Alec.S

Hey everyone! It has been a while since I have posted here. I would quite like to share with you all a project I greatly enjoyed working on. I gave this hammer as a gift to Dave Lisch as thanks for teaching me how to make this pattern when I was in Seattle last June! 

A couple hundred layers of 1080 and 15N20

I hope you are all well Thanks! 

Alec 

Posting these on behalf of Brian! SO IMAGINE THIS IS BRIAN FROM NOW ON :) 

Three different set ups for a poker. This is clay.

The initial weld

The final weld (I over heated the collared one)

Stress test (Prying)

- Brian 

Owen! Awesome! Thank you for showing! That is very cool! I'm pleased to see that holds up to such a force!

Laertius - Fantastically put!
I agree and do love this type of debate. I hope people aren't genuinely getting upset by this kind of debate as it is the backbone to the development and potential realisation of 'truth'. It is all a lot of fun!

1forgeur - You put it well too :)

The drift will get stuck if it gets forged within the hole. Be sure to 'snug' the hammer onto the drift with every upsetting blow in the cupping tool. This means smacking the struck end of the drift down on the anvil so the hammer's weight brings it further up the drift. Also only hit once before moving lifting the hammer off the cupping tool and switching to a new position. 

Seems like Brian has been facebook-ised. 

There is none! 

I believe the format here encourages one to use one's vernacular to express one's gratitude at another one's support to one. 

Dan, awfully sorry it was not rhetoric! ;) :P 

Looking forward to your vid/pics! :)

I hope you are coming to the IBF! It will be a lot of fun! 

Alec

Yes it it. I view forging as one all encompassing subject. I also view forging as this wonderful way of taking something, moving it around, changing its cross section and retaining strength, if not gaining it!

If the method of faggot welding a hook onto a poker is weak, though we agree it is adequate for it's purpose, then what if someone wanted a similar 'shape' for a task demanding a much higher payload? Well, that is what the forged bend is about. It is an exploration of structure, based on the faggot weld's use in fire pokers. 
Might I also mention that this is far quicker than faggot welding it and is a much more reliable, repeatable task that is arguably more aesthetically pleasing?

Yes, it is 'just a bend that has been hammered on'. A faggot weld is equally something 'that has been hammered on'. Your disparaging rhetoric is not necessary and adds nothing to the discussion of forged structure. 

Of course, this is not a 'faggot weld' but, despite this, I believe it was worth posting as it shows an alternative for the example mentioned: a fire poker. It also acts as a suitable comparison between the structural integrity of forging like this and the faggot weld as commonly used. 

I hope this cleared my post up. 
This is fun! :)
Alec

Jeremy, please have a re-read. I mentioned this was an 'alternative' and there was 'no weld'. 

*edit* woops, apparently i didn't read your post either ;) ;) Sorry about sounding hostile, it came across wrong! 

Hey folks! Long time no see!!!
Here are the pictures! 

(fun note, the point on that puller was 0.2mm square. I have a hole in my thumb to prove it!) 

Testing the strength quenched, cold. Notice how the bend is stronger than parent bar. That is forging. 

(however, notice the hairline cold shut in the crotch created by hitting on the parent bar by mistake. Despite the bending, it did not progress further.)

I had to try this after seeing Brian's postings to try it. It is an incredibly strong bend! There is no weld in this. 
I thought it was pretty cool! Super easy to do. If it was a fire poker it would be a 3 heat poker end. (Taper - bend, forge point from bend, shape puller.)
I'd like to design some artwork using this technique. 

Here is Brian's original post - 
"A faggot weld and a much better idea"

Faggot weld stress tested (broken) 
The alternative. 
Alternative stress tested. 

Brian is not saying that the weld is not adequate for a poker - it does the job. Right? It pokes and pulls logs.  
However, he is saying that the weld is not a 'good weld' and teaching this structurally weak weld to beginners is a bad idea as it leaves us beginners without the ability to maximise the capabilities of forging! 

Forging is a wonderful tool! Let's not waste it by learning how to do weak forgings. That is forgery? 

Alec

Oh hello! I am here!! 

Wack me an email pr PM   :) 

I also have a website - www.medler-steele.com

Look forward to your contacting me! 

This works for me..... 

;) 

I use my belt grinder every single day in the shop! 

Most used powered tool I own. 

This tool here, I believe is the tool we use for forging the rounding face on a forged to finish rounding hammer! Am I correct?

Looks good! if you want more cupping, instead of going square, octagon and then round, just go all the way around it, round, this will promote the fish mouthing more readily.... Do not hit too hard because you only want the outer edges to move (colapse)

:)

1045 with a chrome plating is what spec sheets generally say :)

My anvil is 29" high...

Then again... i am only 5'5" ;) 

...

The rule of thumb I have found best for general hand forging 1" under with hand hammer is the anvil should be no higher than the height at which you can hold a work piece between your legs while retaining the octave of your voice.... (lol) and not low enough that you have to strain to bend down...

for striking... for an adult striker around 5'8" to 6'6", it is good to have the anvil at 24" or lower... any higher and you will never get the full potential of a swing! I still stand on a 4" box when I strike on my 24" striking anvil. Me personally, I like striking on an anvil that comes up to my knee caps.... shame that most directors I work with are not supple enough to bend that low!!! :P

 However, the best advice i can give...

Is do what gives the best between, being comfortable and forging as efficiently as possible! 

Alec

Thank you Frosty!!! :) 

MODERATORS - Why has this been moved to Metal Sculpture and Carvings may I ask? Pardon me for the misunderstanding, but I would imagine this to be precisely general forging as the techniques here can be incorporated into many general forging operations! I question this because I know that there is more impact on general discussions and I know people would like to be aware of this video! 

Thank you again!!! :D

Alec Steele

Anything! Here i think i used 1/2 or 3/8!

A short simple video showing the process and method of forging a Cala Lilly from round bar!

Questions, comments and critique will be greatly appreciated!

Many thanks!

Alec

Mpenswick, If you ever get up to norfolk give me a bell and you can come hang out in the shop, make some tools etc in return for some coke and steel ;) 
 

Great video, man!

Man oh MAN THAT IS A BEAUTIFUL PEICE OF STEEL  :wub:

Looking good! Going to be an awesome anvil! Lots of support!

Thank you all for the wonderful response! The wonderful response is part of the reason I post here! Thanks guys!!!

I will try to post things more often!!

Alec

Hey guys! 
Thought I may post this here, this is an informational video about how to forge punches efficiently! :)

Hope you all enjoy! 

Any suggestions for future videos? 

Many thanks!!!

As I said,

Great work, daniel!