Can I Make A Blade From An Auto Part?

Time to bust open this piece of automobile running gear and see it we can build a knife!
firecreekforge.com
Patreon: / firecreekforge
#autoparts #knife #welding

[@paullmight42]

Never seen someone disassemble a transfer case with a hammer before....but i'm here for it...

[@sno4fun584]

I've wanted to take a couple of them apart with a hammer before when the two halves think they're one part. A bigger hammer usually solves that problem.

[@andrejohnson6731]

I believe the word you are looking for is obliterate 😂

[@simlucien]

I never knew I needed to see a dude smash a transfer case with a hammer, but here we are 🤝

[@FunderForge]

Transfer Case

[@christopherderrig3671]

Flux capacitor 😊

[@polyesterdreamboat]

This is uncharacteristically chaotic. I like it.

[@simlucien]

Dimitri Shevchenko is a bladesmith in Ukraine and does a lot of projects from different types of chain. He does incredible damascus patterns. Might be worth looking him up to see how he avoids occlusions. I don't think he makes canisters for the, so its probably a different technique. Cool change of pace video, beautiful pattern 🤝

[@cae2487]

I really hope some of the newer guys to knifemaking that come across this video can take the real lesson from this video. Sure you can make a knife from recycled steel you can even make a really nice look knife from it but far more important when adversity rears its head you keep at it til you get where you want. Oftentimes when forging knives you come across obstacles and when they come up you keep pushing until you've overcome those obstacles. Thanks for sharing Elijah you did a great job and showed us your grit and determination.

[@TBWblades]

I loved the disassembly portion of the video. I've been a mechanic for over 30 years and I can't tell you how many times I've felt like doing the same thing. Great pattern on the letter opener.

[@muellermade]

That pattern is not what I expected, very cool project and great work!

[@TheOGfrenchy]

Great video really admire your persistence! Cool piece!

[@mickeybartlett1274]

Wow! Neat! I've always wanted to do that to a torque converter.

[@MASI_forging]

Beautiful knife, such a great work 👏👏

[@RyJones]

No pepper flakes? Has shurap taught you nothing? 😂 looks cool!

[@FireCreekForge]

Haha, maybe that's why I had trouble with it

[@YYCEyeGuyGord]

For a mechanic, you're a pretty damn decent bladesmith 😉

[@FireCreekForge]

Haha, nice

[@C-M-E]

Definitely the best artisan use case for a crap t-case, other than busting them open for desk trinkets or recycling. Gears and bearing races are usually the safe bet or the shaft themselves. Chains can be 50/50, depending on the source manufacturer. I've got a few scrap-quality jet engine compressors that I've dedicated to using for various projects, as much as it pains me to hammering on them both from an engineering appreciation point, but moreso because they are so damn tough.

[@billyj.williams2341]

The drum you cut apart is most likely cast iron or metal injection molded Ductile iron. The shafts are forged and case hardened 1050 or 1045 steel usually.

[@krissteel4074]

A lot of things like shims and prop shafts are 1095, bearings are your 52100, gears can sometimes be 8160 or 4140- mid carbon, high impact steel, chains are sometimes 4140 or a 1070-1084 carbon steel. It various obviously and like any found steel there's bound to be some alloys or other weirdness thrown into the mix depending on the OEM. I think the chain with some higher nickel powdered steel might turn out really good too if you can get some.

[@FireCreekForge]

Yeah, it's really a shot in the dark, but hopefully makes for an interesting KZbin project

[@bigghoss762]

That doohickey is a transfer case. It bolts to the back of the transmission and splits power off and transfers it to both axles of the vehicle giving it four-wheel-drive. A torque converter goes in front of an automatic transmission and allows the engine to run with the vehicle stopped at a red light or whatever. It acts as a clutch between the engine and transmission.

[@FireCreekForge]

Thanks for the insight! Yeah I don't know much about that stuff

[@melgillham462]

Well, you have good fire starter in that magnesium casing. Bushcrafters love that stuff. And yea if youre goin to do canister with chain, ya need that powdered steel for the voids to weld. Chain makes amazing looking pattern welded blades. Im not as proficient at it myself as id like to be eventually.

