brianbrazealblacksmith Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 Here is a forging exercise that can help support your habit. I've earned more money from various different hearts than any other thing I've ever made. This one uses a technique that I learned from Alfred Habermann. I call it the Habermann bend. I know he did not invent it, but he did teach it for more than 25 years to others who have used it since for many different applications. The steps up to the fifth picture can be done in one heat after you do a few. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoCal Dave Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 Thanks for the series of pictures. It sure helps us newbies. Keep doing this type of stuff!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 Simple and elegant. Very nice. Got pics of finished ideas to use the hearts for, or are they the entire project? Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tzonoqua Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 Thanks for that, great sequence. I have also found hearts to be a "best seller" - Valentines of course, and every married couple has an anniversary, and always good for wedding presents! Although I will have to admit I've been doing them in a slightly more complicated way than this! (bend at the top and tapers at the bottom) Will give this a go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianbrazealblacksmith Posted February 7, 2010 Author Share Posted February 7, 2010 Simple and elegant. Very nice. Got pics of finished ideas to use the hearts for, or are they the entire project? Phil That is all I do with them. They can be used as pendants, key rings, or napkin rings. I made 500 of them once for a wedding. They used them as napkin rings and the table gift. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alec.S Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 Wow 500!!that must've been really boring even after the first 10..and they all have to be exactly the same! but the money mut have been rewarding!:lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy seale Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 i need to make some of them, that would get me a attaboy from the ol hay bag....well done,jimmy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianbrazealblacksmith Posted February 7, 2010 Author Share Posted February 7, 2010 Wow 500!!that must've been really boring even after the first 10..and they all have to be exactly the same! but the money mut have been rewarding! A job like that seems overwhelming at first, but after about 10, it's all about the heats and the hits. You start to see what it can be done in, and you get pretty skilled at it. You start to count the hits and race against yourself. It turns into a challenge intead of a job, and it gets done quicker than you ever imagined. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Larson Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 Super demonstration project for me at historic Jerusalem Mill. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Smith Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 Really cool. I like it when someone puts an easy project on here with some step-by-step pictures. I am going to give that a try tomorrow probably. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurlyGeorge Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 Thanks Brian. That will be a nice demo item. Won't take long to make and can be given to someone in the crowd or sold. Good idea. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rokshasa Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 hey brian. thats a nice project,sure someone could turn a quick buck in no time with those. hmmm, is that the same type of bend on your hammer tongs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianbrazealblacksmith Posted February 8, 2010 Author Share Posted February 8, 2010 Yes it is. That bend can be used for many different things. I did some house numbers the other day with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Smith Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 What do y'all mean by "Hammer Tongs" I am not familiar with many tools or terms as I am still a beginner blacksmith. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 check out post 14 and 18 in this thread Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Smith Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 I got it now. I guess that might have sounded like a stupid question though . At first I thought that it was a special kind of tool or something (kinda shows my inexperience). -Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 I got it now. I guess that might have sounded like a stupid question though . At first I thought that it was a special kind of tool or something (kinda shows my inexperience). -Andrew No stupid questions. I just read that thread and saw the pics. I can tell you that altering a hammer head can damage an inadequate set of tongs, I expect making a hammer to be similar. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beth Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 sweet and simple heart brian i really like it - will try to make some thanks for the great shots as usual :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 Pics Beth, Pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul42` Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 Hey Brian... thanks for posting such a great tutorial for us beginners here! That's what I love about this site... everyone is so willing to share ideas & techniques! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wesley Chambers Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 Might not be your everyday Valentines heart, but tastes differ this was a prototype "Twisted-Heart" made from 1"x3/8" tapered/split and twisted, another attempt or two and get it more symmetrical Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bentiron1946 Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 Wes, Is that what your heart feels like before a bungee jump? Interesting 'twist' on the traditional heart, I like it. Brian, I think I'll give that heart of your a try in copper or silver and see how I do. Thanks for tutorial. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianbrazealblacksmith Posted February 8, 2010 Author Share Posted February 8, 2010 Bentiron, I've done these in both copper and silver, and I've found that if you put some wet cardboard in your tong jaws then put a tong clip on so your piece doesn't move, then the cardboard will turn to charcoal and protect your forging from your tongs marking it while you draw the other end out. Then you can do your bending cold, and stiffen it up at the same time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grant Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 Good Morning All 3BS -Very precise as usual. Will you please elaborate on the technique used to forge such nice square corners on your 90? Did you upset any material into the corner? -tks grant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianbrazealblacksmith Posted February 9, 2010 Author Share Posted February 9, 2010 Good Morning All 3BS -Very precise as usual. Will you please elaborate on the technique used to forge such nice square corners on your 90? Did you upset any material into the corner? -tks grant You don't upset the material; you draw it out. If you look in the sequence of the heart, you may notice after the bend the material has been drawn out with a cross pean at the corner. After that, I chose to use a sharp edge of the anvil to form the inside of the bend and struck the outside with the flat of my hammer to bring the corner in line with the original material. The other hearts were done on a rounded edge. You'll notice if you look at the inside of the bend. Thanks for asking the question. This is a simple technique, not just a heart shape. Here is a picture of 3/4" square stock forged the same way, except I left the inside even more rounded. These type of bends can be forged in one heat, and you can make them very sharp or radiused however you choose. It also make a very strong bend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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