Post by Admin on Nov 1, 2014 16:45:46 GMT -5
(22:07:09 )
[PIC]
|..Exavier..|
Minus
-[within a market shop]-
says to ALL: I walk into the market and head towards the forge that I rent here. I'd just paid for another month on the place so I figured I should use it. The forge at Exeter Metal Works got plenty of use, this one I hardly ever used and I had an axe to make for Dwildor Lightfoot. I also had a sword to do a restoration on for Jaelyn for her companionship but that was not until sometime several hands away, I'd heard a black was looking for me as well for a contract so I wanted to at least get started on the axe. I did not have the haft for it yet but I could begin with the forging process by making steel and pouring it into a mold if nothing else tonight.
(22:11:32 )
[PIC]
|..Exavier..|
Minus
-[within a market shop]-
says to ALL: I walk in to the forge and yell to the two thralls that work there to get started on stoking the fire and working the billows to heat up the coals enough that they could be used to forge steel, or in this case make steel with an iron bar and some coke, which was the burnt down ash, when it became just a fine white powder in the front of the furnace in the forge. I stop along the wall of the forge and pull off my weapons harness, hanging it on a hook on one of the walls, I then strip off my grey woolen tunic, hanging that up as well. Selecting an apron and pulling the strap over my head before tying it at the small of my back. I could feel the temperature in the forge already starting to rise. I look through all of the different molds available and select one similar to the one I used when I make the axe that I carry every day with me. Dwildor seemed to have liked that one, and so I would make him one similar. Every weapon I made was a bit different though, I made both Cimber and Aias spears, one set was bronze, the other black steel. This one would end up single bladed with a spiked back but the final configuration would be different than the axe I made for myself, I would use the same length overall though, it would be 30 inches when I was done.
(22:20:12 )
[PIC]
|..Exavier..|
Minus
-[within a market shop]-
says to ALL: Once I have selected the right mold I put it up onto the work bench and use various vices and clamps to secure it to the top of the work bench. I might do more than just make the steel tonight, I would have to see if I could get the steel to cool enough to pull from the mold. The next step may indeed have to wait until tomorrow. I select a pair of heavy leather gloves, and an obsidian trough that I would make the steel itself in. I also select a few pouches out of my pack, manganese and silicon are dumped in small amounts in to the bottom of the trough, and then the correct amount of carbon is added, for the forging of a weapon I would want somewhere around 4% carbon in the final product. The iron bar that I put into the trough was also known as pig iron, and was what was left over after the smelting process that turned raw iron ore into a usable material. I was thinking of setting up some iron and copper mines in the voltai mountains, I would have to speak with my scribe about how one would stake out a claim some place like that, I'd taken one tarn trip long ago and had found a possible mine site but had never been back. Anyway, the right amounts of pig iron, and the other materials are set into the obsidian trough, on the end of the trough is a 6 foot steel bar, so that I could shove it into the fires from a distance. The two thralls are really working hard, knowing that I had a whip available for them should they not work hard, plus their owner would find out and I was sure that they would not want Old Ironhide to punish them for a second time. The cool air outside was drawn into the forge through the billows, and then pushed across the ashes, making them burn much much hotter than they would normally. The other thrall was pulling burnt down wood from the back of the fire towards the front, and then throwing fresh logs into the back again. The heat was relatively oppressive right here in front of the fire but I was used to it. I pull on a pair of heavy leather gloves and then take the obsidian trough and set it down into the hottest coals of the fire, allowing the mixture to melt slowly.
(22:33:05 )
[PIC]
|..Exavier..|
Minus
-[within a market shop]-
says to ALL: It does not really take long for the raw pig iron to melt down, I use a long steel rod to stir the mixture in the trough, blending all the ingredients the best that I can. When this steel was done it would be hard enough to take a good edge, but not so hard that it would be brittle and break in battle. I'd been doing this for many many years so I knew just the right mix but I always got a bit nervous at this moment, hoping everything would mix together well. I would be able to tell for sure when I remove the steel axe head from the mold. In a technique taught to me by Trei Stonegate all those years ago I will then use the forge to finish off the axe head, sharpen it some with hammers and smooth it out before taking it to a grinding and buffing wheel to finish it. This mold had a bit narrower spike on it, but it was nearly the same in length and size of the bladed part of the weapon. As soon as the steel is done being heated, and it now in fact was steel I grab on to the rod that is attached to the obsidian trough. The trough was made of obsidian because it was a rock with an incredibly high melting point, it would be impossible to melt the rock in the fires that I had here. The carving process took a very long time and was not something I'd done myself but it served me well. I then very carefully carry the trough over to the work bench, the trough was shaped much like a ladle would be, a bowl with a spout on one side. I choke up on the steel rod, to be sure that my hands were steady and I did not spill anything because I had made just enough steel to fill the mold. I dump the molten steel into the mold, pouring it almost to the top, there would be a burr in the axe head where the spout was, but that would be remedied in the next step of the process. This mold was made in a way as well that there would be a hole for the haft of the axe, I would just need to make holes for the rivets that would connect the axe itself to the shaft. If for some reason at some point the haft was to be broken it could be replaced by an experienced blacksmith. I then push the obsidian trough into a water bath, and the steel that is left in it begins to flake off.