[@latemcire8387]

If you’re not sure if something is aluminum or magnesium put vinegar on it. Magnesium will bubble hydrogen gas when vinegar is added.

[@brysonalden5414]

I'm always interested in watching folks make blades out of mystery steel. Interesting experiment, but it reinforces my belief that my time is better spent with known steel. Thanks for sharing your process.

[@hardwurkindaddy]

I took my transfer case apart with a tow truck once. Two forty twos like to break themselves in half if you don't disconnect the drive line.

[@Pianosmith375]

Awesome

[@patrickclark6261]

super fun video! thanks for taking us along on the journey!

[@FireCreekForge]

You bet, glad you enjoyed it!

[@mickeylickey123]

You know its bolted together right lol. 😉

[@FireCreekForge]

What bolts? Haha

[@buffbackwell]

😂😂😂

[@lowbudgetbob1155]

That is one cool letter opener. Someone will be happy to have that.

[@StrayWolfForge]

Very entertaining video thanks i enjoyed it.

[@minnesotatomcat]

I’d try to find some old axle shafts if you want to use car parts, they’re solid and should be made of quality metal 👍

[@VirginiaBronson]

While this video is entertaining, I’m positive that process was agonizing lol. I’m amazed at what a pretty letter opener resulted, though! I hope you don’t feel like you have to put yourself through this again. You make some incredible knives from much easier material!

[@marcusandersson...]

Great video! It's problem solving, upcycling, and a unique end product. Really enyable and fun to watch. 👍

[@FireCreekForge]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@robertr4193]

I wonder if you could drive a small round bar of steel in to the hollow part of the shaft you got from the transfer case and forge wield it into a solid bar then forge it in to a blade.

[@justingoodman5600]

That powder makes all the difference. It’s nice to play around and try different things sometimes. I’ve been sitting on some chain and other stuff for a while, hoping to experiment with them. You could always San-Mai them with core steel of your choice. Great job, thanks for sharing

[@surfinoperator]

The pattern is looking AWESOME 😊🤘

[@FireCreekForge]

Thanks glad you like it!

[@chewyakarieckenicholas6049]

It's a transfer case for a 4 wheel drive dodge truck I believe

[@youraveragecoop5633]

I think it's a continuously variable transmission (CVT)

[@ajhearn4535]

Junkyard steel series? Should be a good number of people who would watch since it's most common source of material for new smiths to play with and leaf springs aren't always available

[@user-rk1bf4eh2p]

Yeah let's see how it comes out I can't wait

[@Slum1776]

KZbin certified mechanic degree is in the mail right? 😂

[@renepicard8113]

Great job champ

[@MrJohney]

Hey, do you feel better now taking your frustration out on that torque converter 😂 cool blade too

[@357coonan]

It's a transfer case.. you could take it apart might be far easier..

[@gregwaters944]

like the pattern

[@zenonherrera4366]

"Can I make a knife from an auto part?" Yes, yes I can

[@billwoehl3051]

It's a transfer case, goes directly behind the transmission to split the drive for both rear and front axles on a 4 wheel drive.

[@mikeredmond5740]

Transfer Case!

[@steveb6553]

BFH and angle grinder,perfect

[@NineteenEighty8]

Another banger video! Thanks FCF!

[@FireCreekForge]

Thanks for watching!!

[@owais146]

AWESOME

[@jeffreyandtondaruss571]

Looks like it is set up as an electric transfer case; could possibly be a transmission for a front wheel drive, due to the small clutch pack inside.

[@user-rk1bf4eh2p]

I seen one of these knife makers do it without a canister just for the motorcycle chain and it came out great

[@anthonychatagnier5129]

Sharup, is one guy who does many different pattern steels and actually does then well. Look up his channel.

[@minnesotatomcat]

You’re getting skinny bud! 👍

[@PB8man]

I'll duplicate your methods during my next transmission rebuild. THANKS!

[@murraymakesstuff]

I've wanted to take apart car parts with a big hammer so many times, but it makes it harder to put back together! 😂🤣 That transfer case didn't stand a chance.

