Eddie Mullins

Thanks for the feedback and pics John. I looked through my notes, BP0065 was my initial inspiration for this design, although my assembly is quite different. I guess I should have looked at it again before I made it LOL. I did go too tall and will shorten this one. I also agree this set up will probably be best suited for smaller stock but that is what I am primarily using now. I do plan to weld a thicker piece to the top for hitting on, as well as adding thicker material for most of the top and bottom dies with the 5/16 basically serving as the guides. Perhaps your beefier design will be round 2 : ) .

I have wanted a Guillotine tool for some time. Seen lots of designs, couldn't decide what I wanted to do, so today I just picked the most suitable material I had on hand and started at it. I think the design is similar to one I saw on a Blueprint here. No stabs at my sloppy welding please : ) . I ran out of wire so did not finish and have not cleaned it up yet. Stock I believe is 5/16 x 1 1/2. It has a 3" wide opening and stands 6" tall. I plan to put it in the hardy so that it sits in about the center of my little anvil. Next step will be making dies (and finishing up the welding). Any other feedback or suggestions welcome, particularly on die shapes, materials and fabbing. For my first go round at a tool of this type, I'm pretty pleased. Can't wait to use it.

Thanks. This did give me a bit of a workout, but I hope to get many years use out of it. Peter - we are definitely on the same page!

I like the forged look. Nicely done.

Some very nice pieces! I've made rose and leaf key chains FOBs out of 1/4" round stock, but that as small as I have actually forged. My wife makes jewelry so just for the heck of it I made some little riveted crosses using 2 different sizes of her aluminum wire. Used a finish nail as my punch for the larger wire that I had hammer flat, and a piece of smaller wire as the rivet. I've discovered her tools are much the same as mine, just on a smaller scale and she just works the metal cold.

Interesting thread, I hope others continue to reply. I have purchased plans but have not yet built one (haven't even had the opportunity to use one).

These remind me of Bruce Engvall - "here's your sign" LOL.

I also enjoy making my own tools but when I first started I was a bit impatient and bought a chisel set much like the one you posted from Harbor freight, less than half the cost of that one though. Its not the best, some I have modified, others used as is, others to be modified still. I just don't have the time to get to scrap yards and could spend more on gas searching than the cost of the set I got. Now, what I did shortly after was purchase a 12 ft stick of 5/8" 4140 f rom my localy steel supplier for about $15. You do the math, I'll have less about a dollar each in tools if I make them ~ 9" to be hand held which is what I did for some. Next I intend to make a handle(s) to use with shorter ones so I only need half or less than that amount to make others. If I can get 25 + tools this way for $15 seems like a pretty good deal to me.

Not related to demo'ing or smithing but this made think back to when I worked at a Dairy in college. There was a city kid that started wroking out there, don't think his feet had ever been in boots and mud til then, it was all new to him. Well we delivered a calf one day whilst he was there. During the process, he stepped away for something and when he returned the calf was out and we had tagged the calf's ear. When he noticed the tag, as sincerely as he could, he asked if the calf was born with it LOL.

Thanks. I am having a harder time getting a good pic than making the crosses LOL. Here's an attempt at another pic, including a middle sized 6x9 cross. No improvement on the pic though.

Wasn't sure where to post this but thought a share a couple of the crosses I am making. These are riveted 1/8" flat stock, textured with a cross pein. These 2 are a 9x13 and a 4x6.

Really like it!

I made this hardy today out of an axle. It was a first attempt for me, no fuller , no flatter, just a cross peen. I am pretty pleased for a 1st try. I really like the way it locks in place and doesn't wobble around. Not the prettiest, but hey function is what counts, right : ) .

Just as an update, I attempted the 3/4 square stock tree first as I already had a piece cut to start with. I got a bit out of sequence and payed for it. I made the split for the roots first, separated and tapered them and was pretty saatisfied when I realized I didn't round the trunk first and now the flared out roots were in the way. So, I decided to bend them back down and out of the way to work on the trunk. Ended up letting one get a bit too cold and snapped it off. Next attempt, I decided to go with 3/4 round as Jim suggested and tapered before splitting. I cut a suitable piece, tapered it down and now its time to split. This is when I realize I have never tried to split round stock and my hold fast just want work. So I decide to give it a go on my portaband which I have mounted to used as a stationary band saw. Terribly slow going for some reason, I'm assuming because I had quenched it. So, my next step will be to either anneal and go back to the saw, and/or make a new hold fast, something I should probably do any way. Since the trees weren't panning out and the forge was hot I decided to do something productive and made a hardy out of an axle, a first attempt for me, and am fairly happy with the results.

Beautiful gate, but I can't help being envious of the table too : )

Very nice!

This is very close to my original plan, I just opted to start with 3/4 square because it offered a little more material and lends itself to 4 way splits. Have been out and about all day, but should be able to give it ago before the weekend is over. Pics will be posted, good, bad or ugly : ) .

The sockets are an awsome idea and cheap enough to find used ones. I have been starting a collection of small pieces of different diameter of pipe which I simply slip over one side of my turning forks. I have been intending to fab up some adjustable forks for the vise, this seems like plenty enough incentive.... I guess I'll have to go by some flea markets now and scrounge up some sockets : ) . I think your exactly right with what Glenn had in mind, and posts like this are one of the main reasons I like this site, so keep them coming!

I'll give the twisting a shot. I'm thinking now I should bundle say 3/8 or 7/16 and smaller 1/4 together. I'm having a little trouble picturing the finished tree if twisted only, I want the trunk to apprear solid. Only one way to find out what will happen...

OK - I have tried to search this out, so if its already been covered please just point me to it, but I am trying to find a method for forging a tree.I have seen forged trees, but just can't find any how to info. I am thinking small scale, like 12" tall or less, and want it to be free standing to be used as a jewelry tree if desired. Ideally I think I want to do it from a single piece in as much as possible. I am ok with welding if thats called for, and assume some will be needed for smaller branches, forge welding is still a developing skill but can be attmepted. What I intend to attempt this weekend is starting with a 3/4" sq hot rolled bar, spliting it into 4ths at the bottom and separating and shaping into the roots/base. Then spliting into halfs and/or thirds from the top to start forming branches. I also thought about taking taking 4 rods of 3/8 or similar, bundling and welding into a trunk and then forming roots and branches above and below. Let me know if either of these seem logical or if I am way off base, or if there is a totaly different approach I sould take.

Great thread. I have to get around to installing a chimney myself and am still determining the best approach when taking material availability, cost and durability into consideration. Several good ideas here.

I have an axe with a synthetic handle, not sure of the exact material, but it provides some flex although not nearly to the degree of the flimsy handle in the video. I do not care for the flex in the handle myself.

Looking forward to watching this build, remember you cant take too many pics : ) .

I'd love to up grade my 70 lb anvil to something the size of the one you have, but theres not too much I can't do on it. My current plan is to fab a striking anvil and believe that paired with my current anvil should actually meet most of my needs. I do agree with knots though and can tell my smaller anvil is absording some of the energy from my blows. As an amateur right now is a matter of whats practical for my needs. What I think I'd really like is a large swage block. If I had a 262 lb anvil already, I think thats where I'd be tempted to spend my $.

Great thread. I have an axle at home I'm trying to work up the courage to make a small hamer or top tool with right now. Maybe this is the inspiration I needed.