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Post by Admin on Nov 20, 2013 9:42:55 GMT -5
 (22:07:18 ) [PIC] |. . Exavier Exeter . .| Blacksmith of Minus [ Commerce District . Blacksmiths ] -At the Blacksmith's, where all manner of weaponry and slave accoutrements can be purchased or ordered, the stench of flesh and white hot metal ripe in the air....- says to ALL: I walk into the forge that I'd rented for the remainder of the fair, it is stall number seven. I was considering making a weapon tonight, the first on my list of projects is the set of three spears for Aias. He wanted a set of throwing spears, I would make him three as all good sets should come in multiples of three. I figured if nothing else I could make the steel for them tonight, and perhaps pour the molten steel into the molds. I would need to then purchase the staffs that would be attached to them. Since these would not be used for melee combat they would not need a steel striker on the other end, just would need to be perfectly balanced. I set my pack down on the table and take out one of the books that I got from Trei several years ago, with pictures and instructions for every different type of weapon used on Gor. I flip to the spear section, having just been in this part of the book recently working on bronze spears for Cimber. The idea of steel spears was different though, the spear heads would be considerably heavier than bronze, but would also last much much longer. (22:13:29 ) [PIC] |. . Exavier Exeter . .| Blacksmith of Minus [ Commerce District . Blacksmiths ] -At the Blacksmith's, where all manner of weaponry and slave accoutrements can be purchased or ordered, the stench of flesh and white hot metal ripe in the air....- says to ALL: From what I could see from the book, I would not need a counterweight on the other end of the spear, just would need to use a wood that was heavy enough for the staff to balance it out. I would select temwood, I wondered if I would find someone here at the fair I could purchase it from, or if everyone would just sit in the central tent for most of their experience here, there were several other things I wanted to buy, perhaps I would find another weaponsmith that made staffs, or a merchant of some kind or something. I then look over the different types of spear heads that I could use, I was thinking a modified leaf bladed spear for these, I was just looking for the picture of the right one to use. I find it and then go to the sets of molds that were here in the central part of the forges, selecting a set of three molds that match up with what I want to make. I carry the three molds over to the work bench next to the furnace that I rented, clamping each of them in and then shutting my copy of "The Modern Blacksmith", pushing it back into my pack and setting the pack to the side. I walk to the wall of the forge near where I was set up, undoing my weapons harness and taking it off, and then pulling off my tunic. (22:20:36 ) [PIC] |. . Exavier Exeter . .| Blacksmith of Minus [ Commerce District . Blacksmiths ] -At the Blacksmith's, where all manner of weaponry and slave accoutrements can be purchased or ordered, the stench of flesh and white hot metal ripe in the air....- says to ALL: Now that I'd stripped down to the waist I hang up my tunic. I could feel the heat from the fires already baking over me. I look over to the thralls, "Get that fire hot! Or by Odin I will get my whip!" I say to them as the both scurry to their stations. One pumping the billows, bringing in the cool evening air from outside and forcing it over the top of the coals, the other starts to load wood into the back of the furnace, and use a rake to pull the ashes that were already burnt down towards the front, this would cause the temperature to rise significantly in the front part of the fire, enough for me to mix iron and carbon, and make steel. I'd considered this for a bit and I decided I was going to make black steel spear heads, it was something that was not often done, but it was not that hard, one just needed to mix more ash in that was darker in color, not burned all the way to white, this still provided the extra carbon, but also turned the steel black when it was forged. (22:31:13 ) [PIC] |. . Exavier Exeter . .| Blacksmith of Minus [ Commerce District . Blacksmiths ] -At the Blacksmith's, where all manner of weaponry and slave accoutrements can be purchased or ordered, the stench of flesh and white hot metal ripe in the air....- says to ALL: I walk to the wall, taking down one of the leather aprons here, and sliding it over my head. I tie my long black hair into a leather strap at the nape of my neck. I then reach around behind myself and tie the apron off a the small of my back. Pulling it tight. This left much of my torso and my arms bare, which was why I had so many scars on them from bits of molten steel hitting my flesh. I select the pair of gloves that I found earlier that fit, setting them to the side for now. I look back towards the furnace, I could see that the thralls had everything ready. Old Ironhide, the man running this forge for the duration of the fair had trained them well. The heat inside of the forge itself was perhaps twenty degrees warmer than outside already and I could feel sweat already beading on my brow and shoulders. I then select an obsidian trough, this is where I would melt down enough iron and mix it with the right amount of the black carbon to make the steel itself. I thought that perhaps tonight I would just pour the steel in the molds, and then I would let it cool and finish the project at another time. Setting out all the tools that I would need, and selecting two iron bars that were of sufficient weight and size to make the three spear heads. I also take out a long steel rod that would be used to stir the mixture. I reach into the back of the fire and take out a few small pieces of wood that had burnt down sufficiently. I set them in the trough along with the two iron bars. I'd selected a big trough, the obsidian glinting slightly in the fires of the forge and the torchlight that gave the whole area some sort of a glow to it. I would want to finish the spears during the day when the light of the sun was shining into the forge. But for this work I only needed to be able to see well enough to pour the finished steel into the molds. (22:38:42 ) [PIC] |. . Exavier Exeter . .