December 11, 201213 yr Got these nails figured out, I forge a ball on a stem using a ball spring swage, then just taper the stem and put it in my slowly evolving swage block and head it over. You only need a hole in a block, not a header if your upset head is big enough to give and form a shoulder. Just mild steel.
December 11, 201213 yr Nice job Sam, I made something similar at Stans hammer-in on his LG 100# power hammer. I kept what I called a pin with a 1/2" round had, made it using ball swage, round tapper, but now you gave me an idea for different application. Unfortunately after all the work I was talking to by brother in law and burnt the pin first in half, forge welded it back together, then burnt the head of it, and that was that. Started a new one since, with a square tapper, I wanted to make a spiral latter holder, also you could easily make a banana holder, cup holder, etc. I will try and finish my new one but not easy with out a ball swage, maybe my friend Stan can make me few ball swadges of various sizes (5/8", 1/2", 3/4", 1"), for that he already said I need to make a trip to IL.
December 11, 201213 yr Well you could as easily make them with a header and I don't see the advantage of a spring swage??? Just start with thick enough stock to give enough mass for the head and then draw down from there. That's how I do it. What is the difference between smashing a cylinder and smashing an orb?
December 11, 201213 yr Author Well you could as easily make them with a header and I don't see the advantage of a spring swage??? Just start with thick enough stock to give enough mass for the head and then draw down from there. That's how I do it. What is the difference between smashing a cylinder and smashing an orb? BFNampa, I make them from the little lollipops because I use them for alot of different things, nice to have a bunch of pieces sitting around that can be turned into 10 different things from one preform, takes me one heat to make each one. Plus, I like the ball as it makes QUITE a good centered and very round head for my nails.
December 12, 201213 yr BFNampa, I make them from the little lollipops because I use them for alot of different things, nice to have a bunch of pieces sitting around that can be turned into 10 different things from one preform, takes me one heat to make each one. Plus, I like the ball as it makes QUITE a good centered and very round head for my nails. Fair enough. I often prefer a rough or rustic rounded head... but I can see doing it your way too. Thanks for sharing BTW! Your posts are always interesting!
December 13, 201213 yr Sam, have you seen the "BIG NAIL" that Danger Dillon and a bunch of blacksmiths in Atlanta made?? It is about 7 foot long and has touchmarks of blacksmiths from all over the country. It was made to honor Tom Clark. I forget where it is mounted now.
December 13, 201213 yr Thats not a nail, THIS is a nail... :o Ben Bradshaw has it... A side note the man standing directly behind me in this photo name is Mike Shaffer. I just posted a dragon that Dan Boone made that was in Mike's collection, Mike just passed a few months ago.
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.