I Forged A Knife From Hundreds Of Tiny Steel Cubes

Forging a big chopper from a small pile of steel cubes.
My Website: firecreekforge.com
Patreon: / firecreekforge
#steel #knife #blacksmith

Пікірлер: 258

  • @nicholaseedy3244
    @nicholaseedy3244Ай бұрын

    Thanks boss, 6 yo watched this with me. We talked about integrity. We appreciate your teachable moments as much as we do the knives.

  • @concernedcitizen2868
    @concernedcitizen2868Ай бұрын

    I would buy that blade as is. Put my own handle on it, and use it to cut veggies. I love it, i think all the shattering cracks looks one of a kind.

  • @iammattjones

    @iammattjones

    Ай бұрын

    Came here to say that exactly. I like the crackly edges, makes it look like it was lightning forged.

  • @jbynum23

    @jbynum23

    Ай бұрын

    Exactly! Hoping he didn’t toss it. Better than any blade I’ve made I would imagine.

  • @Gman1024
    @Gman1024Ай бұрын

    That texture in the etch looks friggin' sick despite the imperfections.

  • @FireCreekForge

    @FireCreekForge

    Ай бұрын

    Thanks I appreciate it!!

  • @IWatchedWhat
    @IWatchedWhatАй бұрын

    You telling us the issue and not selling it just shows your integrity to your work and your ethics. That was going to be a nice looking pattern too.

  • @jeffbrown4382
    @jeffbrown4382Ай бұрын

    I love watching videos that allow people to understand life is not Instagram. We live in a social media Fantasyland, and you brought a refreshing truth to combat the fantasy. Respect. I know it's a bummer to lose that much time, but the next version will be amazing. Thanks for the video!

  • @FireCreekForge

    @FireCreekForge

    Ай бұрын

    Thank you, I appreciate it. Yes, life isn't really perfect despite what social media would lead us to believe. These failures are the price of successful builds.Thanks for watching!

  • @ghostdog662
    @ghostdog662Ай бұрын

    3:53 "I got this billet nice and hot" well that was an understatement

  • @FireCreekForge

    @FireCreekForge

    Ай бұрын

    As it turns out...

  • @bretmaples
    @bretmaplesАй бұрын

    Beautiful blade! I love it when a creator is honest about their mess ups

  • @johnharris3390
    @johnharris3390Ай бұрын

    The pattern was incredible. Sometimes the imperfections in life tend to make things better. Thanks for sharing.

  • @HDBrown-wc9xt
    @HDBrown-wc9xtАй бұрын

    Truth is you love it so much you can’t part from it. 😂

  • @FireCreekForge

    @FireCreekForge

    Ай бұрын

    Haha, i do like how the pattern turned out.

  • @gerogefinkle4764
    @gerogefinkle476415 күн бұрын

    The imperfections make it look like a lightning strike, very cool for a display blade.

  • @minnesotatomcat
    @minnesotatomcatАй бұрын

    I mean…..it passed the chop test, no damage. If you’re not gonna sell it I would use the shit out of it and try to break it to see if that metal migration really was that detrimental. I think it’s a bitchin looking pattern 👍

  • @yomamajo

    @yomamajo

    19 күн бұрын

    I’m sure the audience would love to see this knife die in battle.

  • @dagnard5707
    @dagnard5707Ай бұрын

    if you dont mind a suggestion, i use fire brick on the bottom of my forge and switch it when im forge welding and have another set for non forge welding. dont have to fight the flux that way

  • @davidguffey4538
    @davidguffey4538Ай бұрын

    Your integrity gives me hope for our entire country. You have my admiration, sir.

  • @ziemec150
    @ziemec150Ай бұрын

    Stand up dude. Mistakes are how we learn, thanks for sharing yours. Thanks for the great content.

  • @tincansailor9437
    @tincansailor9437Ай бұрын

    Do it again! That is one of the coolest pattern welds I’ve ever seen!