(22:39:58 )
[PIC]
|..Exavier..|
Minus
-[within a market shop]-
says to ALL: So, I wait there for quite some time, allowing the steel in the mold to cool as much as it needs to before I then undo all the clamps and vices on the mold itself, which was made of a ceramic, and then I use a hammer and chisel to break open the mold, the axe head falls out onto the table and I get my first look at it. The steel mixed perfectly, the axe head itself was dull and would not take the shine of a new weapon until I buffed it much later in the process. It was still too hot for me to touch with bare hands but I have heavy fireproof insulated gloves on and therefore was able to take it into my hands and look it over. I was always impressed with how a few pieces of iron and a few additives could make something like this. I select a pair of tongs and the hammer that I always use and then turn back to the furnace. I set the part of the axe head that has the burr where the spout in the mold was and set that into the fireplace first. I would need to cut that off so that I could move on to finishing the axe head. I look over to the thralls, they were doing their work as well as they always do, I was truly hot now, beads of sweat forming on my arms and face, dripping down against me smearing the soot that was ever present on my body. The flames from the fire dancing against my face, making my eyes almost seem to glow at the moment. I wait for the area of the axe head to heat up enough so that I can work with it and then pluck it from the fire with a set of tongs, turning to the work bench, the hammer in my left hand feels good, I have not worked on any special projects in quite some time. I turn the axe head so that the burr is facing out away from the anvil, and is against one of the sharp edges of the anvil. The anvil itself had all sorts of edges, some rounded some sharpened. This one was a nice sharp edge. I drive the hammer down against the axe head with a loud CLANG, and I am able to shear off the burr and then set the axe head back into the fire, this time it was in the hottest part of the flames and I would start on the side of the axe head that would eventually be the blade.
(22:46:16 )
[PIC]
|..Exavier..|
Minus
-[within a market shop]-
says to ALL: I wait for the edge of the steel to reach a nice white yellow color, years of practice told me what the color would need to be in order for the steel to become malleable. I move it around now and then so that I can heat the entire blade evenly. In all it is about six inches long. The spiked back would be next as that would be just as sharp as the point of a sword when I was done with it. The steel heated enough I grab it with the pair of tongs and turn back to the anvil. I begin to bring the hammer down again and again, each blow is marked with a loud bang of steel against steel and also sparks that would fly from the molten steel. It took several blows to begin to flatten out the edge of the blade, the hammer I was using at first was 10 pounds, so this was more deliberate blows, not nearly as much finesse used. I set the ten pound hammer to the side and select a five pound one from next to the bench, now the steel was starting to harden again, and therefore using the five pound hammer I was able to work the steel out into a pretty fine edge even without any of the other steps that I would do next. I thrust the axe head into some brine, or salt water. This allows for tempering of the steel, which hardens it in this shape. A gout of steam comes from the top of the water, bathing me in a slightly salty steam bath. My long black hair sticking to my head now as I put the axe head back into the fire. This time though I put the spiked back into the fire's hottest point.
(22:54:52 )
[PIC]
|..Exavier..|
Minus
-[within a market shop]-
says to ALL: I wait until the spike back of the axe is now heated to the same white yellow color as the blade was. I then grip it with the tongs and turn back to the anvil again. Using expert blows of the hammer I am able to work the end of the spike into a perfect point, something that would take a razor sharp tip once I used the grinder and buffer on it. It did not really take me long as there was not as much to do with this side, the molding portion of the work really took care of it. I then quench the steel again, cooling and tempering it before setting the part of the axe that would slide down the sides of the wooden haft and would allow for rivets to be inserted to hold the whole thing together, when I got the haft I wanted anyway. For now I was just going to finish the axe head. I wait again for the steel to heat, and then I turn to the anvil, setting the first area I wanted a hole punched onto a recessed area on the back of the anvil. I then select a metal punch and go about punching the first hole, lining the punch up and then bringing the hammer against it hard. I turn the axe head and do this until I have four such holes, enough to put two rivets in when I was all said and done. Quenching the steel one last time, I leave it in the salt water and then remove it when it has cooled, I then put it into regular clear water and wash all the salt and other bits that have stuck to it, cleaning it as best as I can at this step. I Then turn to the grinding or whet stone wheel.
