h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

actually the comments on this isnt true you cant even fold paper 2000 times is not quite right.
You can fold a peice of steel over 2000 times when forging it, provided that once you fold you pound the hot steel back out to the same size and length it was before and then fold it again, which is how the japanese sword smiths actually did that.
That kind of steel is frequently called damascus. It has a relaly beautiful pattern in it that comes out even more when the blade is dipped into etching acid.
And dont tell me I am full of it, because I am a blacksmith as well as a knife and sword maker so I should know.

What you describe is the way that I always understood Japanese swords to have been made, Guerilla. I attended an exhibition of Japanese arts and weapons at Liverpool Museum a couple of years back, and there was a video showing a Japanes swordsmith at work. It was quite explicit that the metal was folded over and then hammered flat repeatedly, so that each succesive fold was of a fillet of the same thickness as the original.

I believe that if you try it with paper the limit is 8 folds - with hot steel there isn't any limit.

The reason paper will only fold 7-8 times is that the fibres in the paper reach their limit of elasticity around the folds and also the volume of paper increases too quickly to have an adequate stretching time in the paper.
(Hope that made sense to someone because I'm confused now...)

Sean

Those researchers who are:
a) British
b) old enough
c) sad enough
to remember a kids tv programme called 'Why don't you turn off your tv set and go and do something more interesting instead' (or it may have been 'something less boring') might recall that they took a piece of thin tissue paper that was around 30 feet square, and folded it. They got to 8 folds, I think. They didn't say whether this only applied to paper. I guess it would apply to anything inelastic.

I think it was just called 'Why don't you..." and used to be on in the school holidays. It told you how to make the best paper aeroplanes and other useless information. Is this the same on that you are thinking of?

Sean

Yup, that'll be the one. I'm ashamed to say that I watched it as an adult - how sad is that? Admittedly I was a student at the time. I'm going to stick to the story that I was watching it ironically.

I am very interested in learning the art of swordsmithing. Could you tell me what I will need to start (materials and tools) and where i can find resources on this lessor known art? I would appreciate your input greatly as I can find no-one with an interest in this trade in my part of the world (Austalia). Cheers.

I too am iterested in blacksmithing, and would appreciate some guidance. I am in America.

I think you'll get a much better response if you post this question on <./>Askh2g2</.> - not many people will see it here, whereas there are lots of researchers who check out <./>Askh2g2</.> on a regular basis.

I only spotted it because I'm already subscribed to the conversation having posted to it in the past - and I don't know the answer. Good luck with it!