  • @quinn-676
    @quinn-67628 күн бұрын

    If you plan on doing this one again, when you cut the cubes put a wire kitchen strainer under them, it will catch the cubes and you can wash all of the saw dust out of it with ease.

  • @RBLofton
    @RBLoftonАй бұрын

    I always enjoy when you "learn" from mistakes. Most creators would gloss over or ignore imperfections. Even with the overheat, it still made for an interesting pattern.

  • @yo.aj6391
    @yo.aj6391Ай бұрын

    Something about science, trial and error and art.. truly fascinating.

  • @marie-claudehenrichon3743
    @marie-claudehenrichon3743Ай бұрын

    That’s a darn shame 😢 I hope you give this pattern another try, it’s beautiful even with the imperfections ❤

  • @Errb_Sulaky
    @Errb_SulakyАй бұрын

    Could have used some CA glue to glue the rods together before cutting them and then just toss them in some acetone to dissolve the CA glue and clean them up.

  • @kellyrussell3598
    @kellyrussell359828 күн бұрын

    Looks great… you could stain it and just make it a display piece because it’s a really cool stone wall pattern

  • @harryvanniekerk7269
    @harryvanniekerk7269Ай бұрын

    Good conscience sounds good to me. My respect for you took leaps in growing. Integrity is what we need in our world.😃

  • @jonny555ive
    @jonny555iveАй бұрын

    Bummer you had to stop.... But, thank you for posting instead of just sweeping it under the rug....shows that even a "pro" can make mistakes and learn what not to do next time. I applaud you sir. Looking forward to next time👍👍 Take care, ~Jonny5🥁

  • @FireCreekForge

    @FireCreekForge

    Ай бұрын

    Thanks for watching!

  • @stev231
    @stev231Ай бұрын

    Grab some of those copper wool bundles for soldering iron tips or braided copper wire used to clean up residual solder and soak up all the flux in your forge with that.

  • @chriscornell8766
    @chriscornell876614 күн бұрын

    What an awesome pattern, bummer that it went bad in the end... Like they say, you live and you learn...

  • @ufoe20011
    @ufoe20011Ай бұрын

    use a magnet in a zip lock bag and attach to the end of the billiet as you cut. a square magnet the same size as the square would hold them in place.

  • @patlyn6784
    @patlyn6784Ай бұрын

    Idea maybe instead of grinding each square stock before cutting the cubes. Just cut the cubes then tumble them to get the scale off then clean and do the same thing. I would think all the sharp edges on the edge of the cubes don’t help with that stress of the heat and pressure. Vs tumbling would round them out a bit.

  • @clifbradley
    @clifbradleyАй бұрын

    That sucks. I woukd still buy that blade. It went through a 2x4 without issues. It woukd be an honor to have something you made. I woukd never use it like they do in competitions. It woukd be used to chop meats and veggies in my house. Maybe use it to whack a palm frond down to roast hot dogs or marshmallows in the firepit. That would be the toughest thing I put it through. If you want to sell it, I'll sign a waiver or whatever and won't hold you liable if it breaks or snaps. I understand that it's nitmup to your quality, but your standards are way above most companies.

  • @arbez7k
    @arbez7kАй бұрын

    I'd gladly add that to my collection!!!!!!

  • @brysonalden5414
    @brysonalden5414Ай бұрын

    First, thanks for trying with the little cubes. Glad you did all that work, not me!!! Second, I add my respect to your other commenters; I wasn't sure what you were seeing until the closeups at the end of the video, and I am forced to agree with you. If that came out of my shop I couldn't sell it in good conscience, even if it was just going to be a wall hanger. Like you, I don't want my name on less than perfect product.

  • @mikkosalonen7894
    @mikkosalonen7894Ай бұрын

    Pattern looks like breaking ice. Beautiful.

  • @CarlWestBlacksmith

    @CarlWestBlacksmith

    15 күн бұрын

    You could name the blade "Debacle".

