Ranchmanben

Calfroper, I've had a pretty full plater this week and haven't had a chance to build a hanger. I know Mr. Turkey's book advice is probably your best route but if you're anything like me, you want to see something to get the general idea and then figure it out for yourself. Another idea for a resource is a a DVD of how Billy Klapper builds his one piece spurs. He's got a lot of equipment and some very specialized tools but it will give you a very good idea on how each part is made even if us mortal men don't have his shop and have to make do with hammers and files.

I've drooled over many an anvil he has sold. But really, aren't they all beaters? Ben

I've got tips on bending the hangers but I'm not very good at describing things. I don't know how gung-ho you are to get these built but if you can give me til next week, I'll bend a couple and take pictures of the process for you. If you're just looking for a reason to uses those rasps, have at it! Rasps are decent material and there's always a use for good steel. I'm actually toying with the idea of building a set of one piece spurs. That's what got me into pounding steel to begin with. I quickly learned that isn't a beginner project and gave up. I'm hoping my skill set is now up to the task. If I do that, I'll probably start in the next couple of weeks as time allows, I'll take pictures of the process. Ben A really good material for making bands that can be had for free is the angle iron from a bed frame. It's better steel than mild steel and if I'm not mistake is close to spring steel carbon. Just thought I'd throw that out there. Ben

The hangers are the part that swivel that the button attaches to. I'll add a picture of a hanger. I've not made and spurs out of rasps. They're not really my style and I don't want to spend the time grinding down bands to a suitable thickness. What you say about the shanks makes perfect sense though. If I was going to do that, I'd anneal the pieces of rasp that are to be the shanks then rough them out with the harbor freight portable band saw. Then I'd tack the two pieces together and grind them very close to the final shape. Then I'd weld the edges with a wire feed if available. What ever method you choose for welding, I'd use plenty of anti-splatter spray. After the weld, anneal them again so the metal doesn't end up too hard to drill the hole for the rowel pin. As I said, rasp spurs aren't really my style but I've seen a lot of them both good and bad and can offer a pointer from what I've noticed on the better ones. Pay attention to the direction of the teeth. Make sure the teeth go the same direction on each side. If the teeth on the outside of the bands cut towards the rowel, make sure the teeth on that side of the shank do the same. If you are using one piece for the band, the teeth on the inside of the band will cut towards the toe of your boot and that side of the shank should do the same. The best looking rasp spurs I've seen are made of two halve connected at the shank and all the teeth, inside and out, point in the same direction. In my opinion, you want your band to end up around 3/16" thick but using a steel like a rasp might allow you to go a little thinner for a lighter spur and still have a springy band. Ben Outside of hanger on a purchased set of spurs Inside of a hanger I built.

The only reason I can think of for heavier silver would be deep engraving. I used what was handy. As you said, spurs aren't terribly difficult but there are some things that do require some thinking. The hangers come to mind, I had to do a few practice hangers before I got some I liked. If you got any questions let me know. Ben

Personally, I'd use nickel silver. A pair is spurs is something close to the ground and therefore constantly getting beat up. Not much point is using the premium material when you can't tell the difference and they're going to get covered in dirt and...other things. As you get better you might want to mount a pair with sterling as a set of wall hanger. Here's a pair I built last year. The nickel silver is a little heavy on these, 16gauge for most and 14gauge for my name.

I'm lucky enough to work on a ranch where the owner built a barn to use as a workshop, garage and tractor storage. He let me build everything as I wanted and doesn't mind if I do my metal pounding in there. Ben

Hi fellas. Unfortunately I wasn't a picture taker until somewhat recently and have learned to do my with my phone. I've looked around for some of my early projects and little is left as I threw them away in disgust. I'm sure I'll be able to locat a few eventually to post in the first work thread. I'm still working on learning to post pictures without having to ask the obvious question. I might as well give it a try here with a couple of things I've recently made. The other pictures I hope to put in their appropriate thread. Ben P.s. Like many others, I've finally decided to become an active member because I need help. More specifically with a certain style of tongs. I'll be making a thread about that in the tong section. Key hooks made for my neighbor. The wood is mesquite that came out of the firewood pile.. My first handled hot cut Tried my had at a rose on Valentine's Day for The Lady.

Hello all, I've been lurking here for quit a while and reading a lot. I figured it's about time I start contributing. Ive been pounding on metal off and on for a few years when I get a chance. That's about it for me. Ben

Howdy Pancho, I'm really sorry to here about the loss of grass. I hope all your livestock survived. I put out round bales daily and have quit using a regular knife because I got tired of sharpening. The folding utility knives might not be the most glamorous but they're the best tool for the job. Hope y'all get some rain soon.