In this part of the tutorial we continue on with making the sword including the hardening and tempering of the blade in the forge.

Part one (the beginning) of this tutorial is here

Will has a youtube channel with over 600 videos on projects you can make. Check it out right here

Now we can cut that blade shape right out of the steel using the glued on template as a guide. Use whatever tools are available to you. For the most part I used a hacksaw.

Typically when cutting metal I work through a progression of tools from rough cutting down to the finer cutting. This might involve hacksaw then coping saw and finally files and the belt sander. With each step we get a little more detailed and exact.

Once I have the shape of the sword all cut out and to the detail that I want I beveled the edges of the sword. I did this on the belt sander. You can also do this with a file. It just takes a lot of time with files.

How far you bevel it is up to you. I just did a partial bevel. I have no plans to actually sharpen this sword with a real edge on it.

Here is a closeup of the bevels.

The shaping of the blade (the steel) is done. So we can now go ahead and harden and temper the steel so it is sword worthy.

Let's crank up the forge. Note that this is a special forge that I made specifically for sword making. I do have a tutorial on how to make something like this right here: Make a sword forge.

With a normal forge you have a circular fire pit. With this forge we have a long line of fire that the sword can sit on.

So, let's put the sword into the fire and heat it up. This part of the process is called Hardening the steel. We get it up to a certain temperature that will change the steel molecules and pack them nice and tight which hardens the steel.

There are many types of steel and this temperature varies from steel to steel. But with this O1 steel we want to get it to about 1500Fahrenheit. We can tell when it gets to this temperature by the color and with a magnet.

This steel is red hot and looks great. It is just about up to the right temperature. We now do a quick check of it with a magnet. Normally a magnet will stick to it. Once it reaches the proper temp a magnet will no longer stick to it. So, check it with a magnet and if it is ready.....

You quench it in oil. This cools it and lock it in the new molecular configuration. (Hardened).

This type of steel is called "O1" and the "O" signifies that it should be quenched in oil. This is just an old motor oil. New motor oil works just as well.

The hardening is done. Next we temper the steel. This softens it back up a little bit.

Let's continue with this project

United Cutlery UC2928 Orcrist Thorin Oakenshield Sword

• Overall length: 38-3/4-Inch
• Blade length: 25-7/8-Inch
• Blade material: AUS-6 stainless steel
• Handle material: Acrylic resin
• Display: Wood with wood grain finish and silk screen graphic

Make Sting from the Hobbit out of foamboard or cardboard

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