Trip Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 Hi there all Dave Custer AKA "Fiery Furnace" here with Chase Saxton AKA "Trip." So Chase had this idea to forge some Brian Brazeal style rounding hammers. He came over yesterday and is planning on staying thru Friday. We are using 2-inch solid 4140 in billet sizes 3.5-inch, 4-inch, and 4.5-inch! He's got all the pictures so far, so he'll be posting the pictures and such. Just wanted to let you all know we are working together on this project. OK Trip Here, a while back I came over to Dave's shop and we forged out his striking anvil, and then a Brian Brazeal style rounding hammer for myself, as was seen in my video, "Heavy Forging". Not long after that (as Dave just said) I had the idea to make some more. So yesterday I left my house around daylight, and was able to get to Dave's house by about 8:00 in the mornin. We finally got started forging by around 9:00, and within a hour and a half we had a new hammer. All in all it took us about 4.5 hours to forge 2 hammers, completely forged a hot cut hardy (I directed it, and Dave struck), and we got a good start on a second hot cut. So all in all it was a good day's work, but I will admit that my hands are a little sore this mornin, since I haven't done ANY forging in about a month. Enough talk, I'm sure yall want to see some photo's, We will keep you all updated on our progress throughout the week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alec.S Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 Great job, guys! Be sure to radius the edges of the ends of your hammer billets more though! I can't tell you how much that helps!!! :D Looking forward to more! :D Alec Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FieryFurnace Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 Hi Alec! Never really understood what the larger beveled edge does for you. Maybe you could elaborate? The one from the pictures is a smaller billet, that we used. We used a smaller rounded edge on that size, but I did make sure the larger billets got bevelled more, however, I suppose billet size would not affect whatever positives come from the rounded edge. I must have forgotten, so like I said, please elaborate! We worked from 8:30 A.M to 12:30 P.M. and made two hammers. Here are the hammers so far! Here are the two we made this morning. Here are the two from yesterday! And here is the hardy that Chase directed yesterday evening. I was very pleased with the results especially seeing that was his first time on the director's side of the anvil. I'm keeping data on billet size, starting weight, weight after rough grinding, and weight after finish grinding. I will post said data when we are done making hammers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FieryFurnace Posted January 25, 2013 Share Posted January 25, 2013 Here are the four hammers we have done so far. We did not make any hammers today as we spent the entire morning loading and unloading around 3000-pounds of coal. We hardened and tempered the four hammers shown in the pictures above, this evening. I also cut out some additional knot-free handle stock for the hammers. Tomorrow we are hoping to do another two hammers before Chase has to head back home. Chase will be posting photos of the grinding and tempering a little later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Gaddis Posted January 25, 2013 Share Posted January 25, 2013 Nice pics and story guys. You make some of the old guys very proud to say that they know you and see how far you have gone. Now I am thinking how far you will be next year. Maybe one of these days I will be able to meet your striking buddy. Good Luck! Carry on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pug}{maN Posted January 25, 2013 Share Posted January 25, 2013 Nice stuff guys! Thanks for sharing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trip Posted January 25, 2013 Author Share Posted January 25, 2013 Hey yall, Just wanted to share with yall some photo's of us grinding & tempering the hammers. We will try to keep yall updated on our progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FieryFurnace Posted January 25, 2013 Share Posted January 25, 2013 Here are the weights finally. 2-inch solid round 4140 stock, cut in billet lengths of 3.5-inches, 4-inches, and 4.5-inches. 3.5-inch billet yielded a 2-pound 13-ounce hammer. (45-ounce) 4-inch billet yielded a 3-pound 4 ounce hammer. (52 ounce) 4.5-inch billet yielded a 3-pound 9-ounce hammer. 57-ounce) I have not compared finish weights with the starting weights but my data showed that from the starting billet size to the finished hammer, prior to rough grinding, hardening, tempering, and polishing, the weight loss per-hammer was .25-pounds. This number stayed consistent regardless of the starting billet size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tubbe Posted January 25, 2013 Share Posted January 25, 2013 Looking really nice! Where do I order? :) :) Some day I will make my own.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FieryFurnace Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 Post number 1,501 for me! LOL We finished two more hammers today before Chase left. Not too bad seeing that out of four days, we only spent about two and half of it forging. We spent a half a day at the steel yard and a day hauling coal! I handled one to show Chase how to, then sent him home with the box of handles, hammers, and wedges. He will finish polish and handle the rest. The tags give the finished weight of the hammer prior to handling! