swage block

[ferretman]

i am thinking of adding a swage block to my ever growing collection ,but most  i see for sale are a little out of my price range ,was wondering anybody outhere ever made one ,or would it be too much of a job for a newbie like myself with only limited tools and machinery ? sorry guys for all the questions i post but my enthusiasm for this hobby seems to be growing out of control .

[Alan Evans]

After twenty years as a professional smith I bought my first swage block  because somebody turned up with it in the back of their car. I thought as a blacksmith I really ought to have one. That was twenty years ago and it has sat by the door where I offloaded it ever since...apart from using its bulk to set up a series of supporting pillars for assembling one job.

 

I know some people find swage blocks very useful, but if you are starting out and budgets are limited, I would use your money to buy tools for the project in hand and wait for opportunities to buy speculative equipment when it turns up cheap.

 

I might even sell you mine when you actually need one!

 

Alan

[ferretman]

cheers for advice Alan ,got a feeling im trying to run before i can walk ,gonna slow down a bit and make do with what i have ,as you say probably never need one ,and if i do it will be a long way down the road before i really even know how to use one properly .cheers

[McGrath John]

I have cast 3 swedge blocks last year at a metal pour in New Mexico. They weighed about 50 pounds each, and I mailed them home in medium flat rate boxes. I still have lot of sanding and finishing work to do on them. I hope they work and hold up well. Wait till you need one.

 

John

[Stephen Olivo]

A swedge block and steaks can be used instead of an anvil and allow for more versatility thanks to its design.  I have 2 anvils and a swedge block myself and find them all very usefull.  If I had to back down to just one of them it would be the swedge block because I can do all the same work with it that I would do on the anvil plus many things you would have to make seperate tooling for.  So really Its like asking which type of anvil is better.  It depends on what range of things you want to do.  That would be the specialized anvil you get.  Think of the swedge block like another anvil but with more options and more tool holding capacity.  Really good if you work with someone who can swing a sledge hammer for you.  

[dablacksmith]

i have 3 swage blocks and i do use them but not all the time . I use them mostly for dishing (ladles spoons ect...) and occasionally the curved sections (for curved chisels) they are handy but not required . If you find a deal on one buy it if not then I would wait and make hearty tools that do the same job instead . 

[Frank Turley]

www.saltforkcraftsmen.org has swage blocks @ $120 each plus shipping. They are solid without the holes, but I consider that a good price. They are also useful for jumping large bars when upsetting.

[Rich Hale]

Actually once you solve the issue of "do you need one and will you use it?" Ask your self if you have the skills and abilities to shape a large chunk of steel in the shapes you wish and then consider if it is worth while..then think about materials, most I have seen including the one I own from salt fork, like mentioned above are cast.......most shop made tools are made from mild or tool steel.

[GNJC]

You don't need one if you can make what you want to make without one and for a great many things it is possible to improvise or make / get smaller hardy tools to do the same or similar jobs.

 

However, I use two blocks fairly regularly: a normal industrial block and a more specialised one I designed myself. Both are helpful for many jobs and essential for some others. As has been written elsewhere before, when you need one you really need one, otherwise it will be an expensive door-stop. Take a look at the swageblock website for a list of uses you may not have thought about.

 

All that written, if you see one at a bargain price e.g. in good condition and going for well under £100, get it, if only as an investment.

[Chuck in Ms]

I recently bought the salt fork block. Like you mentioned I just decided I needed one. Have used it to make some rounding hammers. Last weekend I used it a lot at a demo. Spoons, half round handels, duplicate hooks, shaping leaf key chains. I am having fun just learning how to use it. As mentioned above it has no holes. If it would hold hardy tools I might leave the anvil at home for some demos.
Prior to that purchase I made a small one from a piece of 2"X4"X6" mild steel. Milled some half rounds up to one inch and drilled some holes in it. That didn't ever do more than be a heavy pritchel plate for me really.
Overall I am glad I got mine and may find another one with all the holes in it.