  • @matt7401
    @matt7401Ай бұрын

    You could always send it to me....I love the fact that you didn't cut anything out and showed us.

  • @Faesharlyn
    @FaesharlynАй бұрын

    I'm a jeweler and I use Wite-Out as an anti-flux... it would take a few bottles lol It would look amazing cut into pendants!

  • @Eremon1
    @Eremon1Ай бұрын

    Mistakes are nothing more than opportunities to do better.

  • @gregmead2967
    @gregmead2967Ай бұрын

    FWIW, as a geologist, I think that's a very interesting pattern - it looks very much like a breccia - a sedimentary rock composed of angular pebbles or gravel. Hope you can work the bugs out and get a solid weld in the future.

  • @minnesotatomcat
    @minnesotatomcatАй бұрын

    I wonder if there is any kind of pyrometer that you could probe into the forge so you can set it to exactly the temp you want it?

  • @entropy11
    @entropy11Ай бұрын

    You should try this with mixing a carbon with nickel steel so the cubes really show up in an etch I think that would look so neat. The nickel powder does a good job though!

  • @gregmead2967
    @gregmead2967Ай бұрын

    I don't know if someone else has suggested it yet, but why not use a magnet to collect the cubes as you cut them? Sure, you'd pick up the shavings, too, but you could sieve it afterwards to keep just the bigger pieces.

  • @chrisordiway7203
    @chrisordiway7203Ай бұрын

    I agree with a lot of the other comments, I'd buy that for the look of the pattern. Simply fantastic!! But I appreciate your professionalism and not wanting to compromise on your standards. Can't wait to see the second attempt.

  • @DavidEricWilliams
    @DavidEricWilliamsАй бұрын

    Barney would be proud! I too appreciate your “warts and all” approach to video production. Keep up the good work

  • @FireCreekForge

    @FireCreekForge

    Ай бұрын

    Thanks I appreciate it

  • @PseudoSamurai686
    @PseudoSamurai686Ай бұрын

    Next time you have to cut up stuff into little pieces like this try heading to a second hand store and picking up a cookie cooling grate or an old sieve and setting them up with a clamp to just catch stuff as it falls. I've had good luck doing that when woodworking. Then you just give it a shake and half the cleanup of the parts is done

  • @FireCreekForge

    @FireCreekForge

    Ай бұрын

    Great idea!!

  • @pyrosmoak53
    @pyrosmoak53Ай бұрын

    Man that really sux that those imperfections had to happen. The pattern on that was wicked and would've looked great fully finished. The honesty and you not selling is great to see, kudos to you dude.

  • @tonyb1184
    @tonyb1184Ай бұрын

    Turned out a killer pattern too man. What a shame but your honest about it as always

  • @Leonid-22
    @Leonid-22Ай бұрын

    Этот парень ценен тем, чио он пробует и ищет. Живет. А ее трлько повтрряет то, что придумали другие. И это ценно.

  • @christophersherratt7299
    @christophersherratt7299Ай бұрын

    Next time you cut up small pieces like that keeping them separate from fillings attache a bar underneath about 3 inch away from stock with strong Magnets to catch filling and the small cut section will just drop of or use glue gun on end of work piece that's more easier And yes it wouldn't hurt to clean up messy work area leads to messy working environment that's how thing's can go horribly wrong SO START TODAY 1HR CLEAN UP AT END OF EACH DAY IT'S GOOD PRACTICE FOR THE NEXT DAYS WORK WITH A MUG OF COFFEE IN HAND GOOD START TO EVERY DAY

  • @58rkelley
    @58rkelleyАй бұрын

    The blade may have imperfections in your eyes but i still like it. It has a unique character to its already unique design.

  • @13Nagash13
    @13Nagash13Ай бұрын

    I get why you wouldnt put a handle on it and sell it as a finished project. But I'm sure you could recoup some lost costs by selling it as is, a non functional display piece. The pattern is amazing. The overheat flaws make it a special talking piece to own.