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Everything Mac Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 Nicely done guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles McDonald Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 Beauties! Well done work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianbrazealblacksmith Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 Nice forging! How could I contact you if I wanted to buy one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aessinus Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 Nice forging! How could I contact you if I wanted to buy one? Motion seconded! 3#-9oz? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FieryFurnace Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 Hey thanks for all of the complements! We sure did enjoy making all of these little toys, and I am pleased with the results and time. Chase's striking habits GREATLY increased as he swung the 13.25-pound sledge for the entirety of the operation. This thread is not for, and IFI does not allow advertising of items for sale. This thread is simply to show the progress of two young smiths working as a director striker team, making hammers for four days. Chase is currently working on video editing the footage he took, and will post a video of our work when he's finished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianbrazealblacksmith Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 I would like to buy, trade, or whatever, that first hammer that you handled, Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FieryFurnace Posted January 27, 2013 Share Posted January 27, 2013 "Trip" will be in touch Brian! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aessinus Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 I would like to buy, trade, or whatever, that first hammer that you handled, Dave. Augh! I feel like Charlie Brown with the football. I don't suppose you need a mule? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FieryFurnace Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 LOL! Well uhhh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Gaddis Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Dave...Take Brian's post as a compliment. There are also compliments coming from us that view your progress. Carry on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alec.S Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Great job, guys! The grinding of the edges makes the faces be forged much easier! Also means they don't flare out! Makes the grinding after much easier too! :D LOoks like a productive couple of days :D Btw, Dave! Take Brian's offer in good spirit! It is clear you are not using this forum as advertisement... Brian just wants that hammer ;) Happy forging, Buddy! Send me an email soon! Alec Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FieryFurnace Posted January 29, 2013 Share Posted January 29, 2013 I certainly do take Brian's post as a complement!!! I hope that my reply was not misunderstood to be negative! Anyway, I just wanted to make sure the mods are aware that I will follow the forum rules under any conditions. As a student, it's an awesome feeling that one of my instructors would want to buy a piece that I made (with Chase's help,) that he taught me how to make. Hmmm Alec! I kind of liked the flare! Especially in those 2-inch x 3.5-inch billets. You need to try one of those sometime! They are neat. Speaking of grinding, I need to get a good belt grinder. I used my dad's belt sander but it is designed for wood, not steel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Riffe Posted January 29, 2013 Share Posted January 29, 2013 Dave, Daniel also gives me an earful if I do not grind the bevel on the edges of the billets well enough before we start forging. I used to disagree with him but it does seem to make it more of a forge to finish product if the billet is thusly prepared before commencing forging. Just seems quicker and easier....I am not sure how much; but worthwhile! It also seems to forge "differently", and tends to "center" the billet in the cupping die such that it is less easily deformed when struck at an unattended angle......I know this is too fussy to seem to matter....but? Cheers my friend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trip Posted January 31, 2013 Author Share Posted January 31, 2013 Hey yall, A friend of mine came over to the shop today to help me move some equipment in my shop, and when we were done, my fiend was looking at some of the hammer heads that Dave and I had forged, and he came up with a handle design. He drew a pattern on a piece of cardboard, and he made a very nice handle, at least I think so. I'm not sure how well it would work in a rounding hammer, but i know it would make a awesome hatchet or claw hammer handle. What do yall think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FieryFurnace Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 Perhaps a hatchet or claw hammer like you said, but in these forging hammers where you typically choke up, I think it would probably fell a little awkward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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