Gladius Handle Help...

[QVINTVS ARTORIVS CORVINVS]

Yes, What Magnus said
Also, you can get bar steel that is the proper width and thickness right off the shelf.
Why make more work for yourself?
Look for a Metals Plus or Metals Super Market type of place (any steel supplier should carry it.)
You can cut it to length with either a thin cutoff wheel for your angle grinder or even a hacksaw
Same goes for the tang.
Look into the flap disk sanding wheels as well. They come in different grits fom 60 - 120 and are a godsend for stock removal and bring to a pre-polish state.
[url:2mar37gc]http://www.instructables.com/files/deriv/FRF/IOMM/F9AZJK09/FRFIOMMF9AZJK09.MEDIUM.jpg[/url]
oh, and be sure to wear eye protection and a respirator if doing this indoors or you will be coughing up black stuff for days.

[Nihonius Legio]

Thanks! I'm glad I know what to get now! Now just a couple more things...
When heating the blade in the oven, you mean just let it set on a rack for an hour, then let it completley cool slowly in the oven, then reheat again two more time the same way?
Is the respirator mentioned just those cheap little cloth/paper masks that go over your mouth and nose, or something like a gas mask?
Now I have to see if my grandpa or friends have a grinder I can borrow for now. Or I'll just try to buy one right away. I'll keep coming back to post pics of progress and any more questions. Thanks so much for all your time and help.

-Nihonius

[Magnus]

Hey Jared, yeah, just stick the blade into the oven on a rack (hopefully it fits) and let it sit. Again, this isn't necessary for a reenactment blade, but not a bad idea.

[Nihonius Legio]

I'd like it to be ready for use if needed. Burglars, enemy soldiers, aliens, whatever

[brennivs - tony drake]

There are cheaper grinders that would do the same job
http://cgi.ebay.com/FREE-SHIPPING-North ... 7C294%3A50
This is an example, if you have never ground a blade it is best to try first with a cheap grinder then go for a good make, I rarely pay no more than $35-40 for one. As to cutting the blade out, eithier a hack saw blade or a cutting disc will do the job

The botttom one is 1mm thick and is ideal for cutting points and best part of the tang out with. Then you can do as Magnvs says to finish the cutting. If you do cut the tang with a hacksaw it could take about 40+ minutes to do so cutting the bulk of with a disc will save you
Regards Brennivs

[Nihonius Legio]

Hey thanks Brennivs! I was just looking for grinders and good deals. That one is a really inexpensive one, but if you say it works good I think I'll try it out! Thanks for the grinding wheel pic too, I'm really looking forward to doing this (if I can ever get away from school or work...)

Thanks!

-Nihonius

[Matthew Amt]

Angle grinders are GREAT fun, once you get over how scary and dangerous they are. Showers of hot sparks! Very versatile weapon, uh, TOOL.

Matthew

[Nihonius Legio]

Hahaha! Lol! I guess my grandpa actually already owns one and knows how to use it, so I'm sure he can give me a little safety instruction and such. Any chance of going up in flames? I'll at least be sure to wear heavy old clothes and keep a bucket of water near by if needed.

[Magnus]

Jared, the bucket of water is a good idea. I suppose if a hot enough spark hit some saw dust it's possible it could.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Actually, the 'going up in flames ' scenario is a very real one, but perhaps not quite the way you are thinking! :lol:

I had about a dozen go up in flames or burn out on me on board a rig during an Atlantic crossing. Not sure if they were cheap products, the power supply was wrong, the heat, or a combination of all three.

So a fire extinquisher, CO2 variety is a good idea too! :mrgreen:

[M. Demetrius]

And of course, if the electric motor in the grinder catches fire, don't throw it into the bucket of water. :!: ZAP! hock:

[Nihonius Legio]

Lol! I guess as long as I'm not taking a bath while working, I shouldnt go :!: Zap :!:

Off topic:
So what did you do at sea Gaius?

[Matt Lukes]

Is the respirator mentioned just those cheap little cloth/paper masks that go over your mouth and nose, or something like a gas mask?
-Nihonius

Yeah, a paper dust mask should do just fine- the particles are fine but not so fine as to make a true respirator necessary.

I'd like it to be ready for use if needed. Burglars, enemy soldiers, aliens, whatever

I have mine in case of Zombie attack LOL

Hahaha! Lol! I guess my grandpa actually already owns one and knows how to use it, so I'm sure he can give me a little safety instruction and such.

Good- angle grinders are excellent tools, but they're dangerous too if you're not careful; the most important rules are to ALWAYS make sure the switch is off when you plug it in since the torque can cause it to jump out of your hand if it starts up unexpectedly, and to ALWAYS lay it down face up so that if it gets switched on unintentionally, it won't necessarily go flying into whatever

[Nihonius Legio]

Ahh, good tips Matt. Thank you! And how silly of me to forget about the zombies! Gotta really hack them up to put em back to sleep. LOL! :twisted:

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Lol! I guess as long as I'm not taking a bath while working, I shouldnt go :!: Zap :!:

Off topic:
So what did you do at sea Gaius?

That time we were taking a rig across from Brazil to Los Palmas!
Brazil was interesting!
Also saw a pod of Hump-back whales breaching.....awesome!

Was installing sound proofing in various places, cutting the SS cartridges with a grinder to fit.....was to lead onto a job back down in Brazil, but it fell through at the last minute....
what a let down! roll: :lol: