Sam Salvati Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 OK, At one of the local scrap places, the guy has a cone mandrel that is 6 feet tal, with a bunch of lettering in the groove, I didn't think much of the lettering but remembered the date, 1885. What would something like that be worth? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imagedude Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 In the UK I've seen similar sized ones sell from between £300 - £800 ($550 -$1500). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan DuBoff Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 The one listed in tailgating sold for $500 recently out west. No, I didn't buy it, but spoke to the person selling it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Salvati Posted December 13, 2006 Author Share Posted December 13, 2006 WOW, that's alot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan DuBoff Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 I've heard $400-$500 is pretty typical when I asked a few folks. They're pretty hard to come by. Like all tools, if you had something you needed to use it for, it's propably indispensible. I don't have anything. :rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Salvati Posted December 13, 2006 Author Share Posted December 13, 2006 Neither do I yet, but I would still like to have one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 I've heard them called "the most expensive coat rack in a smithy!" I've been forging for over 25 years now and have never found a strong enough need for one to shell out the change for one. Of course my stack of rounds for shaping stuff on has grown pretty high over that time. In general I prefer not having the tapered round to bend stuff on. At Quad-State a fellow had some missle nose cones that had failed quality check that they were selling as intermediate sized cones---about 3' high IIRC for very resonable prices, under US$100 IIRC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imagedude Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 They are very easy to make. Simply get some circles cut in 1/4" plate, say 18", 12", 6" and 3". Cut a few lengths of angle iron into 4' lengths. Weld the angle iron to the circles to make a cone mandrel. Easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan DuBoff Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 I've heard them called "the most expensive coat rack in a smithy!"Touche'! There's a couple in my area, I spoke to a gent that has 2 or 3 of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWooldridge Posted December 14, 2006 Share Posted December 14, 2006 I have one that is 4 feet tall with the tong slot up one side. It does not go to a point but ends about 4" in diameter with a square interior to hold a smaller cone - which I don't own. It been in the shop for about 15 years and I have NEVER used it - but as folks have said, it's probably the cat's meow when needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seamus Posted December 14, 2006 Share Posted December 14, 2006 Here's one fellas solution Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Salvati Posted December 14, 2006 Author Share Posted December 14, 2006 I have one that is 4 feet tall with the tong slot up one side. It does not go to a point but ends about 4" in diameter with a square interior to hold a smaller cone - which I don't own. It been in the shop for about 15 years and I have NEVER used it - but as folks have said, it's probably the cat's meow when needed. If you need to make rings, OH BOY ARE THEY EVER!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted December 14, 2006 Share Posted December 14, 2006 Actually a good bender set up with a proper sized die will make better rings in much less time than a cone mandrel and no issue with them wanting to be slanted due to the angle of the mandrel either. Thomas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Salvati Posted December 15, 2006 Author Share Posted December 15, 2006 Hmm, nice picture Seamus thanks! Maybe a wedding cake style one perhaps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Thomas Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 A cone mandrel is NOT for making rings. It is for truing rings. The ring should already be done before you drop it on the mandrel. I have a solid cast 2' mandrel and it is very handy. You don't use it often, but if you have one, it does the job like no other tool... quickly and easily. You don't hit the ring all the way around... you drop in over the mandrel and look for daylight. Wherever you see light, just tap those spots. The rings settles a little lower and in no time you are done. You tap at the bottom of the ring where it makes contact with the mandrel; not in the middle which would cause it to bevel. Usually, it's best to flip it over and do a quick tune up on the other side just to be safe. I would like to have a 4' mandrel but haven't ever had a job which justified that particular expense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shane Stegmeier Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 Too true Ed;-) I always thought that cone madrels were an expensive waste of time, then I had some heavy rings that I need true, and Nothing else does the job as easily. They are really only good for one thing... But for that one process they are the berries, and practically indespensable. I will be making my own or coughing up the painful amount of money for one sometimenext summer I imagine;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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