Admanfrd Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 What kind of file should i use for carving out the rest of my RR track hardy hole. I heard that a flat bastard file would be the best, but it was vague in context. thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 How is it vague? A flat bastard file sounds pretty specific to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swedefiddle Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 If you use a die grinder bit in a drill (slower speed than the die grinder), that will remove the bulk of your chore. Finish with a file. It's one of those jobs that if you get in a hurry, it will show. Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anachronist58 Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 Indeed, when you say "a LOT of metal", that means something different to each observer. A picture is worth a thousand words :rolleyes: In my case, "a LOT of metal" used to be .002". I think that's why I like Smithing. I'm still trying to loosen up, but maybe I shouldn't?.... Are we to assume that you are finishing a BLIND Hole? Will the Hardy have a Taper? So yes, seeing what you are up against would tell me, at least, whether it is file time. It appears that Mr. Swedefiddle has done this kind of thing a time or two before..... Has anyone ever had problem with sharp corners in their Hardy Profiles leading to cracks? Robert Taylor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admanfrd Posted January 15, 2014 Author Share Posted January 15, 2014 It was vague in the matter that it said "use on steel" It never said type of steel, alloy etc.etc. thanks for the replies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 The last hardy hole that I made for a friend was in a forklift tine. I used a milling machine at work to knock it out. Went pretty quick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thingmaker3 Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 Would a cape chisel help? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Olivo Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 if it is a lot use cold chisels like the caping chisel, dimond chisel, and straight chisel to remove it. Then you will probably find a flat basterd good for flattening the sides of the hole and a large rough square or tryangle file for the corners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Olivo Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 although I found a half round basterd to be the most usefull file. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arftist Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 Yes, anvils have broken at the hardy hole, Without doubt the sharp square corners cause a notch effect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anachronist58 Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 Thanks Arftist, that was a big concern in my field. Any one else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admanfrd Posted January 16, 2014 Author Share Posted January 16, 2014 Has anyone tried broaching? Tapering a piece of metal and sharpening it like a file then hammering it through a little @ a time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 Hammering is awfully hard on a broach. Using a press is a better idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admanfrd Posted January 16, 2014 Author Share Posted January 16, 2014 Since i dont have a broach, and i do have a 21# sledge. I think i may be able to do it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
setlab Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Sounds like an awful lot of time and work for such a small "anvil". Why not just weld a piece of square tubing to the side of your rr track to hold hardees? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
setlab Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Sounds like an awful lot of time and work for such a small "anvil". Why not just weld a piece of square tubing to the side of your rr track to hold hardees? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admanfrd Posted January 20, 2014 Author Share Posted January 20, 2014 Because I have neuther the time, resources, money, or equipment to weld/find someone to weld for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 You have already put more time in this than it should take you to find someone to weld it for you in exchange for a bit of light labour. The town you have listed has 9 times the population of the closest one to me yet I know dozens of places to ask about a bit of welding---not even mentioning the old shotgun approach of mentioning it at church. (Last time I did that I was given an anvil, 40 pounds of welding rod and a set of mule deer and elk racks.) I think it would help if you got off the keyboard and started finding your local resources. Taking a cold sixpack of something to drink to a small welding company around quitting time on a hot friday afternoon has gotten a LOT of welding done for me over the years; weldors often are interested in smithing and spending a bit of time talking can have very positive results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockstar.esq Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Alexander Weygers book on blacksmithing shows how to drill a square hole with either a drill press or a lathe. I've never seen it done but the principle of it is sound. I agree with Thomas about local resources. Unless you're striving for aboriginal blacksmithing - you're likely going to benefit from knowing where you can get some things done close to home. Going in a completely different direction it's worth mentioning that tree stumps are pretty easy to find. It may be a lot less work to convert a stump into a hardy stake plate. Seems like you could auger out the majority then use the forge to heat a section of square tubing to slowly burn your hole square. I'm imagining a metal lined square hole that's flush to the stumps face. If you've got a leg vice- using it to hold anvil tooling is a decent compromise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 This link to a Mark Aspery vid will show you how to make a square hole. The suggestions you have been given here should have been enough, but here you can see it done. You should have no excuses about making chisels or the filing that will need to be done as both would take less time than the forging, filing and tempering of a broach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockstar.esq Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 Doc, Thanks for posting that video. I watched some time ago - it's excellent instruction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admanfrd Posted January 21, 2014 Author Share Posted January 21, 2014 That must have taken forever. But beautiful work. Time to make some chisels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockstar.esq Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Admanfrd - I think you'd be surprised how quickly you can remove stock with hand tools. The hole was drilled before chiseling. Youtube Brian Brazeal drifting a hardy hole in his striking anvil for another approach to the same problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arkie Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Because I have neuther the time, resources, money, or equipment to weld/find someone to weld for me Thomas Powers had some very good advice.... You might just be surprised...if you took your work as mentioned, with a peace offering of some kind, to a small welding shop near quitting time before they put their tools away and explained that you are an aspiring blacksmith with very limited resources, they most likely would accommodate you at no cost or very little cost. I for one, if I had a shop near you, would do it for no charge to give you a start with your setup and encourage you go further. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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