| Blacksmith of Minus [ Commerce District . Blacksmiths ] -At the Blacksmith's, where all manner of weaponry and slave accoutrements can be purchased or ordered, the stench of flesh and white hot metal ripe in the air....- says to ALL: All of the ingredients set into the trough, I finally pull on the gloves and walk the trough over to the furnace. The heat of the fires baking out of the front was intense, washing over my massive form. I set the trough into the front of the fires, where they were the hottest, "Thrall! Pump the billows faster!" I growl at him, and he complies, I would want to heat this up as much as possible, in order for the mixture to set correctly it needed to be perfectly mixed. Shifting the obsidian trough around a bit until it is in just the right place, I then stand there, watching the heat begin to lick up over the obsidian. The slick black rock would not stick to the steel, and it would not melt so it was perfect for this kind of work. I was impatient, but this had to be done right, I start by using the steel rod to break apart the pieces of wood that were burnt down, crushing them into a powder in the bottom of the trough before the iron bars begin to melt. I touch the steel bar to one of the iron ingots after finishing the crushing of the ash and coal left from the fire. It was sticky to the touch already, the heat doing its work from the fire. (22:54:06 ) [PIC] |. . Exavier Exeter . .| Blacksmith of Minus [ Commerce District . Blacksmiths ] -At the Blacksmith's, where all manner of weaponry and slave accoutrements can be purchased or ordered, the stench of flesh and white hot metal ripe in the air....- says to ALL: I turn back to the fire, shifting the obsidian trough a bit more, allowing the iron to melt down and mix with the ash. Instead of the grey that steel usually turned, this was a dark black, matted, it would look really interesting when it was complete and it would not effect the strength or weight of the steel at all. I did not make many weapons in this type of black steel, it was something that would be rather unique for Aias, not many blacksmiths on the face of Gor were familiar with this particular technique. I keep stirring the iron and ash mix in the trough, as the iron melted down and mixed with the carbon in the ash, it was transformed into steel. It would be much much stronger than iron alone, and once it was to take an edge, it would only need to be sharpened occasionally. The temwood staffs that would be attached to the spear heads when they were complete might break along the way, but temwood was a very strong material as well, and Aias told me that he did not like to replace his weapons often so these should last for as long as he would like to use them. (23:11:00 ) [PIC] |. . Exavier Exeter . .| Blacksmith of Minus [ Commerce District . Blacksmiths ] -At the Blacksmith's, where all manner of weaponry and slave accoutrements can be purchased or ordered, the stench of flesh and white hot metal ripe in the air....- says to ALL: The steel is finally mixed, I take the steel rod that I was using and put it into some cold water, hearing a hiss as it its. I would clean things up later. I then grab the steel bar on the end of the obsidian trough and hold it with both gloved hands. I carefully lift it out of the ashes of the fire and carry it over to the three molds that are already clamped down to the work bench. There was a spout on one end of the obsidian trough, and I line that up carefully with the first mold, pouring the black steel down into the mold itself, I was careful not to spill any and to make sure that I only filled the mold up to even with the bottom of the hole. This would leave one burr on the side of each spear that could be easily smoothed out when I put them directly into the fires to work the edges on to each spear, well as much of an edge as I could with a hammer before I took the whet stone and then buffing wheel to it. I then move on to the second mold, pouring the steel carefully in to that one. Filling it to the top, and then I move on to the third. Each was filled perfectly and through experience I'd made just enough steel to finish with this project. When I was done I take the obsidian trough and dunk it into the water that I put the steel bar into. A huge cloud of steam bursts from the top of the water. As the obsidian cools all the steel that was in it flakes off, but there was really not much left in it. I then walk away from the barrel full of water to the side of the forge again. Taking off the apron and gloves and putting on my tunic and weapons harness. The spear heads would need time to cool, I figured that I would finish them tomorrow or the next day, and find the black temwood staffs that I wanted to go with them over that time period as well. |
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Post by Admin on Nov 20, 2013 9:43:21 GMT -5
(18:37:16 )
[PIC]
|. . Exavier Exeter . .|
Blacksmith of Minus
[ Commerce District . Blacksmiths ]
-At the Blacksmith's, where all manner of weaponry and slave accoutrements can be purchased or ordered, the stench of flesh and white hot metal ripe in the air....-
says to ALL: I wander from my wagon to the blacksmith shop again, I wanted to finish the next step on the spears for Aias, the molds had been filled with black steel, three total spear heads would be now cooled and ready to move on to the next step with.
