GRiley904 Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Here is a couple pics of my fork. It's not pretty, but like the steak turner it taught me allot. It's got hammer marks, hammers aren't dressed, and my channel locks scared up the end where the twist is. I was having trouble forging the tines but a break and a new approach fixed that. One tine is slightly longer than the other because I looked away for a moment and burnt the tip off. Truthfully I almost gave up and sent this one to the scrap pile but I'm glad I didn't. All I know for sure is I'm absolutely in love with the craft and will never stop persuading hot metal to do my bidding Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willis Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Keep it up. None of my fork tines ever come out even. Thats why I bought a bench grinder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yesteryearforge Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 If you forge a taper first then drill a hole and then split . Its almost finished when you split it ( just round up to suit ) and the tines are a lot easier to keep the same length. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 Nice work, forks are challenging. A section of thick walled square tubing makes a nice bridge to work each tine without having to bend the other tine out of the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 Instead of a bridge, I keep my lightest anvil next to my largest; as it has a very nice, very thin heel I can work forks over on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ten Hammers Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 10 blacksmiths, 10 answers. :P Sometimes I hacksaw, sometimes I hot cut. Bigger stuff, sometimes I use the chopsaw. Regardless, I heat bloody hot and fold one tine back. Forge the other by pointing first. I use the holes in the anvil for length references. One other thing, I use a piece of bar stock that has been ground on the end to drive into the crotch of the fork ( yes I have 1/4x1, 3/8x1 and 1/2 x1 to use). I call them radius tools and have written on them with a paint marker. They have holes drilled in them to hang form the table. I also have these in trailer shop box(es). These tools allow me to have a nice smooth transition from tine to tine. This action is of course done in the vise HOT. I have found that doing fork work at lower temps can cause problems (ok final slapping to even up is ok at lower temps sometimes). Will see if I can find and post a pic. Your fork looks very nice for a first time. Keep it up. I might add that when you drive the radius tool into the fork, you should use care. Slipping and driving a red (at least) hot sharp tine into your hand is distracting to say the least. Edit, the pic shows the smooth crotch on the fork (which is made from 3/4 COLD rolled and is about 4 feet long) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRiley904 Posted September 18, 2012 Author Share Posted September 18, 2012 I got a chance to test it out today and guess what... It forks, and those brats were tasty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don A Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 Good job. From your initial description, you can quickly eliminate two of your challenges: 1. Dress your hammer. 2. Forge some tongs. I have found that eliminating the frustration of sub-standard tools is half the battle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MagGeorge Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 Solid built. It will serve well with your food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camero68 Posted October 3, 2012 Share Posted October 3, 2012 Whoever said it’s not pretty? It is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ten Hammers Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 Far as I'm concerned you have an outstanding fork made. Now make a dozen more and use the skills you built on this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredW Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 Nice fork, I see it was tested with hotdogs. i had built a firepit in the back yard and decided to makes some nice roasting forks to go along with it. I tested mine on marshmallows. The first roasted marshmallow i tried to get off the fork with my mouth was the last. There are a lot of nerve endings in your lips apparantly. It provided an awful lot of entertainment for my family. It was also the last time I did that. The forks are now just for hotdogs and brauts. Fred Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Gaddis Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 Congrats on your accomplishments. They are the same building blocks we all are travelling in life. Carry on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRiley904 Posted October 9, 2012 Author Share Posted October 9, 2012 Thank you all for your comments. Fred that is a pretty funny story, I'll be sure not to touch it to my lips. Ten hammers I'm sure I will make plenty and learn from each and every one. Ten hammers, David, Camero your praise means allot to me, in fact all praise means allot to me. Makes me feel warm inside and gives me motivation to keep going, not that I would stop, ever thank you all very much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironman50 Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 The fork really looks good with the hotdogs! I’ll be making something like that anytime soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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