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Posted

Show us the handle(s) you put on things.

Loop handles, twisted handles, braided handles, animal heads etc. Describe how they are made if it is not readily apparent..

Posted

Some more twists notes, but using multi strands that we covered on this weekends course at Westpoint.



Cage Twists may be of various numbers of elements, the most common being four strand, 6 strand or 8 strand elements, square or round bars for the elements may be used

A six element cage twist using round bars, with the ends forge welded together prior to twisting, and scarfing to attach to other elements

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In making this type of twist, there is a tendency for the centre to collapse in if it is not supported. To provide this support, in effect the pre assembly prior to fire welding consists of one central core bar, with the six elements around this central core’s periphery. All these elements being the same diameter, The central core is made up of a series of short lengths with spaces between that will fall out when the twist is undone to give the cage effect.
Method used is to assemble the bundle with the central core as described, and secure the bundle however is convenient: wire, tongs, screw expansion clips(Jubilee type), or even a spot of electric based weld

Forge weld each end to a solid piece. Heat and twist the piece a number of turns, giving an even twist along its length, then whilst at an even heat along its length (reheat if needed) reverse or undo the twist whilst compressing with pressure and this will force the cage out to shape allowing the small spacer pieces from the central core to fall out. If needed, you can then adjust the spacing using tongs, or other suitable tool, (think along the lines of a wide screwdriver blade with a ‘T’ handle to insert between the strands and as you twist it, it will open them up) Various shapes can be made with this method,

There are other methods if you wish to produce a more spherical appearance.

Briefly they can be made by making the required number of elements into a preformed shape ie a semicircle on a horizontal bar, these are then positioned in the required segmental position, in a bundle, secured and forge welded together at each end, the centre then heated to an even heat and then the twist is introduced.

This method is also useful to produce a conical form of twist, or other desired form.

More multi element twists, again all the same, just manipulated differently


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The basis for all the above effects is merely two bars twisted together, the total effect gives an excellent handle and bar decoration feature for use in various situations



Take a bar (5mm diameter x 275mm long in this illustration), bend it back onto itself from its centre and align them adjacent, or you could use two bars of the same length and weld one end to secure them together

Heat and twist a known determined length, a known number of twists along its length.

Repeat this to produce in this instance, four identical items. (You could use three, or five also)

Place these four identical items together and secure as a bundle, and forge weld the ends together.

Take this assembly heat and twist, as illustrated you can see how this alters the appearance of the completed item.

Braided twist.

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The same twist, just made tighter

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If this lower one was twisted more it would give something in appearance that could be used to represent


Corn on the Cob


Again the same applies to this version, apart from the final twist


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Take a bar (5mm diameter in this illustration), bend it back onto itself from its centre and align them adjacent, or you could use two bars of the same length and weld one end to secure them together

Heat and twist a known determined length, a known number of twists along its length. Possibly not as tight as the previous examples. (your choice, it does alter the overall effect)

Repeat this to produce in this instance four identical items.

Place these four identical items together and secure as a bundle, and forge weld the ends together.

At an even heat twist as required, to produce a braided twist

Then at an even heat, instead of twisting in the same direction as the original twists, the forge welded and twisted bundle is twisted in the opposite direction, opening up the chain effect.

  • 4 weeks later...
Posted

Here are some more pictures of handles made by some of our members on various items and on sale and display at the Craft shows we attend.

Most are self explanatory, however if you need more details, please feel free to ask.

Enjoy


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Posted

John,
That is a great collection of handles. Could you explain the process of the handle in the 11th photo. It appears to have 4 rods at the blade but I cant see how two of them are terminated. Just want to be sure I understand it.
Thank you,

Dick

Posted

Can you describe how the socketed handles are formed. Is the socket a separate piece that is later brazed on or? How is the ball shape at the base of the socket formed. Very nice.
Thanks.

Posted

John,
That is a great collection of handles. Could you explain the process of the handle in the 11th photo. It appears to have 4 rods at the blade but I cant see how two of them are terminated. Just want to be sure I understand it.
Thank you,

Dick


Hi Dick, I will (try to) go through the whole process, (no dimensions so you may need a practice run or a mock up) this particular braid is best done using a localised heat source rather than in the forge.

Consider first you make the braided handle,

Two pieces of round bar, one longer than the other by the length needed to form the hanging eye (For use on firetools)

Form the eye, a complete circle (around a mandrel of desired diameter), in the centre of the length of the long bar,

Secure this eye in the vise

Place the second bar with its centre on top of, and at 90 degrees to eye in the vise

Locally apply heat and pull the two ends (tails) from the eye secured in the vise to wrap around the second bar and bring them horizontal, securing this second bar in position to start the rest of the wrapping.

Leave these, apply local heat and do the same again with the second bar's tails

Keep repeating this sequence until the required length of handle is reached.

If you have to straighten it, then heat the lot, and use a wooden mallet and wooden block to straighten it.
Place it on the wood block and just rotate and hit as you go, keeping the eye off the edge of the block.

Cut off any surplus leaving enough length to form a weld to whatever you want to put on the tool, this weld could be forge welded or other weld,

Prepare the tool/blade piece for welding,

Weld the two together and dress in.

The one pictured would appear to have been electric welded and dressed.

Hope this is clear enough to follow.

It is a really simple but very effective braid to do.
Posted

Thanks John,
I enjoy doing braids of all kinds and will surely give this one a try next time I get some forge time. I think I've got it. At this point I need to try it to have more questions :)

Dick

Posted

Can you describe how the socketed handles are formed. Is the socket a separate piece that is later brazed on or? How is the ball shape at the base of the socket formed. Very nice.
Thanks.


Hi Chichi,

I think you have sussed it out, but lack the confidence to go ahead and try it, they are what you see, and there are various ways of making these. Basically they are a modified cala lily with attachments.

Going from the pictures, these were probably made by made forming the cone out of sheet steel, and welding them to the stem,

a collar can then be forge welded around the join and formed into the ball or other embellishment.

An alternative would be to make the funnel with the end feature on then drill and tap the feature and screw on the tool's shaft to give a clean joint where they meet.

You could also have machined features to braze or weld on or otherwise attach, But we are verging on metalworking here rather than pure on the anvil blacksmithing

Hope this helps.

Make them how you want, so long as they look good are well finished and you are happy with them that's fine, and if someone wants to buy them at the right price for you, then thats even better.

They can be made by jumping up the end of the bar and forge welding on the collar/ball(s) spreading bar end and form the cone.
This method will give a different character to the overall finish.

What makes the ones pictured look so stunning is there almost mechanically made look and the finish on them.
Posted

Having an English wife, and having been over there many times. I have a pretty good idea of what the value of your Lb. (sorry this comp.don't have a sterling symbol) is. I was most impressed with the prices for the examples shown. VERY impressed! Americans, multiply the number on those price tags by 2 to get a rough idea of what that is in $ !!!!!

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