(18:44:07 )
[PIC]
|. . Exavier Exeter . .|
Blacksmith of Minus
[ Commerce District . Blacksmiths ]
-At the Blacksmith's, where all manner of weaponry and slave accoutrements can be purchased or ordered, the stench of flesh and white hot metal ripe in the air....-
says to ALL: I stop at the wall of the forge, undoing my tunic and weapons harness, taking both of them off, leaving me bare to the waist. I then pull on an apron and select my set of gloves. The three molds that I was working with last night are still sitting there where I left them. The thralls that work forge number 7 in this huge blacksmith's area smartly go ahead and start at work, as they knew that they would hear it from me if they did not. One furiously pumping on the bellows, the other loading wood into the back of the furnace and pulling the ash that is burnt down towards the front. The white ash, the wood that is completely burned down would be pulled towards the front. This ash was called coke, and was the hottest burning. A bed of this coke was pulled with a rake until it was covering the entire front of the furnace area. The furnace itself was a chimney, brick construction with an open front. A set of billows were positioned alongside of the furnace itself, these connected to a tube outside of the forge itself, this would bring the cool outside air in and force it over the flames, making them burn much hotter than they would normally. All of this was needed to heat steel nearly to the melting point, once it was soft and malleable it could be shaped in any manner that the blacksmith would wish.
(19:12:58 )
[PIC]
|. . Exavier Exeter . .|
Blacksmith of Minus
[ Commerce District . Blacksmiths ]
-At the Blacksmith's, where all manner of weaponry and slave accoutrements can be purchased or ordered, the stench of flesh and white hot metal ripe in the air....-
says to ALL: I start by unclamping the three molds from the top of the workbench, they were held there when the steel was poured so that they would not move at all. I then use a hammer and a chisel to break apart each of the molds. The spear heads dropping out and onto the surface of the workbench. They are still rough looking, rough along the edges and there was a burr on each of them where the spout of the mold was. In addition they were hollow where the spear head would inset, but the holes for the rivets that would hold the staff to the head of the spear were not yet formed in each of the spear heads. This would be accomplished with the next step of the process. I inspect each, the steel came out a beautiful black color, matte. With the addition of a black temwood staff these would look really interesting and unique, in addition to that if they were thrown in low light or the dark they would be nearly impossible to see. I knew I was making them for a Rarius that would never attack someone in the dark, but they would be useful in low light situations. Finished with the inspection I pull on my heavy leather work gloves, they go up to my elbows. I also select the tools that I would want to work with. Sliding the smithing hammer out of the loop on the left side of my belt, setting out tongs, a steel punch to put holes in the spear heads that would eventually hold rivets, and I inspect the anvil to be sure that there are no imperfections in it.