(23:03:08 )
[PIC]
|..Exavier..|
Minus
-[within a market shop]-
says to ALL: I sit down at the whet stone wheel, it is a huge wheel of stone that has foot peddles on it. These are used to get the wheel spinning fast, in the bottom part of the wheel is a wooden trough that holds oil, this wets the entire wheel so that it will just sharpen the edges rather than ruin the whole piece. As the steel axe head touches the whet stone wheel a loud grinding is heard and sparks fly off again, most of them catching he front of my apron, but some find bare skin on my shoulders and chest, adding to the literally thousands of such marks that mark my upper body. I always keep my face and head up far enough that I do not catch my hair on fire, my beard on fire nor burn my face. I start with the bladed part of the axe, moving it back and forth over the wheel very slowly, making sure that I even off the edges perfectly and sharpen this side of the blade to something near a razor, the new owner could probably shave with the weapon if he wanted to. I then turn the axe head over, starting in on the spiked back, I wanted to be sure that the tip would pierce flesh like warm bosk butter. It took me quite some time to get it just how I wanted it, but finally I was satisfied with my progress. I step away from the wheel and turn to the buffing wheel, which is exactly the same beyond the fact that there is no trough with oil, and the stone wheel was wrapped with thousands of small pieces of leather.
(23:07:02 )
[PIC]
|..Exavier..|
Minus
-[within a market shop]-
says to ALL: I sit down at the buffing wheel and get it going at a good pace before pressing the axe head to it, this was where a shine was brought to the surface of the steel, the entire axe head was rubbed back and forth over the buffing wheel, the rapidly moving pieces of leather are able to get rid of any marks and the steel literally gleamed by the time I was done. Finished with this part of the process I get up and go over to the work bench, wrapping the axe head into a piece of leather and pushing it into my pack. I yell over to the thralls to tell them that I am done for the night and they head in to get some rest or perhaps something to eat from their quarters at the back of the forge. I strip off the leather apron, and then use a damp towel to wipe myself down before putting on the woolen tunic and my weapons harness again. Throwing the pack over my right shoulder I head out of the forge and back towards my villa to get some sleep.
[PIC]
|..Exavier..|
Minus
-[within a market shop]-
says to ALL: I walk into the market and head towards the forge that I rent here. I'd just paid for another month on the place so I figured I should use it. The forge at Exeter Metal Works got plenty of use, this one I hardly ever used and I had an axe to make for Dwildor Lightfoot. I also had a sword to do a restoration on for Jaelyn for her companionship but that was not until sometime several hands away, I'd heard a black was looking for me as well for a contract so I wanted to at least get started on the axe. I did not have the haft for it yet but I could begin with the forging process by making steel and pouring it into a mold if nothing else tonight.
(22:11:32 )
[PIC]
|..Exavier..|
Minus
-[within a market shop]-
says to ALL: I walk in to the forge and yell to the two thralls that work there to get started on stoking the fire and working the billows to heat up the coals enough that they could be used to forge steel, or in this case make steel with an iron bar and some coke, which was the burnt down ash, when it became just a fine white powder in the front of the furnace in the forge. I stop along the wall of the forge and pull off my weapons harness, hanging it on a hook on one of the walls, I then strip off my grey woolen tunic, hanging that up as well. Selecting an apron and pulling the strap over my head before tying it at the small of my back. I could feel the temperature in the forge already starting to rise. I look through all of the different molds available and select one similar to the one I used when I make the axe that I carry every day with me. Dwildor seemed to have liked that one, and so I would make him one similar. Every weapon I made was a bit different though, I made both Cimber and Aias spears, one set was bronze, the other black steel. This one would end up single bladed with a spiked back but the final configuration would be different than the axe I made for myself, I would use the same length overall though, it would be 30 inches when I was done.
