May 20, 201412 yr This project grew far faster than I thought it would. It started out as me simply using a 12" spike nail to make a hook to help organize my clutter and turned into a big order when I posted a picture of the original hook on another forum. I love when that happens! Anyhow, they start as a standard galvanized 12" spike nail you buy from the home store. Sometimes you can find older non-galvanized ones at the flea markets and scrap yards, and I recommend snatching them up when you can. Stripped the galvanizing off with muriatic acid and proceeded to heat them up. The countersink dimples were made with a .5" round-nose punch held in my swing-arm fullerer. I drilled 3/16" holes for the mounting screws, but wasn't satisfied with the look, so it was back to the anvil and I drifted the holes open with a tapered punch, also held by the fullerer. The end result....... The hooks were coated with my "proprietary" wax finish which has nothing to do with the can of Johnson's Paste Floor Wax and brush sitting on the shelf. :D I really enjoyed this project.
May 20, 201412 yr I just picked up a bunch of those nails nicely rusted at the scrapyard for 20 cents a pound. I was thinking of twisting two together for a ways and flattening that part with my screwpress before bending the "hooks" ends to make a double hook.
May 20, 201412 yr Author I think that would be a dandy idea, Thomas. I was thinking about drawing out the majority of the shank on the next ones so I had more length to play with curves and twists, leaving just the head and point as-is so folks know how they started life. Might be too much work, though, without a power-hammer. I find that the screw holes look best when spaced about 2.125" O.C. If you have non-galvie nails, you're definitely a step ahead in the game!
May 20, 201412 yr Every time I visit that scrapyard I end up with something I didn't plan on---one time is was a bunch of small bearing races to use for knives, one time it was 6 100# CI balls, last time was a score of large nails.
May 20, 201412 yr I love it when something serendipitous like that happens. It's also a perfect example of why a person should do good work even if it's not for the "public." You just never know who's going to see something they like and want one or a bunch. One thing that makes large nails a natural is folk can look at the finished product and see where it came from. Folk love to see the transition in forged work, it's why RR spikes are so popular. I was thinking that leaving more of the point above the screw holes it could be bent out with a simple finial scroll for another hook and still be recognizable as a big nail. Frosty The Lucky.
May 21, 201412 yr Greetings Vaughn, 2 angle bends and you have a toilet paper holder... Havin fun yet? Forge on and make beautiful things Jim
May 21, 201412 yr 2 angle bends and you have a toilet paper holder... Havin fun yet? Isn't that awkward and tricky to hold while using though? :D Cool looking hooks!
May 21, 201412 yr Isn't that awkward and tricky to hold while using though? :D Cool looking hooks! I'm sure Jim - - - - - - - if you ask, Ian. Uh, oh - nevermind, that was such a wide open straight line I almost disgusted myself. <shudder!> Oh crap, this is going to be running through my mind all day! Drat you, you dog Ian! Frosty The Lucky.
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