(19:26:52 )
[PIC]
|. . Exavier Exeter . .|
Blacksmith of Minus
[ Commerce District . Blacksmiths ]
-At the Blacksmith's, where all manner of weaponry and slave accoutrements can be purchased or ordered, the stench of flesh and white hot metal ripe in the air....-
says to ALL: I pick up the first of the three spear heads with the set of tongs, holding them in my right hand and the hammer in my dominant left hand. I set the end of the spear head that would hold the staff into the hottest part of the fire. I allow it to heat up, this would take a little while so I look over at the other two spear heads, they were reasonably heavy, but not so much so that they would be difficult to balance with the staff. I would buy staffs that were slightly wider at the butt end than they are at the end that would go into the spear head itself. This would easily balance it out, and once the spears were created they would be seven feet long, this would make it so that the minor slope would not even be noticable. This would allow them to be thrown with great accuracy over long distances. I look back to the fire, seeing that the end of the spear head is now glowing orange, and then as the fires are heated it begins to glow a yellow white, this was the temperature that was needed. I knew from so many years working in the forge how hot a metal was by the light that it emitted. I reach into the fires with the tongs and remove the spear head, turning to the anvil I slip the head of the spear over the narrowed end, this anvil had a narrow end that actually went to a point, I push the open end of the spear head over this and then shove once, securing the spear head on the anvil. Setting the tongs to the side I line up the punch and hit it once with the hammer, making a perfect hole in one side of the spear head, this would be one end of where the rivet would be set. I then use the tongs to turn the spear head around, the holes would need to line up perfectly but I was used to doing this so I get it just right. Another hit of the hammer against the punch puts a hole in the other side, exactly across from eachother. Removing the spear head from the anvil, I set the other end, the business end into the fire.
(19:35:11 )
[PIC]
|. . Exavier Exeter . .|
Blacksmith of Minus
[ Commerce District . Blacksmiths ]
-At the Blacksmith's, where all manner of weaponry and slave accoutrements can be purchased or ordered, the stench of flesh and white hot metal ripe in the air....-
says to ALL: I push the spear head further down into the fire, allowing the hot coals to bake over its form. The heat coming from the fires is a haze, making the air wavy. I could feel this heat coming from the fires and washing over my massive form. Already there was sweat forming on my brow, on my shoulders and arms, dripping down and leaving little runnels in the soot that was ever present on my skin. I wait for the other end of the spear to heat up and then I pull it from the furnace with the tongs, turning to the anvil and starting to ring blows down onto the black steel. The sound was loud, clang, clang, clang. The force of the hammer impacting the steel was massive, when the hammer was swung in a trained hand, which was one of the reasons I always used to fight with a set of smithing hammers. Sparks and bits of molten steel fly off the head of the spear as my hammer impacts it again and again. I start by pulling the spear head to the sharp edge of the back of the anvil,, I shear off the burr that was left from the process of using the mold. I then turn the spear head around, using the flat of the anvil to smooth out the point of the spear head and then working the hammer along both of the edges. Once everything is smoothed out I dunk the spear head into a barrel of salt water, also known as brine. This tempers the steel, making it harder and more durable. A whoosh of steam comes from the top of the water, clouding my vision for a moment. I allow it to cool enough for the steel to be tempered and then I shove the spear head back into the fires again. I set aside the 10 pound hammer that I'd been using and I select a smaller one, one with a five pound head.
(19:44:48 )
[PIC]
|. . Exavier Exeter . .|
Blacksmith of Minus
[ Commerce District . Blacksmiths ]
-At the Blacksmith's, where all manner of weaponry and slave accoutrements can be purchased or ordered, the stench of flesh and white hot metal ripe in the air....-
says to ALL: The spear head has once again heated to the perfect yellow white color that I am looking for, and I pluck it from the fires with the tongs, turning back to the anvil with the five pound hammer head. I now do start to smooth the edges to something that would take on the next step in the process which is sharpening. The hammer ringing out again and again, sparks flying off the edges of the steel when it is hit. The steel was not heated to the point of melting, it was actually just heated to the point where it was just starting to be malleable, interestingly enough this step did not require the steel to be as hot as the last one. The combination of a slightly lower temperature and the smaller hammer allows me to really smooth the steel, hitting along the middle of the spear head to smooth out the angular pattern in the steel spear head itself. I now had the spear head done as much as I could with just the use of a fire and a hammer. I would need to sharpen it next, and then buff it so that it would look perfect and ready for delivery to Aias, well it would need to be attached to a staff as well. The spear head itself is approximately 12 inches long, with the final four inches being hollowed out to fit on the end of the staff. The staffs that I would select would be six feet four inches, provided that Aias did indeed want seven foot spears, I would check with him before I finished the project.
