LA9436

Hello! I am trying to make a large batch of hearts (seen on the anvil below) and would like to make the process as efficient as possible. I can taper the ends and bend the middles quite well at this point but I am still struggling to get consistent results bending the ends around into the middle. I have made 2 tools (shown in the pictures) but the tool on the anvil causes the ends of the bar stock to twist when I hit it with the hammer, and the tool in the vice loses grip of the tapered end of the stock. Is there a better/faster way I can bend the ends of the stock?

Thank you for the replies. Thank you gm for making my aware of the sure shot. This looks very convenient and I will likely purchase one regardless. Dipping sounds like it is the preferred method. Does this method have to be timed right, or can the metal be dipped even if the oil will evaporate upon contact? What bristle material would you recommend Frosty? I would also like to try this method.

A quick question, Are there any basic tips or tricks to applying linseed oil to hot metal? I am trying to apply the oil to a piece of 40mm x 3mm x 500mm bar stock (1.5'' x 1.1'' x 19.6'') but I can't get an even coverage. Some parts of the bar stock will be very black, and other parts look like they barely have any oil on them. Here are the steps I take; 1. I heat the metal as evenly as I can. 2. I move the metal onto my anvil 3. I soak some linseed oil into a rag and then gauge the heat of the metal by seeing if the oil evaporates when applied. 4. As soon as the metal is cool enough to not evaporate the oil, I quickly wipe the metal with lots of oil. Am I doing something wrong? And a side question, would it be more practical to use a spray bottle instead of a rag?

Useful advice Anvil, and with pictures! Just out of curiosity, why do you not want to use a countersink?

Ah yes, I was trying to be polite but this makes sense. Thank you.

I apologise LeeJustice, I believe I jumped to conclusions, says a lot about my state of mind at the time. Thank you for the advice Irondragon, I do use a file to connect the 2 holes but at my skill level, the drill bit does a much better job at getting a rounder circle than I ever could with a file. Ill bear that in mind Thomas! Got it! Frosty And thank again for the detailed instructions !

I agree, using a reamer to make a mounting hole is overkill, but this will be my first product, I was just looking for the best result possible. Do you mean the drill press or the reamer has a lot of run out?

Amazing! Thank you for helping me.

Thank you for the replies. I am trying to drill some 12mm holes so this 3mm flat bar can be hung on a wall using mounting screws. As you can see in the image, the circle is not quite up to snuff. I suspect this might be the cause Frosty, as the vice is not actually clamped down at all. Great advice, if it does not help me this time, I am sure this information will help me in the near future! Thank you Randy! This made me laugh Swedefiddle.

I am sorry I am confused. Wouldn’t a more precise diameter result in a rounder hole that a drill bit can achieve?

I see Glenn. I am Sorry LeeJustice if I misinterpreted what you wrote, I assumed when you wrote ''I found this quite quickly'', that you were implying it didn't take much effort to find the information, and therefore, implying I didn't look very hard. If I am wrong, it certainly wouldn't be the first time!

Hey Nodebt! Simply trying to get a rounder hole than my drill bits can achieve in a 3mm mild steel bar. From what I have read, the 11.8mm and 15/32 drill bits should be fine, but I have also learnt that there is a very small tolerance between choosing a too small and too large. I know one of those drill bits will technically be a better choice over the other, I just want to be sure because I have to buy them in batches of 5. A bernardo tb 14T. I know he was Nodebt, it was just how he said it.

I appreciate your help LeeJustice, I could have done without the lowkey derogatory statement though. I also found these charts but I do not know how to use them. Please can you tell me the difference between nominal, 2% and 3%? I am still very new to the world of metal working. I have heard it is easy to go either too big or too small.

I am looking to buy a 12mm reamer bit for my drill press. Should I use a 11.5mm, 11.8mm or 15/32 inch drill bit to pre-drill the hole? I have been googling for a while now to no avail.

Thank you for the replies. Useful information, especially for a noob like me! Unfortunaly not Irondragon, but thank you anyway.