easilyconfused Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 Since they're usually quick items, easy to make and relatively good sellers, I did a search and didn't find a thread on this so, in an effort to conglomerate inspiration for beginner and advanced smiths alike, lets see those key rings! Here's one I recently did. Raised veins and baked paraffin wax treated. Yes, that is a twoonie for those that don't know Canadian currency. :p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Maple Forge Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 That is very nice! I am sorry, but as of yet, I havn't even tried to make a keyring... But looking at yours is inspiring!:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Ameling Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 (edited) Here's a group I made up for a small town festival. I gave them to be used as Door Prizes. And I've had a number of inquiries since then. I just did it to help out the town festival. But that "advertising" does pay off. The little fishes were initially cut out with a pattern plasma cutter. Jay over at Big River Forge came up with the pattern in larger sizes for some of his lawn-art stuff. And then we shrunk it down for keyrings. Mikey - that grumpy ol' German blacksmith out in the Hinterlands Edited April 21, 2009 by Mike Ameling switched to that linked thumbnail picture I keep forgetting to use Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DKForge Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 Nice Looking key rings Mike! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
48willys Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 One of the few I made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quang0 Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 Forged from 16mm (5/8") sq. bar, holds the keys to the blacksmiths' workshop. Cheers, Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DClaville Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 very nice might make make one of iron but have for a long time been using ones made from para cord DC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
primtechsmith Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 Paul... Nicely done on the anvil! Got any pics of you making it, or sketches, or willing to do so??? That is one of the best I have seen forged out! Peyton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Ameling Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 (edited) Many years ago, I made up a simple story-board of forging a leaf keyring. I made it up to bring along when doing a demo. It helped explain the steps/stages I was working on - without having to repeat myself too often. And, at the time I made this up, I was still using a spring fuller to neck in behind the lump that will become the leaf. Now I just lay it over the corner of the anvil and fuller it in that way - quicker/simpler. Leaf keyrings are a good project for a public demo at something like a threshing/steam engine show. You can generally get one made up within 5 to 20 minutes - depending upon how much you talk and show the people. And you can complete it before the attention span of kids gets tooo stretched! But I usually end up giving them away at the shows. There is usually some little kid there intently watching it get formed/forged out. Or some cute girl watching. One time I had a young girl (around 5 or 6) watching while her parents were a few yards over talking about some old gas engines with another guy at his display. You could see the ... excitement/amazement ... in her eyes as that bar of metal took shape - with lots of running commentary. When I finished it, I put that ring on it and then handed it to her to look at. And then I told her she could have it. She beamed that smile, said a thank you, and went bubbling over to her mom to show her. A minute later she came back and handed it back to me. She said she ... did not have any keys to put on it! I smiled and suggested to her that maybe her mother had some keys and might like it. Another beaming smile and thank you, then off she went skipping over to her parents. Aaah, the simple thoughts and world of children. Mikey - that grumpy ol German blacksmith out in the Hinterlands p.s. My friends and I have sold the leaf keyrings at the threshing show demonstrations. Pricing has been a little ... funny ... with them. At $3 each they will sell all day, and almost as fast as you make them. At $4, people think about it a while before they buy. At $5 or $6, they tend to pass them by. At $8 or $10, other people start to get interested in them (but want to dicker a bit). When Jay had the Big River Forge retail store open, we sold them for $10. At that low price they are viewed more as a fun souvenir of the show. At the higher price they are viewed as an art/sculpture piece, but you will sell fewer. But too often people see them as just a ... trinket. So I tend to give away more of them - to people who really do appreciate them. Edited April 21, 2009 by Mike Ameling bad spellin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jura T Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 I've got a small bottle opener holding my shop key. However, after seeing Paul's anvil, I just have to try to copy it at some point. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfshieldrx Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 Forged for my wife a while ago. 5/16 inch round bar if I remember right:p bart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Hammer Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 These are a few I made... The leaf is etched wrought iron. The hat is mild steel. The others are damascus made with a nicholas file and band saw blade materials. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 I make a lot of these, once the families keys are all set they tend to end up as zipper pulls on jackets and back packs. Hardly get a forging session in that doens't include yet another leaf keyring. Michael Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianbrazealblacksmith Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 Here are some different key chains/bottle openers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pault17 Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Here are a few things I did a while back. I like the horseshoe because (1) it was the first thing I ever got an actual order for - the lady I gave this one to asked me to make her a dozen more. it is made from 1/4 square stock and is pretty straight forward. the hammers in the other picture are pretty neat too - heads from 1/4 aquare and the handles from 1/8 round tapered and driven through a drilled hole. Brian, I am almost embarrassed to be following your post. but you definitely provide something to aspire to, that's for sure paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianbrazealblacksmith Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Paul, those are nothing to be embarassed about. I especially like the little hammers! I've had the opportunity to make lots of key chains and bottle openers. When I was in Austria, they had me make hundreds of them for the museum's gift store. I could make 100 horse head key chains,finished, in an 8 hour day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quang0 Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 No pics or sketches at present, when I next knock one out I'll try to remember to take the camera with me. It's not that hard to do the only tools I used are a hot-sett and a pair of fullers (top & bottom). I'll try to explain the process... from memory I started with a piece of 16mm (5/8") sq. about 60mm (2 3/8") long, then I upset one end to form the base/feet. Then from the top (with it standing vertically on it's feet) I hot-cut slightly off centre (the bigger side becomes the horn) about 20mm deep (3/4") and spread them into a T shape to form the face. Then it's just a matter of forging the heal and horn to shape and fuller in the waist and feet. I drilled the hardy and pritchel holes, then drifted the hardy hole square. Dress it up with a file or linisher and you're done. Cheers, PaulPaul... Nicely done on the anvil! Got any pics of you making it, or sketches, or willing to do so??? That is one of the best I have seen forged out! Peyton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Ameling Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Several lady friends showed me the ... use ... they found out for the leaf keyrings I gave them. They use them to help open their pop-top beverage cans! Instead of sliding/using their long fingernails to pull up the tabs. Just slip the leaf under the tab and pull/lever up. Works for them. Mikey - that grumpy ol' German blacksmith out in the Hinterlands p.s. I generally use 3/8 round rod for my leaf keyrings. About 1 1/2 inches of it makes a good leaf if you hammer it right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andgott Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Here are a couple- A Ginko leaf, An elf head, and a willow leaf... I've made a number of them, But they don't hang around long- They are popular! I like to keep a few around as gifts for unexpected occasions... -Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myloh67 Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Quango, ..nice key ring. Some anvils were in the past made by blacksmiths using wrought iron and tool steel face plates welded on, all done with fire welding heats by my standards totally off the wall and remarkable. I know that a lot of us know this. If it is possible a photo documented process of the key ring, or a drawing would be much appreciated. A jewellery version of a blacksmiths made anvil made by a blacksmith. Kinda quirky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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