(19:48:52 )
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|. . Exavier Exeter . .|
Blacksmith of Minus
[ Commerce District . Blacksmiths ]
-At the Blacksmith's, where all manner of weaponry and slave accoutrements can be purchased or ordered, the stench of flesh and white hot metal ripe in the air....-
says to ALL: As I was now finished with the forging of the first spear head I again quench it in brine, tempering the steel a second time. It was critical to get this step correct, so that the steel did not become so hard that it was brittle or did not stay so soft that it would not hold an edge. After the spear head has cooled in the brine I set it on the work bench and take up the second one. Setting the end that would go into the staff into the fires first, and letting it heat up, then punching the two holes in it that would hold the rivet that would permanently seal staff and spear head. Well not permanently because if the staff was ever broken the spear could be disassembled and a new staff put in its place. Considering that I was going to use temwood though, the chances of the staff breaking were minimal. As before I use the hammer on the steel head, first the 10 pound one, and then the five pound one to smooth out the edges, and clean up the entire overall shape. This was done after heating it again in the fires of course, and as with the first spear head it was quenched two times to temper the steel. I then set aside the second spear head before taking up the third.
(19:59:35 )
[PIC]
|. . Exavier Exeter . .|
Blacksmith of Minus
[ Commerce District . Blacksmiths ]
-At the Blacksmith's, where all manner of weaponry and slave accoutrements can be purchased or ordered, the stench of flesh and white hot metal ripe in the air....-
says to ALL: I set the third spear head into the fires of the furnace, it was incredibly hot in here now, since the thrall had been pumping the billows continuously for some time now. I could see that he was tired and I bark, "switch places thralls, you on the billows and you tending the fire." They switch immediately, not wanting to raise my ire. With a fresh set of arms pumping the billows the fire heats up again, the air whooshing in from outside and blowing over the coals. The temperature is intense and I am completely covered in sweat, dripping down over my body and off me onto the floor at my feet. It is so hot in front of the fire that most people not accustomed to it would probably pass out. I'd lived so much of my life in front of the fire though that I was used to it. I considered myself a bit of a pyromaniac, loving fire and that was one of the reasons I selected blacksmithing when I left Prison Moon Village, where I was the Ubar. After everything that happened there I just wanted to disappear into the background, and the position of blacksmith left people continuously underestimating you which was fine with me. The steel spear head has heated again, and I go about punching the holes in it for the rivet and then setting it back into the fire again. I heat the steel to the point of white hot, where I would use the ten pound hammer to begin working with it. I use the tongs to pull the spear head out of the fire and start beating the hammer against it. First cutting off the burr from the molding process like I did with the previous two, and then going about smoothing out the edge of the steel and making it all uniform. I then dunk it into the brine water, as I did with the first two. The continuous clouds of steam rising into the forge made it both a bit more damp, and the smell was distinct and strong. I wait for the spear head to cool in the brine and then put it back into the fires again.
(20:10:27 )
[PIC]
|. . Exavier Exeter . .|
Blacksmith of Minus
[ Commerce District . Blacksmiths ]
-At the Blacksmith's, where all manner of weaponry and slave accoutrements can be purchased or ordered, the stench of flesh and white hot metal ripe in the air....-
says to ALL: The black steel of the spear heads was different, it would be something totally unique for Aias, I'd made black steel blades before, but never spear heads. I pull the spear head from the fires, turning to the anvil and now using the five pound head. Again as before the spear head was not heated to the quite the same high temperature as the last round so that it would still be malleable but that I could be more refined with the smoothing of the steel. The point was worked on especially long, I would want that area to be razor sharp once it was heated. It was very important for the business end of a spear to be perfect, especially since these were going to be throwing spears. Sparks and bits of molten steel flying off the spear head and splattering against the apron that I wear, and onto the gloves, little bits find their way past the gloves and onto my arms and upper torso, my body looked like one big burn mark, luckily I worked in such a way that only rarely did something come up and hit me in the face. Even then it would be more likely to burn a spot in my beard than it would be to actually burn the flesh. The third and final spear head finally done, as much as I was going to do with it tonight anyway I quench it into the barrel full of brine. Letting it cool completely at the end of the tongs. I then set that spear head with the other two. Taking off my gloves I then wrap the three spear heads in leather and put them into my pack. I would sharpen and buff them once I had the staffs that I was going to use. I'd hoped to find a carver or another blacksmith or metal worker who had them, but I would probably just end up buying them from some random vendor here at the fair since very few people actually seemed to be doing any work here. I slide off the apron, and wipe myself down before putting on my tunic and weapons harness again.
