easilyconfused Posted October 13, 2006 Share Posted October 13, 2006 Has anyone had any success with necking down a piece of square tubing and keeping it square? I've done it with round pipe but have an idea that IMO would look better with square tubing. Would filling it with sand work or just be and explosion waiting to happen? Thanks, Ryan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamp Fox Posted October 13, 2006 Share Posted October 13, 2006 Can you put a piece of metal inside the tube and use it as a monkey tool of sorts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easilyconfused Posted October 13, 2006 Author Share Posted October 13, 2006 apprenticeman, I mean tapering/fullering it down like you do when you make the pipe roses. I want to keep it square though without collapsing the sides and folding them up. This is the blueprint for making the rose out of square pipe.http://www.iforgeiron.com/Blueprints_300-400/p2_articleid/228 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Thomas Posted October 13, 2006 Share Posted October 13, 2006 Ryan: It is actually surprisingly easy to forge square tubing. You must keep the steel hot and remember that the only places you can actually "forge" are the side walls, because they are supported whereas the middle is not. So devote your attention to forging the two sides of the square (as you look straight down at the anvil) rather than hitting in the middle. You must rotate the piece often and watch the sides. If they start to bulge outward or inward at all, turn the piece again. It is a little bit like trying to forge a pair of wide flat bar... like a lawnmower blade. Forge straight down on the sides of the tube like they are these flat bars on edge. Take your time, heat often, and watch what you are doing. Lighter hammer strokes seem more effective to me. You do not need sand. Do not use anything inside the tube as a mandrel. All you will succeed in doing is thinning the walls, and might get it stuck. Obviously, the thicker the walls of the tubing the easier it is. Try it on some scrap. It is very straightforward. If you want to isolate a section (possibly what you mean by "necking down") All the above applies as you use fullers instead of direct striking with a hammer. Keep it hot, watch it closely the entire time and rotate often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easilyconfused Posted October 13, 2006 Author Share Posted October 13, 2006 Ed, If I'm getting your right, you hit the sides like so. (The + are the hammer blows). +*******+ ||======|| ||********|| ||======|| Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Thomas Posted October 13, 2006 Share Posted October 13, 2006 Ryan: Yes, that is what I meant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamp Fox Posted October 13, 2006 Share Posted October 13, 2006 Go with Ed's suggestion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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