  • @GreenBeetle
    @GreenBeetleАй бұрын

    Great video. Are you worried it overheated in the canister? If that's the case you shouldn't have really lost much carbon, just pushed it around a mm or two. The grain structure and alloys are not uniform but it should be uniformly hardenable. I don't think anyone who buys a canister knife made with powdered steel that crosses the edge expects uniformity though. I personally found powdered steel makes a slightly porous edge and try to avoid it along the cutting surface but I see other guys who don't seem to have that problem. It's a great looking pattern I'd be tempted to finish it out. There's people here who seem interested in buying it! But if you can't stand behind it hats off to your integrity.

  • @FireCreekForge

    @FireCreekForge

    Ай бұрын

    Thanks Steve, I do think it overheated and the canister did appear compromised, but I didn't think much of it at the time. Then I found the striations and it looks like oxygen got to some of the canister and started burning out carbon, hence the lighter color to the lines. While it all welded back up ok, there's obvious issues, so I'll have to try the pattern again sometime.

  • @oonamorrioghanblackthorne
    @oonamorrioghanblackthorneАй бұрын

    Use a magnet to keep the pieces together.

  • @caballitodehierro27
    @caballitodehierro27Ай бұрын

    Man, that looks beautiful, sometimes mistakes make the piece even better, there are thousands of examples, I sell it, if you don't feel satisfied with the result, sell it for less, but in my opinion that looks awesome

  • @mihailkozorici9794
    @mihailkozorici979415 күн бұрын

    Next time do one blade like this one, but mix with some gold...will look amazing

  • @davidbolton3376
    @davidbolton3376Ай бұрын

    Build a wood base or plaque and make it a wall hanger. At least then you can sell it as a display and recoup some money from it.

  • @bishopcorva
    @bishopcorvaАй бұрын

    That is one of the unfortunate things of forging experimentation. However now, after you get a template drawn and cut out for it. You could possibly cut it up into little pieces and forge it back into another piece billet style. Like cut it in half, leave the handle and have the blade to use as the moving platen. The rest get cut into triangles or whatever and stacked, heated forged together again and it drawn back out. Heck even the handle could be heated and folded in to make a new folded billet to work off of. Keep that piece that was cut off initially to work back in to rehomogenize it all back together probably to experiment to see how well that result would turn out.

  • @yourilepp8078
    @yourilepp8078Ай бұрын

    Wow. Stuff happens to all of us makers of things. Sometimes our efforts go sideways on us. Your steel pattern looks amazing! I would buy a blank like that and use it anyways.

  • @jaredbraggs1
    @jaredbraggs1Ай бұрын

    Oh man this would have looked so cool.

  • @jameschesterman9060
    @jameschesterman9060Ай бұрын

    Sick etch 👍

  • @VirginiaBronson
    @VirginiaBronsonАй бұрын

    That’s a bummer! It’s a pretty one. Thank you for sharing the journey!

  • @FireCreekForge

    @FireCreekForge

    Ай бұрын

    Thanks for watching!

  • @00waldo
    @00waldoАй бұрын

    Couldn't you sell it as a display/decorative piece? It looks fantastic and definitely something i wouldn't mind having on the wall.

  • @CarterSchonwald
    @CarterSchonwald10 күн бұрын

    It kinda looks like it’s more a diffusion / erosion mixing between the two alloys with a phase transition that gives those tiny islands that look like fragments. Might be worth asking the knife steel nerds dude for his perspective.

  • @13ClaytonM
    @13ClaytonMАй бұрын

    There are thousands of people that buy knives for shelves bro, like 100x more than ones entering chopping competitions. I sell knives and people say oh i dont need a belt clip option, its for show... waste sometimes but people like pretty stuff

  • @andrewneilson227
    @andrewneilson227Ай бұрын

    Man that was a sick pattern. Bummer that it wasn’t sellable. Love your work as usual

  • @Eric_W_Knives
    @Eric_W_KnivesАй бұрын

    Goes to show that if something doesn't seem right, it isn't worth it. Still looks cool. Thanks for sharing.

