MEMBER ITEMS FOR SALE
Custom Knives | Other Knives | General Items
-------------------------------------------
New Posts | New PhotosAll Photos



Go Back   The Knife Network Forums : Knife Making Discussions > Custom Knife Discussion Boards > Knife Making Discussions > High-Performance Blades

High-Performance Blades Sharing ideas for getting the most out of our steel.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 05-08-2012, 01:03 AM
Eli Jensen's Avatar
Eli Jensen Eli Jensen is offline
Master
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Flagstaff, AZ
Posts: 872
Bronze baby!

So I had this going in another topic, but I am way too proud of myself not to rename it such! I had a hard time sourcing historically accurate tin bronze, and so decided to make it myself. Been working on it conceptually for a long time, but like always was a bit easier than I thought.

I seemed to have some problems with back pressure. The cavity was really small. It seemed almost like I was getting it hotter with less pressure since I could keep the lid on all the way. Any higher with the lid on and I feared my torch would melt. I started with propane and it melted 850 grains of tin and copper to flow point, but would solidify before I could pour. Man lemme tell you even with welding gloves that stuff is HOT . I busted out the big guns, MAPP. Brightest I've ever personally seen. Almost white! Plenty hot enough, poured with no problem.

Downsides, A full crucible didn't even fill the 5oz mold. I can fill it a little more but its pushing it. To make many bars I'd have to let the crucible cool down each time, fill it up, heat it back up again. Also I only have one graphite mold, but working on more from homemade recipe. Could get some more crucibles.

All in all, a good start I think. Estimated costs excluding shipping:

1 firebrick $5
1 lb satanite $4.50
10oz crucible $15
5oz mold $27
Pliers for pull tongs $.99 at the thrift
Tongs with tips forged to shade $1.99 at thrift

Total cost of project: $54.48
Cost if tin bronze was available commercially: <$54.48

I also used a tish of ITC-100 ($15 for 1/4lb), my TS8000 ($50) that came with the mapp, welding gloves ($15), and half face respirator ($30).







Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 05-08-2012, 11:07 AM
Eli Jensen's Avatar
Eli Jensen Eli Jensen is offline
Master
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Flagstaff, AZ
Posts: 872
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 05-08-2012, 12:59 PM
Larry Peterson Larry Peterson is offline
Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: I was born and raised in Spanish Fork, Utah. I now live between Manti and Ephraim, Utah. We built a home here about 10 year ago.
Posts: 79
Great job!!!

Larry Peterson
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 05-09-2012, 02:43 AM
GHEzell's Avatar
GHEzell GHEzell is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: North Alabama
Posts: 591
Very cool!

You'll be casting bronze age blades before you know it....


__________________
A good friend told me one time about forging "What is there not to like, you get to break all the rules you were told as a kid, don't play with that it is sharp, don't play with fire, and don't beat on that"
Wade Holloway


See some of my work.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 05-25-2012, 11:58 AM
Eli Jensen's Avatar
Eli Jensen Eli Jensen is offline
Master
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Flagstaff, AZ
Posts: 872
So I was doing 10% tin, but the bronze was coming out WAY too hard and brittle. I read somewhere that this mix is as hard as iron, and I believe it. But I couldn't hammer it worth a darn, or draw it, or anything it would crumble. Also it does not flow well, and oxidizes heavily with a thick black film. While this was my ideal allow and would be great on a knife, getting it on there would be a problem as it cannot really be worked.

I've since lowered the non-Cu to 5%, and experimented with adding zinc. I was hoping to avoid zinc so that it could not be called brass by anyone. I've settled on .5% zinc, 4.5% tin, and 95% copper. It flows a little better, much more malleable, and much reduced oxidation when cast. With update when I test it further.

P.S. I can see why .5% phosphorus is added to tin to make phosphor bronze, probably for the same reasons. Cannot find a source of phosphorus so zinc will work fine.

P.P.S. Zinc is evil and fumes deadly toxic death when heated above 300-400F, even at half a grain, so YES I AM wearing a respirator.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
brass, forged, hammer, iron, knife, make, project, tips


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Baby American Bowie in denim/bronze/copper Joel The Display Case 9 08-26-2006 07:46 AM
New Baby Bushcliffe circlepknives The Outpost 4 08-07-2006 09:52 AM
Baby Bowie Bill Vining The Display Case 3 05-09-2004 01:55 PM
baby turnback Rik Palm The Display Case 9 03-14-2002 10:59 PM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:37 AM.




KNIFENETWORK.COM
Copyright © 2000
? CKK Industries, Inc. ? All Rights Reserved
Powered by ...

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
The Knife Network : All Rights Reserved