ptree Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 On Saturday April 28th, the "Brotherhood of Friendly Hammermen" again attacked a large billet with but sledges. The 3" square billet was about 85#, we burned 75# of coal in the heating and it took 5.5 hours for the team to make this split cross. The previos attempt yeilded a cross from 2.5" stock, that has been well recieved. This is practice for when we take this project on the road to Cannelton Indiana. The Cannelton Indiana Heritage festival has invited the Southern Indiana Meteorite Mashers a sattalite group of the Indiana Blacksmithing Association to bring our monthly club meeting to downtown Cannelton for their Heritage festival in October. We plan to make a cross like this one as part of the show. In the photo, from left; Dave Kunkler, Steve King, Jeff Reinhardt and Jason Hardin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptree Posted April 29, 2012 Author Share Posted April 29, 2012 Here are the photos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francis Trez Cole Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 thats a lot of work looks great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironwolfforgeca Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 All I can say is WOW !! :) thats a nice piece & well done also the biggest split cross I've seen yet ?? what was the size of the billet used & length / depth of the per cut's done or is there a formula for those measurements ? again NICELY done folks !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptree Posted April 29, 2012 Author Share Posted April 29, 2012 The Billet was 3" square, and 31" long. Steve Laid that one out and did the cuts so I don't have the demensions. I do have a fourmula that I will post later that I use when I lay them out that you simply multiply the cross section to get the cut lenghts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naz Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 It's quite impressive to see a split cross of that size, nicely done ! I like the hammered texture you guys put in it, you can see the hard work that went into that piece just by looking at it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
territorialmillworks Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 Having made many split crosses, this was not only a huge undertaking (LOL) but well done. Thanks for sharing..........Keith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptree Posted April 29, 2012 Author Share Posted April 29, 2012 As far as we know, biggest ever attempted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy seale Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 that is great, but...i bet you didn't do that with your grandaddys 3# cross pien :D but seriously great job!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptree Posted April 29, 2012 Author Share Posted April 29, 2012 I was swinging somebody's grandaddy 14# cross pien. The hammer I was using was given to me, and was from VOGT were I worked for 21 years. They had a large blacksmith shop up till late 80's. Mine is mstamped HVM for Herny Vogt Machine co, and was made in that shop. No date but I would guess maybe mid 20-30"s. We also had Steves very big straight pein and Dave Kunkler's 12# cross pein. So no, the smallest hammer used was a 12#. The do call us the BFH's :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dillon Sculpture Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 Great work! I'm a bit partial for the big stuff ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
territorialmillworks Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 Hey guys, can you video tape some of the forging at Cannelton....we'd love to see you at work. Cant imagine how you open it up with 3" stock..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
double_edge2 Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 Well spent effort, nice work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old South Creations Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 wow great job! Thanks for sharing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travis Covington Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 Good Job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yesteryearforge Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 Very impressive Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gayle Brooks Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 love it! good job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ten Hammers Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 That is some serious sweat equity in the cross and some SERIOUS heat to open it up and keep it as nice as it looks. Did I miss how it was cut ? Sorry if I did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptree Posted April 30, 2012 Author Share Posted April 30, 2012 Cut on a bandsaw, by Steve, an undertaking in itself. The opening was doen using tools made to grip the arms once a handled cut was used to start the opening. The tools were only 5' long and it took 7 men to open. May not have been as hot through as we thought. Next attemp, longer tools! Next attempt more attention to heat. The arms stayed straight and we never had to adjust an arm to 90 degrees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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