March 21, 201610 yr My first two bottle openers. If you look closely, one was going to be a pineapple twist but I stopped at just twisting one direction so it has a funky extra twist look. The other is all about more practice.
March 28, 201610 yr I was bored today and decided to do a bottle opener playing with a couple of different textures that I frequently use, though never in the same piece. Each texture was applied using it's own modified hammer. The bulk of it is a sort of parallel groove pattern that I typically use to emulate a woody/bark type finish. The other texture, set off by parallel grooves across the handle, is a random crosshatch patter. The tricky part was containing that crosshatch pattern within the limits of the parallel grooves. Sorry but the latter pattern doesn't render well in this photo.
March 28, 201610 yr A few of my openers. The harpoon ones go like hotcakes. They're my take on a style that several people came to me asking about. I didn't feel comfortable duplicating it, so changed it some.
March 28, 201610 yr 3 minutes ago, Nobody Special said: You can get a neat texture effect like that by running your chisel or grinder w cutoff wheel into the face of a hammer and using it as a struck tool. Make a poll or heat treat as needed, but it lets you put consistent bark patterns in using one or two strikes instead of lots. Can use it for lots of textures. A few of my openers. The harpoon ones go like hotcakes. Yes, that's all true, but in nature bark patterns are not consistent, they are pretty random and that's why I use a hammer rather than a struck tool.
March 28, 201610 yr Yessir, and I modified my comment when I was playing in the show me hooks forum, and realized you were already using something like and I hadn't read the post close enough.
March 29, 201610 yr Nuge, those look alot like some of the dratings that my wife does. Really well done
March 30, 201610 yr Playing with flat stock today... Flat stock is quick and easy to crank out openers.
March 31, 201610 yr I was just splitting the horns to start another bull's head bottle opener when one of the visitors, a little girl said, 'Can you make a dragon like Smaug?' I think she had been watching a Hobbit movie. I have never made a dragon so I split the horns a bit further and gave it a try. It looks a bit 'bullish' but I was happy with it for a first go. I need to make it look a bit craggier and fiercer ... and has anyone forged a dragon with a tongue sticking out?? That would be a challenge.
March 31, 201610 yr 11 hours ago, ausfire said: I have done tongues on dragons. I forge them as a separate piece, then drill an appropriate sized hole in the mouth and sweat solder the tongue in with silver solder. Edited March 31, 201610 yr by beammeupscotty
March 31, 201610 yr FABA how-to pages has a few examples. http://www.blacksmithing.org/CB-Archive/2006/2006-01-cb.pdf
April 6, 201610 yr I like the dragons! I started making some Bulldog openers: Me and my son have make a few of these together, good times.
April 6, 201610 yr Great bulldogs From the photo they look to be folded from about 3/4 x 1/4 stock. Is that right?
April 6, 201610 yr 34 minutes ago, ausfire said: Great bulldogs From the photo they look to be folded from about 3/4 x 1/4 stock. Is that right? Thanks ausfire. Actually they are from 1" x 3/16"
April 12, 201610 yr Great job! I remember seeing a video on YouTube of guys forging a bulldog coat hook, but a bottle opener is a great idea too!
April 12, 201610 yr 31 minutes ago, Forging Carver said: Great job! I remember seeing a video on YouTube of guys forging a bulldog coat hook, but a bottle opener is a great idea too! Thanks! I saw that video a long time ago too, inspired me to try them.
April 12, 201610 yr Simple is good. It needs more wire brushing and a finish but everything that opens a bottle is there. Nicely done. Frosty The Lucky.
April 12, 201610 yr A good tip i got is to get yourself a block brush if you want to get a lot, and most, of the scale off a piece. In my personal experience, a welding brush doesnt get a lot of the scale off. It all depends on the finish you are going for though.
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.