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Post by Admin on Nov 20, 2013 9:43:50 GMT -5
(18:26:54 )
[PIC]
|..Exavier of Minus..|
[ Commerce District . Merchant Stall ]
-At one of many merchant stalls located throughout the Fair where a shopper may enter a small enclosed area to privately view wares away from the noise and crowds outside...-
says to ALL: I walk from the wagons, down towards the blacksmiths area and forges. I knew there were several different vendors with stalls and booths that sold weapons, I was not looking for a weapon of course, but instead I wanted some staffs, to put into the spear heads that I'd made for Aias. I stop at one of the stalls where there are hundreds of different kinds of staffs available. I was looking for something very particular, two staffs that were exactly 6 feet and 4 inches long, and one that is exactly 4 feet 4 inches long. I would want all of them to taper just a bit, so that they were larger at the butt end than they are at the other end where they will go into the spear. This will balance the spear so that when it is thrown it will fly correctly. It would be able to be used at long distances. In addition to this, I am also looking for dark temwood, as dark as I could find, to match the black spear heads themselves. I'd never made a set of black spear heads before. I look over towards the man running the stall, telling him what I need, he is a big huge mountain of a man, he must be running one of the forges in this area as well because he has several weapons for sale as well. The stall itself was bigger than the studio in the Exeter Metal Works in Minus. He points out where the temwood staffs are, set out by length. I go through them slowly, inspecting each one.
(18:59:40 )
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|..Exavier of Minus..|
[ Commerce District . Merchant Booth ]
-At one of hundreds of booths where goods, services and food are sold to people attending the Fair...-
says to All: I find three that will work, each are rounded on the butt end, but are cut off clean on the other end. They are a very dark temwood, worked to a deep gleam. They would be perfect. The center of the staffs even had some cross hatching carved into the wood to give it a good grip in the hand. I select the three that I want. This would give me two seven foot spears and one five foot spear when I was done. They could be used for both melee combat and for throwing. The temwood was hard like iron as well, and would probably not break under any condition. To my good fortune they also had the holes drilled in them in the right position to slide the rivets through. They were perfect, I haggle with the shop owner for a few ihns on price, and we settle on 15 copper each, for a total of 45 copper tarsks I count out the coin and give it to him. I then leave with the staffs and head to the forge that I rented in the fair.
(19:05:33 )
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|..Exavier of Minus..|
[ Commerce District . Blacksmiths ]
-At the Blacksmith's, where all manner of weaponry and slave accoutrements can be purchased or ordered, the stench of flesh and white hot metal ripe in the air....-
says to ALL: I reach the forges and go into the one marked number 7. This was the one that I had been using for the last few nights. I did not need to use the furnace tonight as all I was doing was finishing the weapons. I set the three staffs onto the work bench and then slide my pack off my right shoulder. Setting that down and taking out the three spear heads wrapped in leather. Undoing the tie on the leather and then taking the three spear heads and setting them next to the whet stone wheel. The whet stone wheel was a large contraption, with a huge stone wheel in the center of it, much the same size as a wagon wheel. There were peddles that I could use to create momentum and turn the wheel. Along the bottom side of the wheel is a trough where there is oil, this wets the entire stone surface so that when the steel is pressed against it, it will sharpen it instead of shred it.
(19:12:28 )
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|..Exavier of Minus..|
[ Commerce District . Blacksmiths ]
-At the Blacksmith's, where all manner of weaponry and slave accoutrements can be purchased or ordered, the stench of flesh and white hot metal ripe in the air....-
says to ALL: I start to pump the peddles alongside the wheel itself, and it begins to spin, faster and faster and faster. Once it reaches the speed I want I take the first of the spear heads in my hands. Pressing it against the stone wheel at just the right angle a loud burring sound is heard and sparks fly off, even with the wheel wet from the oil. I work along one side of the spear head slowly, sharpening it more and more, and then I flip it around and do the other side. Before finally finishing by working an edge onto the point of the spear. This is all done quickly and with practiced motions. The sparks flew down between my legs, I'd not dressed in an apron and gloves today but this work could be done without that. I checked my tunic every now and then to be sure that no sparks hit it and lit it on fire. Back and forth over the stone again and again, slowly working the edge of the spear head into a perfect razor sharpness. I then take up the second spear head and repeat the same process, and then the third. By the time I am done with the whet stone wheel all three of the spear heads are sharp enough to cut through flesh like warm bosk butter. I remove my feet from the peddles which allows the wheel to slow, and finally stop before I get up from it.