[@billwoehl3051]

As for the disks being porous and oil soaked, I would toss it in a fire pit and see what's left.

[@christopherderrig3671]

Its the flux capacitor

[@freemansame8062]

Beutiful blade

[@FireCreekForge]

Thank you

[@dagnard5707]

squaring dies. that chain will make a great looking knife but it has to be compressed on all sides. at least thats how i have done it before. its just my opinion though

[@gorillaman08zx]

Are ratchet and wrenches not available in your area?

[@billwoehl3051]

By the look of that canister, you went back to whiteout instead of the paint? Any particular reason?

[@FireCreekForge]

Nope, still paint. :)

[@kautzz]

that's one way to disassemble things 🤣

[@lawjordan3020]

As a person that works at the place that more than likely made this transfer case. That may be a magnesium case.

[@jimmyschock9395]

I'm sure you could but that's a transfer case 😉

[@FireCreekForge]

Thanks!

[@arnaudbotha2985]

You should watch "shirap" he used the same chai n a made a very nice blade

[@TalRohan]

well this is fun That chain looks like awesome stuff Do you have any use for thermite? For some reason I am really enjoying the hammer and dropping metal noises in this video....very satisfying noises that appeal some how some of those whacks with the sledgehammer sounded way cool. Sprocketmascus Now you can tell I comment as the video is ongoing lol and your fan sounds like an old biplane I like that, I think it was worth it...lot of work for a dagger type letter opener but still very cool . Great share thanksyou

[@MyGraKat2]

So why couldn’t you use wrenches to disassemble the transfer case?

[@FireCreekForge]

No that would be too boring

[@latemcire8387]

Transfer case

[@jd.prestage]

Every time you said torque converter, it made me cringe. It's a transfer case! Transfers power to the front wheels of a 4 wheel drive.

[@henryknight7876]

transfer case 4 wheel drive unit

[@matthewf1979]

That was likely a very expensive transfer case. I hope it was broken internally or something.

[@FireCreekForge]

It was headed to the scrap yard

[@matthewf1979]

@@FireCreekForge That's good to know. Newer auto parts are made out of all kinds of weird materials. Even if it is solid steel, it's probably not the kind that will forge weld. Probably better off at the scrap yard in this case.

[@lorneclose7312]

Looks like a Jeep transfer case

[@jimsiggy]

Being a blacksmith/blade maker etc... is a manly thing, calling a "transfer case" a "Torque Converter, or whatever", maybe not so much. just say'n

[@FireCreekForge]

Yeah, I'm not much of a mechanic

[@Rayraywheelz]

When you're welding the pieces together what's the purpose of putting your hand behind it and catching the sparks?

[@FireCreekForge]

Just trying to shield the arc from the camera to make it less jarring to the viewer.

[@Rayraywheelz]

@@FireCreekForge I kinda figured that. I actually first thought that maybe someone tried to get a lawsuit against you or KZbin trying to say that watching damaged their eyes. Sad that's the world we live in but I've seen worse and things much more petty go through a court process.

[@zenonherrera4366]

1:24 what are you doing!?

[@duanethepirate]

You know you can just unbolt it.

[@user-rk1bf4eh2p]

Put a little borax and something that'll make some carbon like some black pepper or any organic matter

[@pagedeveloper]

Why break it apart, when you could have just taken the bolts (screws) off and had it all in one piece??

[@californiagunner7020]

I was thinking the same thing.

[@FireCreekForge]

I was planning to break it up into pieces to melt down

[@anthonychatagnier5129]

It's a dang transfer case bud. 😢

[@timbills5740]

It’s not magnesium. It’s aluminum.

[@FireCreekForge]

Nope

[@timbills5740]

Magnesium cases have an mg cast in to them? Was that anywhere on the case?

[@notj5712]

I don't get it. He can't figure out how bolts work?

[@DONJUILIO]

If you don't what it is, how will you ever properly heat treat it.....???? are you just amusing it's 1095 1084 or whatever your powder mix is? even though it could be on your edge??