  • @thetinkerist
    @thetinkeristАй бұрын

    A lot of work man, and actually a nice pattern, you have enough material it looks like, to reheat and fold it damascus style, like 16 layers or so, and make a smaller knife out of it. anyway, always great to see your vids, thx!

  • @dirtfarmer7472
    @dirtfarmer7472Ай бұрын

    Live & learn, it’ll still work very well for you & now you know what doesn’t work & especially why, that’s the most important part. Thank you Sir for this lesson. A question do you use the cutoffs for future projects ???

  • @Erinnem
    @ErinnemАй бұрын

    Bummer dude but it looked sick!! It’s a wall hanger can’t wait to see the next one!

  • @derangedmetalworks9489
    @derangedmetalworks9489Ай бұрын

    Even though there's issues, I still really liked the pattern concept.

  • @arkagy_ironworks
    @arkagy_ironworksАй бұрын

    Still a beautiful looking Damascus!!.. you don't see patterns like this.. And thanks i learned what it looks like overheating.. I did this on a twist pattern and couldnt figure out what it was..

  • @superkjell
    @superkjellАй бұрын

    In one of the Forged In Fire episodes, David Baker mentioned that they had to replace the forges due to all the flux

  • @FireCreekForge

    @FireCreekForge

    Ай бұрын

    Yep forge lining is a consumable material supply in a shop

  • @philmcglen6194
    @philmcglen6194Ай бұрын

    Right, hear me out! Can you make a knoife and then magnetise it? 🤔. Oh and thank you for filling the cannister like that! My tism and OCD thank you! 😂

  • @kzarnold3678
    @kzarnold3678Ай бұрын

    Interesting stuff 🤔. Still looks good better luck next time I hope you give this pattern another try

  • @drcurioustube
    @drcurioustubeАй бұрын

    Plenty of folks would love to have that blade

  • @VelvetHippos
    @VelvetHipposАй бұрын

    Colander to collect the cubes!

  • @pjamestx
    @pjamestxАй бұрын

    Heartbreaking! Looked really beautiful, you did the right thing by putting it in the scrap pile, best of luck with the next one!

  • @_BLANK_BLANK
    @_BLANK_BLANKАй бұрын

    Yeah. I was going to say as soon as you said the crack thing. It definitely sounds like it got hot short. Tbh, it could potentially still be usable. But you wouldnt really know without some micrographs if it did or didn't end up with some wierd microstructures.

  • @devinhardy1832
    @devinhardy1832Ай бұрын

    Bummer it didn’t work out! That pattern is awesome! Hopefully you can make it work next time

  • @chillaxter13
    @chillaxter13Ай бұрын

    K, I know almost nothing about the finer details of the craft, just love to watch and learn... Could someone explain to me why that "cracking" is bad? It still looked solid to me, with no delaminations or holes. It's it a rush of hidden, invisible cracks? Or is it unreliable carbon content? Something else entirely? Genuinely asking, and appreciate the integrity of a man who refuses to compromise his quality standards.

  • @FireCreekForge

    @FireCreekForge

    Ай бұрын

    Essentially the carbon begins burning out of the steel, and it negatively alters the crystalline structure of the steel.

  • @chillaxter13

    @chillaxter13

    Ай бұрын

    @@FireCreekForge thank you! I appreciate the info! Was really curious

  • @lukelofgren4108
    @lukelofgren4108Ай бұрын

    Very cool pattern! You have inspired me to make my own canister. I just finished a canister for a small axe im very excited about.

  • @scrappyddz
    @scrappyddzАй бұрын

    it's fine.... admirable that it's not good enough to sell, but it is good enough to give away to a friend - with a disclaimer.

  • @MEATLOAFr
    @MEATLOAFr13 күн бұрын

    A good display blade

  • @casketrace6087
    @casketrace6087Ай бұрын

    Such a bummer, what an insane pattern!

