needs to see it done to understand.

What did you use for ore?

Thanks
Mike

[bubba-san]

Thanks Bubba, I like welding it with the clay and straw ash because it amazes me that this works. Also amazes me that they had this figured out a 1000 years ago :eek:

[Bill Burke]

Bill that looks great, I love this kind of thread. Can you do a little WIP on how you do the paper wrap and clay with straw ash. I been wanting to give this a shot and I am the type that needs to see it done to understand.

What did you use for ore?

Thanks
Mike

No problem Mike, I am back in SLC for the wifey to have her head examined:D again but should be back home on saturday. I will try and put something together then.

[Mike Turner]

Thanks Bill hope your wife's examination check out OK, you guys are still on our prayer list.

[BobH]

Bill, when are you going to jump back on this pony?

[Bill Burke]

Bill, when are you going to jump back on this pony?

Hi Bob, I am in the process of building a new smaller forge so that I can continue welding up the billet without giving myself heat stroke.

[Bruce Barnett]

Harden up princess:D

Sounds like you are starting to get a bit of our normal "north west" heat.

I fired my new little one up yesterday morning to cure the refractory........... and to warm up the 3'C shed;)

[Bill Burke]

my outside thermometer is telling me it is 110 F in the shade. was only 105 yesterday.:eek:

[Bill Burke]

I guess I should finish up this thread. I Got in such a hurry to get things done that I kept foregetting to take pictures. I made three knive from this billet. One honyaki gyoto that broke during quench (water) and twosan mai with 52100 cores (no problems).

[Gary Miller]

now thats old school. looks fun

[Bill Burke]

the three knives that I forged from the original billethttp://www.fototime.com/9F04697E2DFDD6A/standard.jpg

this one broke not once not twice but three timeshttp://www.fototime.com/66E26CEFC9D2180/standard.jpg

I didn't think to take any more pictures after this but I cut the broken blade up into pieces restacked and welded them up and forged a new blade. here is a couple of pictures of the finished piece.http://www.fototime.com/E236BB11FF12569/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/AEA4EC42A8642BD/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/ABB311D4982938F/standard.jpg

[Bruce Barnett]

Nice save there mate

[Stew]

That is one beauty of a knife!

[Bill Burke]

thanks guys sorry it took soooooooooo loooooonnnnngggg for me to finish this.

[Mike Turner]

Dang glad you brushed the dust off this one bill and finished it up, that is a sweeet looking blade.

[bubba-san]

Beautiful looking blade , when made from tamahagane you can name your price , and its all based on the amount of work that goes into making them . LOTS OF WORK.