https://www.kattforge.com/blacksmiths-blog daily 0.75 2025-03-06 https://www.kattforge.com/blacksmiths-blog/2025-updateexciting-updates-from-the-shop-looking-ahead-to-2025 monthly 0.5 2025-03-06 https://www.kattforge.com/blacksmiths-blog/ai-in-blacksmithing monthly 0.5 2024-12-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea847ac0f4d4e1cf7b9f1de/2ac93ef6-64e1-434d-926c-a4475d9bd64e/1000003510.gif Blacksmith's Blog - AI in Blacksmithing? “AI Blacksmith” created with AI https://www.kattforge.com/blacksmiths-blog/mail-box-stand monthly 0.5 2020-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea847ac0f4d4e1cf7b9f1de/1603154554462-TZ5AVFBHSCHJKH9NLH8K/IMG_42101.jpg Blacksmith's Blog - Mail Box Stand - Square drifted https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea847ac0f4d4e1cf7b9f1de/1603154921566-0IAEXUQ4UQKCJ27SG14X/signal-2020-09-19-152842.jpg Blacksmith's Blog - Mail Box Stand - Scrolls https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea847ac0f4d4e1cf7b9f1de/1603154996673-YGM9DLJIVGGUH24DYDEW/IMG_43151.jpg Blacksmith's Blog - Mail Box Stand https://www.kattforge.com/blacksmiths-blog/mistakes-were-made monthly 0.5 2020-09-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea847ac0f4d4e1cf7b9f1de/1599855230292-5U94VPRCBA7ZXQ8JUQYZ/20200910_181938.jpg Blacksmith's Blog - Mistakes were made https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea847ac0f4d4e1cf7b9f1de/1599855241984-U62VP1460VN89Y93FJ0Z/20200910_181945.jpg Blacksmith's Blog - Mistakes were made https://www.kattforge.com/blacksmiths-blog/the-blacksmiths-split-cross monthly 0.5 2020-06-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea847ac0f4d4e1cf7b9f1de/1591485216717-224ADZNBLAXBXT930ZHZ/Split_Cross_Blog15.jpg Blacksmith's Blog - The Blacksmith’s Split cross - After heating in the forge, I spread the limbs on a hot cut. If you get a good heat, you can split both limbs in one heat cycle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea847ac0f4d4e1cf7b9f1de/1591485125484-46Y7ZFJYH39VFY3KZVVM/Split_Cross_Blog11.jpg Blacksmith's Blog - The Blacksmith’s Split cross - I finish my cuts with the hand saw because I find that it makes a crisper gap. Be sure to use lubricant, which will make your cuts easier and increase the life of your blade. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea847ac0f4d4e1cf7b9f1de/1591485512748-DLX6B7ZPLKUOYGPSC1H7/image-asset.jpeg Blacksmith's Blog - The Blacksmith’s Split cross - In this photo, you can really see the crease in the split which is indicative of the Blacksmith’s Split Cross. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea847ac0f4d4e1cf7b9f1de/1591485311232-LXKLAUHXK2JZPQ4XO6AE/Split_Cross_Blog18.jpg Blacksmith's Blog - The Blacksmith’s Split cross - Finally, I finish flattening the cross on the anvil’s face. Remember to remove the hot-cut for safety. It’s easy to get excited and forget, but it’s better to take another heat than a trip to the doctor. Then repeat the process for the other side. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea847ac0f4d4e1cf7b9f1de/1591484976389-8IXS4XG0F2QE5MUXYTP7/Split_Cross_Blog7.jpg Blacksmith's Blog - The Blacksmith’s Split cross - I make the cuts with the angle grinder and cutoff wheel. As I said, you can use any blacksmith tool for these cuts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea847ac0f4d4e1cf7b9f1de/1591485364684-X2LGQ9QNITJ59P3JQQL7/Split_Cross_Blog23.jpg Blacksmith's Blog - The Blacksmith’s Split cross - Lastly, I cut a small amount off of the top to make the proportions accurate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea847ac0f4d4e1cf7b9f1de/1591485272200-937ADABULXT1D74JL5ZH/Split_Cross_Blog17.jpg Blacksmith's Blog - The Blacksmith’s Split cross - I further spread the limbs over the edge of my anvil. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea847ac0f4d4e1cf7b9f1de/1591484731385-BHIO7MEW63UJ0UO2RO3R/Split_Cross_Blog1.jpg Blacksmith's Blog - The Blacksmith’s Split cross - I start by cutting 1/2” square bar stock into 3” long pieces. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea847ac0f4d4e1cf7b9f1de/1591485607290-99QUEW2LZ4NXOLEJV6XK/image-asset.jpeg Blacksmith's Blog - The Blacksmith’s Split cross - Here is the raw piece ready for any number of different finishes. You can also use a chisel to texture it to look like wood. But I prefer mine to stay flat so that the focal point is the split. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea847ac0f4d4e1cf7b9f1de/1591484831762-84H7KHA5ROC6837ETJYC/image-asset.jpeg Blacksmith's Blog - The Blacksmith’s Split cross - Next, I mark where I’ll make my cuts, which should overlap. I generally measure 3/4 of the way down on one side and a little over a third when rotated. I tend to batch out the crosses, so you see multiple blanks here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea847ac0f4d4e1cf7b9f1de/1592317663179-E1Q8RRY4ETKSW2XFI9IJ/processed_20200614_180036%25281%2529.jpg Blacksmith's Blog - The Blacksmith’s Split cross - And finally the finished pieces. Here you see three of my favorite finishes: (left to right) rustic, brass, and boiled linseed oil. Even when following exact measurements, the smallest variable can change the look of the piece. That is the nature of handcrafted items. Each one is unique, and I love that about blacksmithing. Never two alike. https://www.kattforge.com/blacksmiths-blog/a0rfvuestwfkouyj1tw4rxadm07mur monthly 0.5 2020-05-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea847ac0f4d4e1cf7b9f1de/1588201918220-XVA46NWLA4TI5D8I3TK4/Forge_Action19.jpg Blacksmith's Blog - Square Scroll Heart Finished Heart with Boiled Linseed Oil finish. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea847ac0f4d4e1cf7b9f1de/1588201800212-YX7T68WFZ8N4QMY0XCN8/Forge_Action35.jpg Blacksmith's Blog - Square Scroll Heart After heating I twist both bars I go for four to six rotations depending on how the steel is reacting. Making sure to keep both bars twisted the same. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea847ac0f4d4e1cf7b9f1de/1588201635296-67G5D8N8EVS4U54XBB45/Forge_Action9.jpg Blacksmith's Blog - Square Scroll Heart Another shot of the shaping process. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea847ac0f4d4e1cf7b9f1de/1588201778190-AQSCZ8ULKGVMOU9ALA1G/Forge_Action6.jpg Blacksmith's Blog - Square Scroll Heart First step is to cut the 3/8in square bar to length. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea847ac0f4d4e1cf7b9f1de/1588201611242-E4COYWP4TDYGJJJ3P11G/Forge_Action32.jpg Blacksmith's Blog - Square Scroll Heart Here I begin shaping the heart on my scroll jig. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea847ac0f4d4e1cf7b9f1de/1588201898615-KO043KYUQGNJDGPRODOY/Forge_Action20.jpg Blacksmith's Blog - Square Scroll Heart Prepped and clamped for welding. I will weld the bottom and spot weld the top joint. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ea847ac0f4d4e1cf7b9f1de/1588201876770-1KRYMOGRTJEL10GL975W/Forge_Action8.jpg Blacksmith's Blog - Square Scroll Heart Mocked up to see how it is coming together. 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