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Making a Japanese-style Weeding Sickle

 
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Rainy weather this weekend gave me an excuse to smoosh some hot steel. I had been thinking recently about this hoe/sickle thing and thought I would make one.
20200801_191801.jpg
Gotta get it hot!
Gotta get it hot!
 
J. Graham
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Make it pointy!
20200801_190458.jpg
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J. Graham
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Hot!
20200801_191536.jpg
[Thumbnail for 20200801_191536.jpg]
 
J. Graham
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You gotta smoosh the wide part to be more like the narrow part...
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J. Graham
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Much hammering later...
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J. Graham
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Drew out and pinched off the tang and filed the edge a little.
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J. Graham
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Bent the tang in the vise...
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J. Graham
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Ground the edge.
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J. Graham
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After hardening, tempered it in the oven.
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J. Graham
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Drew the temper out more on everything but the edge, so it will have a hard edge and tougher everything else.
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J. Graham
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Grabbed a piece of maple from the wood pile. Appears to be sound.
20200801_221525.jpg
Chunk of maple before it becomes a handle
 
J. Graham
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Removed most of the un-handle-ey parts.
20200801_230012.jpg
Rounded the handle with a spokeshave
 
J. Graham
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All done! All in all it was a pretty neat project. I haven't used it much yet, but the little grass I tested it on indicated that I am going to like this design. I also found out that this is the perfect shape for a fire poker for the forge, so will be making one for that.
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Done!
Done!
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I love wood that glows in the light!
I love wood that glows in the light!
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J. Graham
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Forgot to mention: steel was from a leaf spring from an old truck, copper wire from water heater I just replaced, and wood from a tree that blew down here. It's really neat how things you use can live on in other things you will use.
 
J. Graham
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Much thanks to Nicole for this thread: https://permies.com/wiki/144575/Hand-Weeding-Sickle-Garden
It gave much information and inspiration for this project.
 
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This is amazing, Jordan! And, I love how you photgraphed all the steps so people can learn from what you did. So awesome!
 
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Nicole Alderman wrote:This is amazing, Jordan! And, I love how you photgraphed all the steps so people can learn from what you did. So awesome!


Thank you, I've been trying to train myself to take pictures when I do things. This was just pretty basic steps here, more for people unfamiliar to blacksmithing. I looked for a forum for blacksmithing to post this, but didn't see one. Maybe no one here's doing it? I've been thinking about a series of posts on basics of how to use tools, even simple ones. I got that idea from the thread on tools for women. The concept of not knowing how to use tools is lost to me--I've done it all my life. I think it's fascinating that so many people of all ages have never used many tools, and are willing to learn here. I've also been getting ready to start a youtube channel on axes called "Axperimentation." I'll definitely share the results here too. I was a bit dismayed at how little axes seem to be used by people on Permies. Hopefully it's just a matter of not knowing how, and we can fix it.
 
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Jordan Holland wrote:

Nicole Alderman wrote:This is amazing, Jordan! And, I love how you photgraphed all the steps so people can learn from what you did. So awesome!


Thank you, I've been trying to train myself to take pictures when I do things. This was just pretty basic steps here, more for people unfamiliar to blacksmithing. I looked for a forum for blacksmithing to post this, but didn't see one. Maybe no one here's doing it? I've been thinking about a series of posts on basics of how to use tools, even simple ones. I got that idea from the thread on tools for women. The concept of not knowing how to use tools is lost to me--I've done it all my life. I think it's fascinating that so many people of all ages have never used many tools, and are willing to learn here. I've also been getting ready to start a youtube channel on axes called "Axperimentation." I'll definitely share the results here too. I was a bit dismayed at how little axes seem to be used by people on Permies. Hopefully it's just a matter of not knowing how, and we can fix it.



I'd love to watch your YouTube videos to learn basics. I know nothing about blacksmithing nor woodwork for that matter. I hope to change that over time!
 
J. Graham
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N.Y. Anzai wrote:
I'd love to watch your YouTube videos to learn basics. I know nothing about blacksmithing nor woodwork for that matter. I hope to change that over time!



Thank you! I really need to get to work! I keep forgetting my camera, weather, and other stuff keeps getting in the way. I'm looking at getting a better video camera, too. Stay tuned!
 
N.Y. Anzai
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Will do! I'll definitely be interested in very basic beginner videos to begin with! Haha blacksmithing for dummies is about right for me. Haven't a foggiest when it comes to tools either.
 
J. Graham
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A really good youtube channel for blacksmithing is Black Bear Forge. He does a very good job demonstrating everything you could imagine. He does have some very fancy tools, but he also does things by hand for demonstrations a lot. He's a natural teacher, in my opinion.
 
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Very nice! I made a hand sickle similar to that but with the edge in line with the handle. I found things tend to get caught in the little "U" formed by the blade and tang.

I just finished forging three knife blades today for a fellow, for a total of four. One cracked in the quench so back to the forge tomorrow, I'd like to see more of what you make, keep it up!


 
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The notch in the blade works as a cane hook to cut off an individual cane or stem without damaging the ones next to it.  Well done.
 
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Compost extract - "how to" video and companion booklet
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