January 4, 201214 yr For the past several weeks I have hit you guys up for advice on elliptical bending jigs, heading rivets, etc. I have finally completed the commission that I have been working on. Here's some pics:Hearth Rack The tools:ShovelTongsPokerBroom And here it is all together: This is undoubtedly the hardest job I have taken on to date. This is all hand work; no power hammer. Most of the frame is 1/2" x 1" and the lower cross-members are 1" square. I forged a decorative groove down the center of each piece, so every inch of it has been through the forge. More so than a power hammer, I found myself desperately needing a set-up table. I had to do all of my assembly on a thin sheet of steel over a piece of plywood with a couple 90º welder’s magnets. Bigger shop or not, I will soon have a steel table to work on. All the tools were from 7/16” stock, except the tongs. They were forged down from ½”. The shovel was done free-hand using a 4” Kelly-bar coupler as a second anvil (no swage). This was my first go at tying a broom (my profit margin would have taken a big hit if I had hired it done), but it looks alright… at least the customer thought so. I had to write this one off as a major training exercise to justify the time I put into it versus my quoted price. I am left with quite a pile of re-do’s in my scrap heap, but the experience and knowledge gained was worth it.
January 4, 201214 yr Great job! Good design, nice clean lines, expertly accomplished! Good finishing done, too. Now that you accomplished that you can move on to the next big challenge for you. Keep up the good work!
January 4, 201214 yr Really nice work! Through time, practice and experience things will come together in a more timely manner allowing for more of a profit. Well done!
January 4, 201214 yr Don, Now that is what I am talking about. Foundational blacksmithing. Good on ya! Please show us your other work products as you create them. .
January 6, 201214 yr Nice! Good design and execution. If that was your first broom to tie then you did good! I took the class from Jeff Mohr at the ABANA Conf. in Memphis--2010...best $25.00 I spent at the conf. as it showed me the $25.00 I pay to have a broom tied is CHEAP!!!! there is a pic of the broom in my gallery here; http://www.iforgeiron.com/gallery/image/19478-fireplace-set-using-12sq/ Great job and thanks for posting!
January 6, 201214 yr Author Great broom Thomas. I definitely need to learn the proper way to tie one. Mine set me back $4.00... that's what I paid for a new, cheap WalMart kitchen broom that I took apart and used for the the straw. I tried to get some broom corn on short notice, but it didn't happen, so I had to go this route.
January 6, 201214 yr Great broom Thomas. I definitely need to learn the proper way to tie one. Mine set me back $4.00... that's what I paid for a new, cheap WalMart kitchen broom that I took apart and used for the the straw. I tried to get some broom corn on short notice, but it didn't happen, so I had to go this route. Don, that broom is hand tied and I get to pick the colors of the twine! cost $25.00, tied on my handle and he will tie them and I can pick up the same day. He lives in Oklahoma but I catch him on First Monday Trades Day in Canton, TX. Great guy and beautiful brooms. I have had to resort to the small wisk brooms for a few of my fp set as he was nursing his wife through a bout of cancer, (she has recovered and he is back to doing the brooms again)
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