Drewed Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 Just a little light forging with friends. Making a new brick Fancy action shot Beating the heck out of my poor flatter Looks pointy to me Adding a slight adjustment Little taps Making more pointy things Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianbrazealblacksmith Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 Nice stand for that Mousehole anvil, guys. You should dress that flatter. Say, hi, to Aaron for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfootnampa Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 I rarely use my flatter but when I do it is for light final adjustments... do more work with the hammer face before going to your flatter and you'll get done faster and easier IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 Making a brick huh? how many do you need to make a BBQ ? I do agree take more time with your hammer, and you should not need to abuse the flatter anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drewed Posted August 9, 2011 Author Share Posted August 9, 2011 Aaron likes to use top tools? Yeah my poor flatter is quite abused. It is going to spend some vacation time with MR. Vice, and Mrs. Grinder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron J. Cergol Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 Yes, I love my stand that Mr.Lyle made for me. I welded on two tool racks, and will soon be cutting out one side for the sole purpose of doing longer bends. I agree-do as much forging and refining by hand as you can as it's less work in the long run and saves you (top) tools. I'll say though, whatever that bick was made from was awfully tough stuff. Did not move too easily. and yeah, the edges on that flatter were pretty scary-it probably does not have too much life left unless you build it up with weld or the like. the bick we were making started out as a very rough hardy that I found in the scrap pile. It was only about 5" long not including the shank. We ended up drawing it out to around 10" and then I bent it at near 90. I'll have to appologize for the mess in my shop-still in the process of getting situated, but too busy with work to do what needs doing. We've been in the process of doing some tear downs, renovations, and even restoring a few bigger tools littering the floor. All part of the game I suppose. After everyone left, John and I made a flatter. started out with 2" round and upset it on the anvil, then in a swage block till it was about 4" in diameter. next time we forge we'll clean up the lines a little. We actually broke the swage block. This was a very old swage block that I knew was cracked-it was being held together with a large forged U bolt. We've used it many times before, but not that particular hole. Well looking at the block now, we saw the one major crack, but more than a few smaller almost hairline cracks. We still have 4-5 useable pieces/shapes, but have lost the good mass we need. Live and learn I guess; I'll be picking up a larger swage block and matching top tools from a friend in Iowa in two weeks. since we're on the topics of flatters, how would you go about hardening one, if at all? I generally do not harden my top tools, but I think it may be wise to harden this, however I'd have to draw the temper back from the struck end. So heat the face to cherry, quench in a shallow amount of water, and let it temper with the remaining heat, then quench the whole thing in oil once the face is barely straw? Well I'm hoping to be forging tomorrow, but I'm getting all four wisdom teeth pulled at 6am, so we'll see how I'm feeling. Aaron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drewed Posted August 10, 2011 Author Share Posted August 10, 2011 4 teeth pulled? You better stay away from the forge and tooling, you'll be pretty loopy. At least I was. Sigh, my poor flatter.... Anybody got a spare? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron J. Cergol Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 Well got them pulled with no major complications. I'll be on meds for a couple days though. oh well. Why don't you make one? or have yours welded back up...you said you don't use it often-at least for heavy work like we were doing, so after you grind the edges you should fine with it for a little while. If John and I had it, it probably wouldn't last a month more. I've got a couple spares-smaller 2" ones that might be better suited to small work. next time I see you I'll show you the couple spares I have. I have two working ones that you saw and a few in reserves as John and I will go through them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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