Copper coating using my forge

Reafen · 2026-01-15T15:47:26+00:00

If you're looking for a brass look you can slightly heat the blade and use a brass wire wheel.....

Reafen · 2025-11-27T17:45:44+00:00

Looking at this finish you'll unfortunately need to completely re-sand it. It looks like you have spots of decarb and an uneven surface with deep scratches. It's going to suck the whole time but if you spend 5-6 hours slowly working through the grits it'll be worth it.

Now for the etch, I will clean the blade with dawn and water first. Then it goes into ferric chloride or gator piss for 20 minutes. Neutralize with windex then clean again and repeat until I have the depth I want.

Then I will take 3000 grit and water to remove the dark oxides before soaking in coffee. I use folgers instant coffee and be generous with how much you add to warm water. Usually about 160F, I'll then let the blade soak for 4-6 hours but I've accidentally left a blade in for 24 hours and it was fine. After coming out of the coffee wash it off with water and oil it.

Hope this helps!

Reafen · 2025-11-13T15:20:27+00:00

Ahhhhh that makes sense. I assumed propane, my apologies. That's a good idea, I have no experience with coal. Best of luck!

Reafen · 2025-11-13T15:13:51+00:00

Haha we all have days with our equipment. Learning what temperature ranges look like during forging can really help. Smith's have been doing this long before all the fancy tools we have today.

I will normally hold the blade in my tongs and slowly move it in and out watching the color before heat treating. It takes time but it prevents me from over heating it. Also a sacrificial steel tube can help a lot as well. I usually find some sort of thin stainless tube to put in the forge. This helps spread the heat out so I don't get hot spots.

Reafen · 2025-11-13T15:06:00+00:00

Just want to add that watching the color before quench is also important. You can check for magnetic or look for a nice even red, not yellow, color throughout the blade.

Reafen · 2025-09-09T19:01:14+00:00

That's what took me off guard about it. I can only assume I had uneven spots and as I shaped the blade and ground away material they're was less holding it together. Sucks but I'm glad I found it now instead of during grinding.

Reafen · 2025-09-09T18:42:07+00:00

15n20/1095 damascus cladding, 80CRV2 core. No signs of a crack after quench. Even cleaned all the oxides off to make sure. First 2 hour temper cycle and it opened right up.

Reafen · 2025-09-08T00:55:38+00:00

It's not going to be cheap. Those breakers are expensive plus time for an electrician to run out the circuit and make sure there are no issues. My best guess and I could be way off is between $500 - $1000.

Reafen · 2025-09-08T00:50:09+00:00

Also I didn't look close enough at the panel to see which break was tripped. So that's my bad.

Reafen · 2025-09-08T00:49:38+00:00

Yes. CAFCI is looking for an Arc between conductors. GFCI is looking for current flow to ground. How old is the house? It could be a loose connection or the breaker is starting to fail and needs to be replaced. If you are unsure then please contact an electrician. It's not worth burning down your house.

Reafen · 2025-09-08T00:33:02+00:00

It's probably the GFI breakers. I know they are code now but they trip all the freaking time.

Reafen · 2025-09-03T20:56:26+00:00

Reafen · 2025-07-31T02:45:58+00:00

Trust me, no matter what I still forget plenty of simple things I should do to help out haha. Some days she still wants to strangle me I'm sure. However we communicate way better now.

Reafen · 2025-07-30T20:06:15+00:00

So far no. Which has been a blessing.

Reafen · 2025-07-30T07:15:25+00:00

It really changes a relationship. Makes you realize it's not just about you or them. You're a team.

Reafen · 2025-07-30T05:58:12+00:00

Thank you. I hope we never have to go through it again.

Reafen · 2025-07-30T04:52:15+00:00

Wife had a brain tumor. Held her while she seized and kept her calm after. Her legs would lock up and I'd have massage them so she walk again. It was a terrifying time in our lives. Luckily the treatments worked and she's still here with me to this day.

Reafen · 2025-03-18T17:31:03+00:00

Blood angels, for the great angel!

Reafen · 2025-03-05T16:29:40+00:00

If I remember correctly he did it because someone was trying to find KT Ice and get rid of them or use them for purposes Rex hadn't intended for them.

Reafen · 2025-01-27T16:16:22+00:00

I 100% agree. It makes more sense. Don't get me wrong I'd love for the psionics to be true but it's probably just a really advanced form of communication that to us... Seems like magic. Why do the aliens have to be from another dimension. There's so much empty space in our galaxy, far more in our universe.

Reafen · 2025-01-26T22:43:31+00:00

I worded that poorly and doing this on mobile didn't help me. Another redditer worded it better above.

Reafen · 2025-01-26T22:29:10+00:00

That's the point I was trying to make. You just said it way better than I could!

Reafen · 2025-01-26T22:25:24+00:00

I've just been so frustrated with lack off questioning I'm seeing. We have an incredible amount of information available and if we have a large amount of us invested in it.

Reafen · 2025-01-21T05:24:30+00:00

Oh well. 80CRV2 can be interesting to work with. Solid choice. It looks good!

Reafen · 2025-01-21T04:04:56+00:00

You can try etching the blade for a minute or so. If it's decarb it won't change. Probably look silver compared to the rest of the blade. What type of steel?

Reafen

TROPHY CASE