Teebs

I think it was about 70 horseshoes to make it, any farriers you can contact in the local area to ask about used shoes?

I have never heard that saying, but it couldn't be further from the truth! The rasp was a pain to forge, our farrier buys quality rasps that seem to be quite high carbon steel. I am happy with how it turned out, all the forging was done on the step of the anvil.

Thanks guys, and yes the entire unicorn would be pretty cool.

I finally finished my second horseshoe sculpture, a unicorn as requested by my 7 year old horse crazy daughter. The horn is a farrier rasp, the piece around the eye is a section of sheet metal from a 45 gallon drum, the eyeball is the steel toe cap from an old warn out pair of my Blundstone workboots. The base Is from an old plow that I have since scrapped and the ears are cut from an old circular saw blade. I am happy with how it turned out, not sure yet where I will put it, am pretty much decided it's going outside unfinished and will just let it rust naturally.

I only planned to do the eye area with the steel sheet, but it kind of looks like a mask and I might cover the rest of the head or use this technique on another horse. Tomorrow I am going to do some more work on it, unfortunately life and work get in the way at times! Stay tuned for an update :-)

Here is the start of the unicorn, the eye Is something different I tried, steel from a 45 gallon drum and the eye is actually the steel toe cap from my old work boots. That's what I call recycling! I kind of like the contrast.

Thanks guys, we have 4 of the real thing and this is by far the cheapest type of horse to own! I'm working on a unicorn for my daughter right now, so far I have made the most important part out of a farriers rasp.

Thanks everyone, my next one I will remove the flat bar that I used to shape the nose and part of the head. Maybe tack weld the shoes to it then cut it and remove it after the shoes are welded? The hair is 13 shoes cut in half, drawn out at the tip, twisted then bent over and welded to the "crest" of the neck.

Hello all, been absent from the forum for a couple of years, decided to fire up the forge again and using my new welder to make a horse head for a good friend of mine. The shoes are all used from her farm and each is tied to a current or past horse she has owned. This is my first sculpture and I really enjoyed making it, I look forward to making more in the future. The eye is copper sheet TIG welded into the steel frame and the ears are forged from pieces of a large circular saw blade. I have already given it to her and she loves it, which is all I can ask.

Wow loyd, I would like to give that one a shot too!

I really do need a 2x72" grinder, ok I want one! I have a line on one from a buddy's uncle that was heavy into knife making for years then just gave it up cold turkey (they figure depression?). It has been 10 years since any of his tools and knives have been touched! My buddy mentioned if I show up with some cash he will likely sell me as much as I want to buy. I should give him a call....anyone have any ideas (roughly) what a custom made 2x72 grinder would go for? I have not seen it but they say it is very well built and he was a semi pro knife maker for years.

Great work, I love the finish on all your blades. The bush cleaver is an inspiration for me to finish my leaf spring chopper/kukri/cleaver/heavy XXXXX attempt at a big knife! Watch the language

I need to get some ferric chloride, will give it a try next time. And we do have some pretty sweet, thin, cut resistant gloves at work. Would have helped if I was wearing them! Thanks for the advice, this forum is great.

Thanks guys! My fingers are still sore, 40' of paracord on that handle....

Made from a large ball peen hammer bought for $3 at a yard sale. This was the first one using my new hawk drift and proper hawk handle. I did my first paracord wrap after watching a couple youtube videos. The finish could have been cleaner as I found I need a proper support while drifting, I used the post vise but it deformed the bottom of the hawk and the poll is not quite straight. Although not perfect it is razor sharp and I am enjoying using it to chop branches etc.

I went back to the first piece of cable that I had forge welded into a small flat piece of stock and made this little one. I etched it in dilute hydrochloric acid and am still playing with the way to get the best etch. I quenched it in oil and tempered in the oven, seems to hold a pretty decent edge. As a side note I use a cheap 1x30" belt sander and while sharpening this knife the belt broke, grabbed the edge of the knife and sliced the edge of my finger, nothing too deep but gave me a scare. I always wear safety glasses but it never hurts to be too cautious! I see videos of 2x72" grinders doing 1000's of feet per minute, I wouldn't want one of those belts to break on me when using it.

Added a head to the hoof pick and it looks much nicer. The other hoof pick Is from a left over piece of a rasp.

I fabbed this up for my vise this year, the leg sits in a piece of pipe welded to the 3/4" steel plate that is lagged to the floor. It is very stable and I can twist stock without the thing moving all over the floor.

That is amazing! I imagine that in the 16'th century a lock was something that was expensive to obtain. I just googled history of padlocks and it is really interesting.

I'm just a little bit south of you :-).

jimsShip, I used a set of laser cut petals that I bought from kayne & sons.... So it was kinda cheating :-) what I did was trace them before I used them and I intend to make my own out of sheet metal or copper from now on.

Dcraven, I will post more pics as I come up with some more ideas, would like to see if you have any new ones. Njanvilman, I thought I had a large box that's about 75 lbs, you could make a full size sculpture!

I have a large box of new horseshoes that I was given for real cheap. Our horses are barefoot and don't wear shoes so I am finding things to make from them. I really like working with them as they are so low carbon and very malleable. All 3 of these designs were "borrowed" from pics on this site and I hope no one minds! This was the first rose I have made and I think it turned out well, my wife loves it.

Thanks guys, and Frosty, I look forward to your comments, positive or negative!

Beautiful knife!