john_zxz Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 Hi, this is the result of my afternoon forging. A small flatter made of 1 inch mild steel square bar. It's been a long time since I wanted to buy a flatter, but I was checking my scrap pieces and said, why not forge one myself? I'll be even more proud of me than buying one. It took me 2 hours alone. I started by upsetting the face to 1 3/4", put a neck with a pair of tongs as a fuller ( I don't have many tools...), slit and drifted the hole and then cut the piece from the parent stock and hammered down the end to shape. The hole is a little bit offcenter but not too much. It will do the job very fine. This is my first big slit and drift so I won't put too much stress on my shoulder. The next one will be better. I didn't forge welded a high carbon piece on the face because I don't plan to use it a lot. I'll see with use if I won't weld one, it's not too late. Now I just need to put a handle on that little baby. Let me know what you think and if there is another way to forge this type of tool. My next project is a top swage for rounding tenons. John_zXz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 I don't know how you could have done a better job! Looks great and I'll bet it flattens metal wonderfully. Wouldn't imagine a hard face will really be necessary. Great work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VolcanoForge Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 It looks perfect. Great job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOblacksmith0530 Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 Good work, very pleasing shape. I think you will find you use it more than you think you will when you see what it can do for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Miller Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 I would say to preserve your fine work heat it up and quench it in water. It is only mild steel that should toughen it up a bit and stop it from deforming to badly. Just make sure it is truly mild steel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_zxz Posted June 20, 2012 Author Share Posted June 20, 2012 Thank you guys. I quenched it in water to harden what it can as it is mild steel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 Right pretty! You may want to make the next one a tad stouter on the hitting end as flatters spread the energy out you generally whomp them fairly hard with big hammers in my experience and the smaller striking end will mushroom fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel.85 Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 Great job! That will last you for a long time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robakyo Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 Really nice forging! Excellent Flatter. Something else for the endless to do list. Robert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
double_edge2 Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 Better than my first attempt.....well done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason @ MacTalis Ironworks Posted June 22, 2012 Share Posted June 22, 2012 not bad at all, though 1045 would have been a better material choice as it will hold up a bit better. Mild should be OK though for occassional use so long as you don't wallop the heck out of it. Watch for mushrooming on the struck end, and make sure you grind or forge it off before it gets dangerous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bentiron1946 Posted June 22, 2012 Share Posted June 22, 2012 Nice looking work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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