(22:20:12 )
[PIC]
|..Exavier..|
Minus
-[within a market shop]-
says to ALL: Once I have selected the right mold I put it up onto the work bench and use various vices and clamps to secure it to the top of the work bench. I might do more than just make the steel tonight, I would have to see if I could get the steel to cool enough to pull from the mold. The next step may indeed have to wait until tomorrow. I select a pair of heavy leather gloves, and an obsidian trough that I would make the steel itself in. I also select a few pouches out of my pack, manganese and silicon are dumped in small amounts in to the bottom of the trough, and then the correct amount of carbon is added, for the forging of a weapon I would want somewhere around 4% carbon in the final product. The iron bar that I put into the trough was also known as pig iron, and was what was left over after the smelting process that turned raw iron ore into a usable material. I was thinking of setting up some iron and copper mines in the voltai mountains, I would have to speak with my scribe about how one would stake out a claim some place like that, I'd taken one tarn trip long ago and had found a possible mine site but had never been back. Anyway, the right amounts of pig iron, and the other materials are set into the obsidian trough, on the end of the trough is a 6 foot steel bar, so that I could shove it into the fires from a distance. The two thralls are really working hard, knowing that I had a whip available for them should they not work hard, plus their owner would find out and I was sure that they would not want Old Ironhide to punish them for a second time. The cool air outside was drawn into the forge through the billows, and then pushed across the ashes, making them burn much much hotter than they would normally. The other thrall was pulling burnt down wood from the back of the fire towards the front, and then throwing fresh logs into the back again. The heat was relatively oppressive right here in front of the fire but I was used to it. I pull on a pair of heavy leather gloves and then take the obsidian trough and set it down into the hottest coals of the fire, allowing the mixture to melt slowly.
(22:33:05 )
[PIC]
|..Exavier..|
Minus
-[within a market shop]-
says to ALL: It does not really take long for the raw pig iron to melt down, I use a long steel rod to stir the mixture in the trough, blending all the ingredients the best that I can. When this steel was done it would be hard enough to take a good edge, but not so hard that it would be brittle and break in battle. I'd been doing this for many many years so I knew just the right mix but I always got a bit nervous at this moment, hoping everything would mix together well. I would be able to tell for sure when I remove the steel axe head from the mold. In a technique taught to me by Trei Stonegate all those years ago I will then use the forge to finish off the axe head, sharpen it some with hammers and smooth it out before taking it to a grinding and buffing wheel to finish it. This mold had a bit narrower spike on it, but it was nearly the same in length and size of the bladed part of the weapon. As soon as the steel is done being heated, and it now in fact was steel I grab on to the rod that is attached to the obsidian trough. The trough was made of obsidian because it was a rock with an incredibly high melting point, it would be impossible to melt the rock in the fires that I had here. The carving process took a very long time and was not something I'd done myself but it served me well. I then very carefully carry the trough over to the work bench, the trough was shaped much like a ladle would be, a bowl with a spout on one side. I choke up on the steel rod, to be sure that my hands were steady and I did not spill anything because I had made just enough steel to fill the mold. I dump the molten steel into the mold, pouring it almost to the top, there would be a burr in the axe head where the spout was, but that would be remedied in the next step of the process. This mold was made in a way as well that there would be a hole for the haft of the axe, I would just need to make holes for the rivets that would connect the axe itself to the shaft. If for some reason at some point the haft was to be broken it could be replaced by an experienced blacksmith. I then push the obsidian trough into a water bath, and the steel that is left in it begins to flake off.
(22:39:58 )
[PIC]
|..Exavier..|
Minus
-[within a market shop]-
says to ALL: So, I wait there for quite some time, allowing the steel in the mold to cool as much as it needs to before I then undo all the clamps and vices on the mold itself, which was made of a ceramic, and then I use a hammer and chisel to break open the mold, the axe head falls out onto the table and I get my first look at it. The steel mixed perfectly, the axe head itself was dull and would not take the shine of a new weapon until I buffed it much later in the process. It was still too hot for me to touch with bare hands but I have heavy fireproof insulated gloves on and therefore was able to take it into my hands and look it over. I was always impressed with how a few pieces of iron and a few additives could make something like this. I select a pair of tongs and the hammer that I always use and then turn back to the furnace. I set the part of the axe head that has the burr where the spout in the mold was and set that into the fireplace first. I would need to cut that off so that I could move on to finishing the axe head. I look over to the thralls, they were doing their work as well as they always do, I was truly hot now, beads of sweat forming on my arms and face, dripping down against me smearing the soot that was ever present on my body. The flames from the fire dancing against my face, making my eyes almost seem to glow at the moment. I wait for the area of the axe head to heat up enough so that I can work with it and then pluck it from the fire with a set of tongs, turning to the work bench, the hammer in my left hand feels good, I have not worked on any special projects in quite some time. I turn the axe head so that the burr is facing out away from the anvil, and is against one of the sharp edges of the anvil. The anvil itself had all sorts of edges, some rounded some sharpened. This one was a nice sharp edge. I drive the hammer down against the axe head with a loud CLANG, and I am able to shear off the burr and then set the axe head back into the fire, this time it was in the hottest part of the flames and I would start on the side of the axe head that would eventually be the blade.
