Timothy Miller Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 I have been wanting to make a pair of dividers for years. Its the sort of project for me thats ones mind drifts towards during idle moments. I did not have a proper understanding of how they were originally made in the 18Th and early 19Th centuries so I waited untill I could figure it out. The first attempt was a failure and resulted frustration. I manged to gather together the info of how most kinds were constructed in a general way from catching part of a Peter Ross demo. I Also by looked at my collection and pairs for sale on eBay. I suppose I could have sawed or milled the joint and taken other short cuts, but I wanted to do it in the way they were made during that time period. These have steeled points (old file) and the wing is tennoned and riveted over. The holes were punched hot. The joint is made up of 2 pieces forge welded together then forge welded agian to the leg. In all there are 5 forge welds. I made this from 5/8" mild steel. They are 20 1/2" long, I made them big so I could fully explore the forms involved. I hope to make a few more pairs over the next coming months, so I may further explore the forms and try my hand at more whitesmithing. I see this object as a art object first and secondly as a tool. 95% of the work was done by hand with out the aide of power. I have about 12 hours of forging and filing in this project. This pair is my own design taking elements from many pairs I have looked at over the years. I am obsessed with dividers. I have amassed a collection of over 40 pairs all different sizes and patterns. I don't know what it is about them that I love. I guess it is how they gracefully swing an arc sort of like a dancer sweeping the floor with her foot. Also how one can use them to make and lay out precise measurements with out numbers and or mathamatics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkunkler Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 excellent filework. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevan Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 ...impressive! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marksnagel Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 True craftsmanship. Beautiful piece Tim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don A Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 That is Class A work right there. Very nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macbruce Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 Incredible work....I don't think I would leave em on the table after the layout is finished..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattBower Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 I get it, Tim. I also find wing dividers oddly beautiful. That's a really nice set. Great work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dillon Sculpture Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 Beautiful work, excellent craftsmanship! Get them professionally photographed when you get a chance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Miller Posted January 6, 2012 Author Share Posted January 6, 2012 Thank you for all of the postive words. I will get them photographed when I get the chance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FieryFurnace Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 Great piece Mr. Timothy! Great! Hey if you do another pair sometime, would you mind documenting each step enough for a blueprint. Seems like that would be a great educational piece for the members, and I know it would help me out alot. Also, check out the work of Elmer Roush. He does some great authentic pieces including dividers. http://www.elmerroush.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chichi Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 I also like dividers and have made several. I dont bother to make them this fancy but you have done a sweet job on these. My hat is off to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 I used to find hand forged ones at the Columbus OH fleamarket on a regular basis and added them to my kit. Quite handy when you want to divide something up in an odd number that makes using a scale a pain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restoreman123 Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 Great Job, really like the wing nut and end of the guide detailing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Turley Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 Good job Tim, I'm sending some pics not as a critique or a one-up, just to show how I lucked out while in Chihuahua, Mexico, with my co-author, Marc Simmons.....and so we all can continue our research. I found a set of tools at the Chihuahua flea for a super reasonable price. Each tool is stamped M.H. The dividers are 20.5" long overall, and the double calipers are 28" overall. I've found a good use for dividers is to measure twist lengths while hot. In that way, one avoids center punch marks on the ornamental work. Simmons and my book was published in 1980, and was reprinted in 2009: "Southwestern Colonial Ironwork", Sunstone Press, Santa Fe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Miller Posted February 1, 2012 Author Share Posted February 1, 2012 Thanks Frank. Your book has been an influence on me. I was truly fascinated by the history covered and how blacksmithing was a thread that ran through all of. It was the first really good book I got my hands on about blacksmithing. it really set my head straight to the importance of the blacksmith in times past and the diversity of things made. There is a dog eared copy on my book shelf I got about 15 years ago as a Christmas present. I have read it at least 4 times. I have coveted those dividers and calipers over the years wondering how something so finished came off of an anvil. It was one of the things that motivated me and inspired me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beth Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 well sweet is the word ! anyone who is obsessed about dividers has the thumbs up from me - theyre fantastic timothy, i love the care that youve taken to make this tool a thing of beauty, they will be as good to look at and hold as they will be to use to measure. i also like that there is nothing complicated and mathsy about this tool, it is elegant and simple and functional. and you have made yours easy on the eye too. a lovely project my favourite bit is the rose bud like endy bit ( dont know the real name) and the key. obbsession is the best isnt it ? :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom H Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 Timothy, did you forge weld the steel tips? Are the legs wrought or MS? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJS Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 Peter Ross has a video out on "Forging a Compass," and I know I have seen articles on how he does the more complicated hinges for the wing dividers and compasses before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notownkid Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 Extremely Nice, Excellent! Frank, Sorry I missed seeing yours as well, Again nicely done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seldom (dick renker) Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 nice work, tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 Wonderful work, Tim. These are the kind of pictures I like to show new smiths to remind them of just what a blacksmith can do. You did a masterful job and I'm sure they'll be a joy to work with over the years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogueRugger Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 Extremely fine work! I'm curious how you worked the finial of the guide? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRigoni Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 Nicely done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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