Machinist for Swage Block?? Anyone Here

[Mills]

By golly, I'll bet that is gonna be a slick little setup. I'd like to see how it works when you get it set up. Not real sure what you are trying to form though. Sheet? Put a disc over the cone and drive in? Or drop in a slug and push a mandrel in to form the socket?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[ThomasPowers]

I had a friend do a massive spearpoint out of D2. He had the socket EDM'd.
(started as a 32# block of D2, ended as 8# as I recall---what the customer wanted!)

I am still not quite sure how this die and drift are going to be used---are you trying to drift a solid rod held captive in the die to fit between the mandrel and the die?

[racer3j]

This is closest to plan. start with a disc- heat to good shaping color- put over cone shaped hole- with male cone mandrel drive metal into socket - pickup slightly larger cone male, which I have, drive in to "finish swage." To a chisel blade, forged/swaged, fire up good old OA torch and weld together- extra metal deposition to shape for graceful transition.

irnsrgn- I should force myself to improvise, but time is not on my side. I have some demand for these and within the last 3 months, my income has reduced by two-thirds.A fine young fellow in KY will turn the handles. I have a 1/2 cone swage- both cones are too big and it was too dear to modify. I may just have to do the vise - reamer deal after drilling a 3/8th guide hole so the reamer doesn't try to walk all over.jet( I have the small size reamer- I can do a test run.)

[racer3j]

Found the tapered end mill I need --1/2" small dia. 3 1/2 " cutting length and 2* per inch taper. 3/4" shank. So, anyone have access to a big mill?

[racer3j]

I have posted info by PM. Cutters described are from discounttools.com and are in "Tapered end mills" section of milling cutters. Further interest by Mr. Warner would keep me optomistic. If I were really skilled with one of my cone mandrels, I would just lay the heated steel coupon at the edge of the face, hold it down wiith the cone mandrel, hammer up to start the wrap around, continue wrapping around the cone and then when overlapping, flux, forge weld and clean up. I am not anywhere near good enough to do that yet, not even close! Regards to all and thanks to Mr. Warner for his interest and possible offer to help fabricate the block. jet

[Mills]

Since you are using a torch to join the socket to the chisel I would make a cone by rolling the sheet then torch weld the seam. or MIG/TIG if you have it.

I have a set up for flowers as you describe and I think you won't get what you envision. The sheet will wrinkle and need to be smoothed in several intermediate steps. as well the steel will be stretched and thinned where it really needs to be thickest.

For an example of what you are looking at doing see the Rafi Rose in the blueprints
BP1005 Rafi Rose. Yes the effect is intentional But that is the effect that you wil;l get even without trying for it. This blueprint technique capitalizes on the wrinkiling that does occur. Also when I try to form my flowers and get impatient I usually punch through the center.

Good luck