(19:24:30 )
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|..Exavier of Minus..|
[ Commerce District . Blacksmiths ]
-At the Blacksmith's, where all manner of weaponry and slave accoutrements can be purchased or ordered, the stench of flesh and white hot metal ripe in the air....-
says to ALL: I move over to the buffing wheel, it is set up in the same way as the whet stone wheel, but instead of just having the stone, there are strips of leather attached to the outside of the stone, layer after layer of them, giving them a multi textured surface, something that would buff out any marks on the steel, and shine the steel so that it looked like it was brand new. In the case of these spear heads, they were made of a black steel which made them have a matted color to them. Black steel was not all that common, but Aias gave me leave to make what I thought would work, and I'd never done a black steel spear head before. I sit down at the buffing wheel and get that spinning in the same way that I did the whet stone wheel, with peddles. Once the wheel is spinning fast enough I press the first spear head against it. This rubs incredibly fast against the spear head, cleaning it all up and putting a bit of a sheen on it. I go over every square inch of the steel, including the part that would be set into the spear shafts. I then set that one to the side and select another one, buffing that entire spear head and then buffing the third one. This takes quite a bit of time as I had to be sure that I hit every angle, and every part of the surface. The spear heads would not look right if I missed any part. The forge was warm even though I was not working in front of the fire, and my breathing rate had increased a bit to compensate for my exertion. Now that all three spear heads had been created in the mold, then worked in the fires of the forge, then had the whet stone wheel and the buffer used on them they were finished for all intents and purposes. I step away from the buffing wheel and walk over to my work bench where the three staffs I just purchased are.
(19:28:53 )
[PIC]
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[ Commerce District . Blacksmiths ]
-At the Blacksmith's, where all manner of weaponry and slave accoutrements can be purchased or ordered, the stench of flesh and white hot metal ripe in the air....-
says to ALL: I turn back to the work bench and then clamp down one of the three staffs. Making sure it is stable, I slid the spear head over the flat end, the butt end up the work bench towards the other end. I line up the holes in both the spear head and the staff, seeing that they were perfect. I was using one of the staffs that would make a seven foot spear first. I reach into the loop on the left side of my belt and take out the ten pound steel hammer that is there, pulling it into my left hand. I then slide a rivet through the holes, it is flat down against the workbench so the surface of the work bench would keep the rivet from going through the holes too far. I slide the first rivet in, and then make sure it is set right. I swing the hammer back and bring it down once, CLANK against the rivet, expanding it in the hole. I then unclamp the spear and turn it around, setting in the vice again I hit the other side of the rivet, expanding that side as well and permanently bonding the spear head and the temwood staff.
(19:38:49 )
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[ Commerce District . Blacksmiths ]
-At the Blacksmith's, where all manner of weaponry and slave accoutrements can be purchased or ordered, the stench of flesh and white hot metal ripe in the air....-
says to ALL: I undo the clamp on the spear and hold it out, spinning it a few times in the air, and thrusting it in the general direction of nothing. I then hold it in the center on the palm of my hand, making sure that it is perfectly balanced. I set that one to the side and take up the second staff, clamping it into the vice and then doing the same process with the second one, setting the rivet into it. Using the hammer for two blows, one on each side, each letting out a sharp CLANG as the hammer meets the rivet to expand it. I then do the same process as I did with the first, spinning it a few times and thrusting it. Then holding it on my hand to be sure it is balanced, I was not much of a spear thrower myself, so I would have to wait until Aias tried them out to see if they would work for his purposes. The last one that I did was the shorter spear, this one would be a total of five feet in length when it was done. Sliding the spear head over the end of the staff, and then putting in the rivet, CLANGCLANG and the rivet was set, the three spears were done. I wrap all three of them with a leather strap in the center, and then figure out if I want to carry them back to the wagon, or if I want to leave them here until I see Aias next.
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