ThomasPowers Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 I don't use the hardy hole or horn making bottle openers; so I don't understand? "There is only 1 *right* way to do blacksmithing and that is *ANY* *WAY* *THAT* *WORKS*!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 I think Bonnskij means that the absence of a hardy hole makes it harder to punch and drift the hole, and the absence of a horn makes it harder to forge out the ring over its tip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 A collection of large hex head nuts can help punch and drift on a flat surface as can putting the drift "head" on the anvil face and pushing the work piece down on it---again a hex nut dropped over the drift can help. Of course making a bickern is a nice thing to do if you will be needing one a lot. A bolster plate with ascending sized holes helps too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnskij Posted November 12, 2021 Share Posted November 12, 2021 That's it. I keep on accumulating improvised tools and things. But at the moment, though the traditional ring style bottle opener is quite doable, it would just be a very inefficient design for me to make. So on bottle openers, instead of being inventive on the tool side of things, i've decided to be inventive on the product side to get around the challenges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 12, 2021 Share Posted November 12, 2021 By shear luck I have managed to find a bolster plate of 1/2" steel with ascending sized holes drilled in it at my local scrapyard. (I keep it by the screwpress and use more "improvised" bolsters at the anvil(s).) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JD V Posted July 9, 2023 Share Posted July 9, 2023 My handy bottle opener made from a valve lifter rod off an old steel wheel IH tractor. The fingers kept bending after about a six pack so I heated and quenched in water then tempered to a straw color and no more bending. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim695 Posted July 9, 2023 Share Posted July 9, 2023 Thats a really cool bottle opener JD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted July 9, 2023 Share Posted July 9, 2023 Nice work JDV. I like the added thumb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted July 10, 2023 Share Posted July 10, 2023 Great bottle opener, could also serve as a scratcher for those little itches you can't quite reach. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sails. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JD V Posted July 10, 2023 Share Posted July 10, 2023 Thanks for the compliments, as a cowboy horseshoer (not a farrier mind you) I'm really enjoying using the forge for something a little less like work. Nothing like going from shoeing a draft team to making a bottle opener. I had a friend say it was a backscratcher for a leprechaun. As someone who grew up near the Pryor mtns and the Apsáalooke (Crow) reservation I thought it would be a good offering for the 'little people." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 10, 2023 Share Posted July 10, 2023 I love your scratchy bottle opener JDV. Welcome aboard, glad to have you. I get the feeling you're going to fit right in here. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anvil Posted July 15, 2023 Share Posted July 15, 2023 very nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hefty Posted July 16, 2023 Share Posted July 16, 2023 I've been smithing for 4 or 5 years now, but I've never been able to spend a lot of time smithing consistently, days in a row, so today I finally forged my FIRST EVER bottle opener!! I was able to really enjoy it as a first experience because I have more knowledge of the basics now so even though it was my first opener, it wasn't my first slit and drift, or my first use of a ball punch, or my first forged ring, so there wasn't all that extra stress. Made from reo (rebar) that my son brought home from his apprenticeship. Might give it to his boss as a thankyou for taking him on. Thanks for looking! Cheers, Jono. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted July 16, 2023 Share Posted July 16, 2023 Nice job Jono. Sounds like a nice gift idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimw3326 Posted July 16, 2023 Share Posted July 16, 2023 Made this for my daughter who was big into GoT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott NC Posted July 27, 2023 Share Posted July 27, 2023 I like that, but does it require a sideways motion to uncap the bottle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hefty Posted July 28, 2023 Share Posted July 28, 2023 I 'm guessing, but I think the punched lip and the leaf both lift the edge of the bottle cap together. Am I right, Jim? Cheers, Jono. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davor Posted July 28, 2023 Share Posted July 28, 2023 Made for myself, a little collection of animal bottle openers. After I realised I had given all of them away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les L Posted July 28, 2023 Share Posted July 28, 2023 Davor, I like all of them, great job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimw3326 Posted July 29, 2023 Share Posted July 29, 2023 On 7/27/2023 at 11:53 AM, Scott NC said: I like that, but does it require a sideways motion to uncap the bottle? Nope, tail barb and divot go under the cap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott NC Posted July 29, 2023 Share Posted July 29, 2023 Sorry, Jimw3326. Sometimes I miss the plainly obvious. It is a nice design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mothman_c3w Posted August 12, 2023 Share Posted August 12, 2023 I have accumulate a few hundred pounds of industrial roller chain in various sizes. The individual links make really fantastic bottle openers. It's a fast, easy project that has that cool industrial salvage factor. Pictured here are bottle openers made from Size 140 chain. I have made them from Size 140, 160, and 200. The openers made from the Size 140 links are my favorite because they are big enough to be a statement, but small enough to carried in a pocket without discomfort. The Size 200's are pretty much wall hangers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rich_c Posted August 13, 2023 Share Posted August 13, 2023 I made these recently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rich_c Posted August 14, 2023 Share Posted August 14, 2023 The two bottle openers are made from mild steel. The hook-shaped bottle opener was made from 3/8-inch round bar. The “loop” shaped bottle opener was made from 1/4-inch by 1-inch flat bar. The leaf beneath then is made from copper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davor Posted August 15, 2023 Share Posted August 15, 2023 Mothman_c3w that is a great idea, I like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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