  • @Zodliness
    @ZodlinessАй бұрын

    I bet there's plenty people be proud to own that knife. Maybe you could start a line in less than perfect blades, then it's not a total loss. 😉👍

  • @terenceblakely4328
    @terenceblakely4328Ай бұрын

    I wish he mentioned what would happen to the blade if it was used as a knife.

  • @FireCreekForge

    @FireCreekForge

    Ай бұрын

    Probably nothing? But the evidence of damaged steel is still there.

  • @Tzarkyl
    @TzarkylАй бұрын

    I would have used a magnet on the end to contain the cubes

  • @sulliken77
    @sulliken77Ай бұрын

    I think the cracks just adds to the design.. looks awsome. Even though I know that it's a fault in the knife. :-)

  • @checoleman8877
    @checoleman8877Ай бұрын

    Im in a facebook group for blacksmithing and just recently someone made a post saying they had some powdered steel and wanted some ideas for what to add to it. I said to cut up some cubes of 15n20. Then today I see this...

  • @normandbujold6677
    @normandbujold6677Ай бұрын

    Awesome pattern

  • @jerryhoffman9833
    @jerryhoffman9833Ай бұрын

    Beautiful pattern….. hope you try it again!

  • @jcubetube3778
    @jcubetube3778Ай бұрын

    Just when I thought there was no new canister ideas 😮 👍🏾

  • @timcopperton3595
    @timcopperton3595Ай бұрын

    Learn things everyday

  • @lowbudgetbob1155
    @lowbudgetbob1155Ай бұрын

    That's a total bummer that the blade can't be sold, I'm sure someone would have loved to have that... I would. That pattern is different and really cool. When you pulled the canister out of the forge, the first thing I thought was, man, that looks awful hot.

  • @FireCreekForge

    @FireCreekForge

    Ай бұрын

    Thanks! Haha, you were right

  • @christopher.m.estelow
    @christopher.m.estelowАй бұрын

    Only thing left to do is totally redeem yourself and give it another go..... regardless its a beautiful chopper!!

  • @rezmedic57
    @rezmedic57Ай бұрын

    Beautiful blade with the imperfections

  • @aleveraj
    @aleverajАй бұрын

    Without much science to back me up, I think the issue resides in the different melting points of both components: W1 and nickel+steel powder. Even when they are pretty close (around 1450°C) there's a few degrees of difference. Since W1 can melt slightly slower, it would allow the already "liquid" powder, to permeate the little blocks, creating that effect of little cracks on their borders. Having said that, just from the close up pictures, I believe there's no issue with the strenght of that billet. I'd finish it and test it hard. Even if you don't sell it.

  • @TalRohan
    @TalRohanАй бұрын

    Thats a real shame cause you put a lot of work into it and its very cool unique looking damascus. Disappointing but still something to try again later Thanks for sharing

  • @FireCreekForge

    @FireCreekForge

    Ай бұрын

    Yep it was a bummer. But the idea was sound, so maybe I'll try it again sometime.

  • @TalRohan

    @TalRohan

    Ай бұрын

    @@FireCreekForgetenacity is the name of the game. Good man

  • @supperwelder
    @supperwelderАй бұрын

    That is 1 cool pattern and the blade seemed sound😮 but definitely not one to sell I'd finish it out and keep it for personal use ❤❤

  • @KimP0612
    @KimP0612Ай бұрын

    I love the end design. Try again!

  • @patrickclark6261
    @patrickclark6261Ай бұрын

    I love the theory! When you get the temp right it's going to be a sweet knife.

  • @robertr4193
    @robertr4193Ай бұрын

    At least it is a proof of concept and the pattern does look pretty good.

  • @rhodie33
    @rhodie33Ай бұрын

    Cool pattern.

  • @tombeard2288
    @tombeard2288Ай бұрын

    that was a very interesting pattern,it's a shame that the damage occured but it was a learning experience