Swage Block

[philip in china]

Does anybody have a pattern for a useful general purpose swage block? I think I have got a place here that can do small runs of castings and I would like to try to make some swage blocks.

[jeremy k]

WWW search for swage blocks and pic your flavor and size - JK

[Bentiron1946]

I have a huge old thing and the parts of it use most are the half rounds, The rounds holes, the square holes and the round depression. What I always wanted was more variety in the size of the round depressions. I also had "V" notches but didn't use them much but they were handy. Some guys do a lot of tenon work so a good variety of round and square hole size would be necessary. One of the problems of mine it that it weighs so much that there is no joy in using it. So a weight of no more then say 75# would be about right.

[Glenn]

Swage blocks are like anvils, you need a certain mass to keep them in place and absorb the impact of being used. Today we do not understand the size and weight of the tools because we do not do the same type work, so they are considered heavy.

[Bentiron1946]

I understand it, I just can't lift it any more nor can most part time smiths. If your going to need another piece of equipment from HF to move it how handy is it? I have a 300# anvil, love working on it, but I can't move it from one new studio to another anymore. I need to hire rigger to do that and they charge a minimum $500 fee just to show up but I can get a day laborer for $50 and he can move everything I got except the 25# LG. So yes I understand mass but I also understand having to work out of a situation where you need to have lighter, more manageable equipment then a 300# anvil, 307# swage block, a 900# LG and Philip's question was not about "large" castings but "small" castings. Having used a nice light 75# malleable iron swage block that I could move and flip over on my own was nice just to bad I didn't own it. No pry bars, chain hoist, jacks or small boys needed.

[ThomasPowers]

Hmm when I wanted to move my 500# anvil I just had a smithing meeting over at my place and had 4 of them put pipe through the hardies and carry it into my shop.

I'm going to try to build a jib crane for my new forge extension to get stuff in and out of the truck. I used a couple of lolly posts to beef up the truss when I used it to lift the big anvils onto the timber baulk with a comealong.

Slow and safe is my motto when it comes to moving heavy stuff!

[Bentiron1946]

OK Thomas but what do you want in a swage block?

[jimbob]

Originally Posted by philip in china

Does anybody have a pattern for a useful general purpose swage block? I think I have got a place here that can do small runs of castings and I would like to try to make some swage blocks.

not sure are you asking if someone has and actual pattern or what forms seem to work better or how to make the pattern ...like depressions in the side for a ladle or spoons a fire place shovel or square holes thru so you can make or hold swedge tools ...

[philip in china]

Ideally I would like some plans for a general swage block for making half rounds and squares and oblongs.... which I could show to the casting place so they could cast me a couple next time they are doing something of the kind. Is that vague enough? I realise I am unlikely to get exactly that but some high resolution photos of a couple of blocks with some idea of scale would be very good. It would cost me a fortune to import a western made swage block so that is a none starter.

[jeremy k]

Philip - no plans are needed from us - you have an idea already - choose the size of rounds, ovals etc. - cut those sizes in half (the cross section)and that is the pattern for the edges of your swage block. Same goes for the inner holes if you need them. Ok -just say you want a 8" x 8" swage block 3" thick - draw it out on paper(a 8x8 square) sketch in the sizes you want ..... simple as that take this to the foundry and they will make the pattern for the object to be cast or refer you to someone who will ( most times they like to make their own patterns as that's were they make money) to meet the specs of the casting process. - JK