Looking for input into dies for Smithin machine

[ibs740]

Hello,

 

I welded up a frame for a Smithin machine. I know it's kind of cheating but is a plasma cutter a wonderful tool to dissect a large plate.

The smithin can hold a die 5" wide X 1/2" thick. The stock size it can fit is 5 1/4" wide X 4.5" high. I plan on useing shims so I can use 2" dies as well...cheaper.

My plans are to make things like apples, dinner bells, incise lines (decorative) on stock, maybe some cutting, round hole punching and slots. General fullering as well.

 

As far as a radius for fullers to close off a pipe (2.5? OD) for apples what kind of radius do you use or is it a multi step set of radii?

 

I have to weld a hardie shank to it yet.

 

cheers

[HWHII]

In the metal craft there is no such thing as cheating. You use what you have and be proud of it. Some people would love to have a plasma cutter in the arsenal of tools.

 

As for radius on your dies, on my guillotine fuller I use old truck leaf springs with a 1/4" and 3/8" radius edge and just leave them as the are.

[ibs740]

Opps, I wasn't too clear.  The radius I meant was across the width of the die not across the thickness.

 

If I am reducing say a 2.5"pipe (apple, dinner bell) do I just use a shallow radius on the die or multiple radii from large to close to finished size.

 

RE: cheating, I know how to weld etc but feel like a babe about many of the Blacksmith arts. Lots of stuff looks simple enough until hammer

hits hot steel and things don't go according to plan. So resorting to things I'm good at to escape doing things I don't know how to do (yet) is kind of cheating.

 

cheers

[Francis Trez Cole]

I made one myself. I used 2 1/2" x 1/2 steel for my dies I buy full 20' lengths of mild steel have used it for 3 years with no problem. I have a standard length that I cut them to and stack up in storage until I need them to make a die.  as far as the radios it needs to be across the with thickness not the width. I made a scissors type tool with adjustable end to keep the top blade level slow and even is the way to go an other thing you can make is gas burners for gas forge. Heck it down on a 3/4" mandrel cut and weld on a piece of 3/4" black pipe. If you are making them whats a few extras cheaper than the cast fitting.