Strengthening rib

[Frank Turley]

Respected smith,Tom Bredlow, showed me this little rib or tongue years ago. He put his on the bottom of a spoon, as I did mine in the photo. He mentioned that some colonial silversmiths did this. It is a strengthening rib or tongue which gives substance when forging a thick to thin transition. It's better than having a straight shoulder separation which might be subject to bending and/or breaking. I used the same type of rib to start the handles, as shown. The work can be done by driving down over a relatively sharp anvil edge or stake, but in a sense, you're working blind. I prefer to use a set hammer.

 

This rib may still be seen on well forged masonry trowels where the transition goes from flat trowel to thick tang.

[Dogsoldat]

Thanks for that Frank.  Nothing beats form and function.  I will have to try and remember this if I am making any bbq forks.

[SJS]

If I remember correctly Donald Streeter illustrates the same kind of technique in "Professional Smithing." When I saw the subject line I was expecting to see more of a triangular cross-section, or something like a T post. I like that idea, of getting more of a rib. I might experiment with trying to get a little more "rib" to stiffen the joint when I get around to making a set tool for that. I think a bottom swage with a top tool would be able to extrude enough material to really stiffen it up. It is a shame to forge something out and use an inherently weak design, and then have it fail. Good design improves the utility and durability of the finished product. Process, process, process;-) I get so distracted thinking about doing things that sometimes I don't get much done;-) Fascinating, I could, and then... Of course I haven't done a bunch of ladles or flesh forks for a few years, except for a French Egg Spoon, a lady requested this year...

[anvil]

I learned that from you back in the dark ages,,, then Tom Joyce reinforced it when he showed me how to do a thummer out of square stock and incorporating that in the thumb piece.

Much thanks to both for the many learning's.

[ThomasPowers]

Weygers, "The Complete Modern Blacksmith" has a section on building a powerhammer die to put such ribs in woodcarving chisels. The die was made from trolley rail IIRC.