george wilson
09-16-2010, 10:45 AM
These are 2 carving tools I forged out of some very old Swedish steel that I have a good bit of. It must be about 100 years old,because it was rolled in a primitive way: It is in flat strips about 1 1/4" wide,X about 3/8" thick. I'd have to drag it out to be sure. The edges of this material are just left round,as if it was rolled from a round bar between 2 rollers.
It is very rusty,but is great steel,and VERY tough. I harden it in oil. I haven't used it for some time since I'm really not a black smith,but sometimes I do get into it,but not to the degree Harry has done.
These gouges are #1 and #2 sweep,or very shallow. They are for carving the arches in larger bowed instruments,where the insides of the tops aren't curved very tightly.
The dark brown handle was varnished with some of my own varnish,made dark brown by cooking it in the presence of iron. It can never fade since iron oxide is at the end of its chemical chain.
I never finished the blades beyond the grinding of their inside curves,and draw filing their convex backs.
The tempering colors were left on them.
These were experiments.Leaving the colors on them is a reminder of what I did. I also stamped"compresses Swedish steel on their backs to remind myself what I had done.
Finishing them by hammering the steel below red heat is the reason I made them. It was also known as packing in the old days. It was done to compress the molecules,and make the steel tougher.
These have performed quite well for many years. hey have gotten a little beat up,as you can see from the chipped brown varnish on the one. Curly maple was used on both handles.
It is very rusty,but is great steel,and VERY tough. I harden it in oil. I haven't used it for some time since I'm really not a black smith,but sometimes I do get into it,but not to the degree Harry has done.
These gouges are #1 and #2 sweep,or very shallow. They are for carving the arches in larger bowed instruments,where the insides of the tops aren't curved very tightly.
The dark brown handle was varnished with some of my own varnish,made dark brown by cooking it in the presence of iron. It can never fade since iron oxide is at the end of its chemical chain.
I never finished the blades beyond the grinding of their inside curves,and draw filing their convex backs.
The tempering colors were left on them.
These were experiments.Leaving the colors on them is a reminder of what I did. I also stamped"compresses Swedish steel on their backs to remind myself what I had done.
Finishing them by hammering the steel below red heat is the reason I made them. It was also known as packing in the old days. It was done to compress the molecules,and make the steel tougher.
These have performed quite well for many years. hey have gotten a little beat up,as you can see from the chipped brown varnish on the one. Curly maple was used on both handles.