(22:46:16 )
[PIC]
|..Exavier..|
Minus
-[within a market shop]-
says to ALL: I wait for the edge of the steel to reach a nice white yellow color, years of practice told me what the color would need to be in order for the steel to become malleable. I move it around now and then so that I can heat the entire blade evenly. In all it is about six inches long. The spiked back would be next as that would be just as sharp as the point of a sword when I was done with it. The steel heated enough I grab it with the pair of tongs and turn back to the anvil. I begin to bring the hammer down again and again, each blow is marked with a loud bang of steel against steel and also sparks that would fly from the molten steel. It took several blows to begin to flatten out the edge of the blade, the hammer I was using at first was 10 pounds, so this was more deliberate blows, not nearly as much finesse used. I set the ten pound hammer to the side and select a five pound one from next to the bench, now the steel was starting to harden again, and therefore using the five pound hammer I was able to work the steel out into a pretty fine edge even without any of the other steps that I would do next. I thrust the axe head into some brine, or salt water. This allows for tempering of the steel, which hardens it in this shape. A gout of steam comes from the top of the water, bathing me in a slightly salty steam bath. My long black hair sticking to my head now as I put the axe head back into the fire. This time though I put the spiked back into the fire's hottest point.
(22:54:52 )
[PIC]
|..Exavier..|
Minus
-[within a market shop]-
says to ALL: I wait until the spike back of the axe is now heated to the same white yellow color as the blade was. I then grip it with the tongs and turn back to the anvil again. Using expert blows of the hammer I am able to work the end of the spike into a perfect point, something that would take a razor sharp tip once I used the grinder and buffer on it. It did not really take me long as there was not as much to do with this side, the molding portion of the work really took care of it. I then quench the steel again, cooling and tempering it before setting the part of the axe that would slide down the sides of the wooden haft and would allow for rivets to be inserted to hold the whole thing together, when I got the haft I wanted anyway. For now I was just going to finish the axe head. I wait again for the steel to heat, and then I turn to the anvil, setting the first area I wanted a hole punched onto a recessed area on the back of the anvil. I then select a metal punch and go about punching the first hole, lining the punch up and then bringing the hammer against it hard. I turn the axe head and do this until I have four such holes, enough to put two rivets in when I was all said and done. Quenching the steel one last time, I leave it in the salt water and then remove it when it has cooled, I then put it into regular clear water and wash all the salt and other bits that have stuck to it, cleaning it as best as I can at this step. I Then turn to the grinding or whet stone wheel.
(23:03:08 )
[PIC]
|..Exavier..|
Minus
-[within a market shop]-
says to ALL: I sit down at the whet stone wheel, it is a huge wheel of stone that has foot peddles on it. These are used to get the wheel spinning fast, in the bottom part of the wheel is a wooden trough that holds oil, this wets the entire wheel so that it will just sharpen the edges rather than ruin the whole piece. As the steel axe head touches the whet stone wheel a loud grinding is heard and sparks fly off again, most of them catching he front of my apron, but some find bare skin on my shoulders and chest, adding to the literally thousands of such marks that mark my upper body. I always keep my face and head up far enough that I do not catch my hair on fire, my beard on fire nor burn my face. I start with the bladed part of the axe, moving it back and forth over the wheel very slowly, making sure that I even off the edges perfectly and sharpen this side of the blade to something near a razor, the new owner could probably shave with the weapon if he wanted to. I then turn the axe head over, starting in on the spiked back, I wanted to be sure that the tip would pierce flesh like warm bosk butter. It took me quite some time to get it just how I wanted it, but finally I was satisfied with my progress. I step away from the wheel and turn to the buffing wheel, which is exactly the same beyond the fact that there is no trough with oil, and the stone wheel was wrapped with thousands of small pieces of leather.
(23:07:02 )
[PIC]
|..Exavier..|
Minus
-[within a market shop]-
says to ALL: I sit down at the buffing wheel and get it going at a good pace before pressing the axe head to it, this was where a shine was brought to the surface of the steel, the entire axe head was rubbed back and forth over the buffing wheel, the rapidly moving pieces of leather are able to get rid of any marks and the steel literally gleamed by the time I was done. Finished with this part of the process I get up and go over to the work bench, wrapping the axe head into a piece of leather and pushing it into my pack. I yell over to the thralls to tell them that I am done for the night and they head in to get some rest or perhaps something to eat from their quarters at the back of the forge. I strip off the leather apron, and then use a damp towel to wipe myself down before putting on the woolen tunic and my weapons harness again. Throwing the pack over my right shoulder I head out of the forge and back towards my villa to get some sleep.