ausfire Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 I have been amusing myself in the smithy by forging some wall hooks from common objects. Visitors like to examine them and determine what they were made from. I leave enough clues - the nail holes in the horseshoes for example. Some are obvious, but some need a closer look.Here are a few I have completed:From the left they are:A wood auger, multigrip plier half, spade bit, rasp, engine valve, rail spike, wood chisel, saw set, old style gutter bracket, pipe wrench, horse shoes (x2),1/2 inch cuphead bolt (threads are leaf serrations), ring spanner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpankySmith Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 VERY COOL! I really love that kind of stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSW Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 The pliers would have made an interesting double hook intact. Stuff like this would be of interest to a lot of guys who are big into garage work. I could see old wrenches, pliers etc turned into hooks selling well at car events and things like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gergely Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 Hi Aus! Those are hilarious! If you don't mind I will steal the main idea - let's see what the local scrapyards offer to change into hooks. Thanks for sharing! Greetings Gergely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitch4ging Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 Love your style! Great ideas to make great gifts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
01tundra Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 Great work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodge Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 Very nice, indeed Ausfire! I'm with Gergely I have a bucket of various broken and disheveled tools I have been saving for just such a project :) Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddie Mullins Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 They look great! Would this qualify as Upcycling? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the iron dwarf Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 great work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpankySmith Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 I'm signed up for a little craft show in November and originally intended to have a section at the end of the table with a "Guess What it Used to Be?" sign featuring just this kind of thing, but I just haven't come across enough interesting looking things like you have here to make hooks and such out of. Maybe next time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Very nice Ausfire, excellent spread of "upcycled" things. I like Upcycled a WHOLE lot better than repurposed as a term for made from scrounged stuff. Thanks Eddie. This whole spread is getting such good reviews for two reasons, IMO. First, it's well done work, nicely done and well finished, Cudos for the execution and creativity. The second and one I see often is folk can ID what they used to be, (for the most part) see and feel the transformation from the familiar to the new. Just remember when you're adapting this idea guys, REMOVE THE CHROME Heck, ANY PLATING before you put it in the fire!! Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausfire Posted September 24, 2014 Author Share Posted September 24, 2014 Thank you for the comments. I usually have a few of the original items on hand and it has been interesting to watch people handle these hooks and say things like "You made that from this?' One that they really like is the leaf on the end of the bolt, using the threads for the serrated edge.And thanks Frosty for the reminder about plating. I usually look for the old stuff that's a bit rusty. Or even a lot rusty, as there are often great textures to be found there.I never forge anything galvanised (seriously bad headaches from zinc oxide), at least not until it's had a bath in the HCl.Anyway, I'm pleased you found the idea interesting and hope you may post pics of any 'upcycled' (I like that term too) hooks you make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Very nice work. I like to make hooks using the big 12" spike nails and have gotten some favorable response from customers, but I never thought of branching out. That engine valve really caught my eye. The head of the valve makes a very unusual finial. As soon as I figured out what it was, I remembered the last time I was down at the autoparts store. They had a bunch of different badges from the auto makers, and I'm thinking they would be a dandy addition to the face of the valve. Any gearhead worth his oil would love to have a hook that was flying his favorite colors. A Chevy bowtie, for example. That big flat face is just aching to have someone's initials etched into it. Or figure out a way to turn it into a clock. I'm gonna hunt me down some valves..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausfire Posted September 24, 2014 Author Share Posted September 24, 2014 Hi Vaughn ... some interesting thoughts there. I have a bunch of those valves - they are quite large ones from an aircraft engine, Continental I think. It's handy when you know an aircraft engineer as there are lots of parts in good condition that get timed out.Funny you should mention the Chev bow tie. I have a 1927 Chev4 with the blue bowtie on the radiator. I agree that auto enthusiasts would like those hooks with the badges on. I notice old Holden valves have the name 'Holden' cast into the valve head. (Inlet valves that is, the exhaust valves are usually too burnt to tell.)I think you'll find valves easy to get - all auto repair shops would have heaps in the scrap bin. Some of them a 'funny' metal though. I tried drawing one out once and it crumbled into pieces. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gergely Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Here is a chart showing some valve steel qualities. It's in Hungarian but it really doesn't matter. Inhale valves are usually the first 3 the martensite type ones. (Unfortunately I don't know how global or local this is.) (szelepacélok.pdf).pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Bill Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 You guys better WATCH OUT! Remember Sodium filled valves! Any valve that can not be positively identified is a potential bomb in a forge!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the iron dwarf Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 have never come across a sodium filled inlet or exhaust valve in a car engine in this country, do they use them in the US? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Bill Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 Used in high performance applications but not limited to "racing". Industrial or truck engine exhaust valves might be sodium filled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausfire Posted September 25, 2014 Author Share Posted September 25, 2014 I had a look through some of the valves I have and I notice some are marked. This one looks like a Chev bowtie:And here is one from a Holden:I was surprised to find this one. Must be very old. Don't think they make Packards any more.And many different sizes.Tried making a hook out of the Holden valve today but as I went to punch the first hole it crumbled to pieces. Obviously all valves are not made of the same stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironmike Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 Sodium filled exhaust valves were used alot in VW air cooled engines, I replaced hundreds of them. Also used them in British cars and later in american engines for their cooling properties, now a days they use stellite, stainless steel,ect Ironmike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the iron dwarf Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 did not know that, will watch out for them, will only use inlet valves in future I think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironmike Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 ausfire, Got side tracked on Sodium filled valves never got a chance to comment on your hooks, They are very nice will have to make some, Nice job! Ironmike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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