midnightblue69 Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Kinda looking for some ideas. I'm working on a project and I want to make some crosses out of round 9/16" 1018 steel. When planning I was looking to drill a hole about 1/2" in diameter through the upright and draw it out to 9/16 with a drift then press my cross piece in, I was thinking much more artistically than practically. I neglected the dynamics of how little steel I'd have to draw. I then started thinking about making 2 cross pieces and turning the insides to a smaller diameter and pressing in. Anyone have any thoughts as to an apealing look or technique? would it be possible to draw the hole out that big starting with a smaller diameter? Any ideas? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfootnampa Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 You could do it by slitting and drifting... but I'd suggest making a Frederick's style split cross instead. No way could you drill and drift! Lots of info here on the Frederick's style crosses! They are much easier than a two piece cross and can be adapted to quite a variety of sizes and styles with a little imagination! Good experience for beginning smiths! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chinobi Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 slit and drift is the best way to put a 9/16" hole in a 9/16" bar ;) you can also upset the slit location before or after to pick up some extra mass at the join. have you already planned for how to keep the through piece from slipping out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njanvilman Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 I would go for the upset at the location you want to open. Increase the diameter and stock in that area. You could forge down the cross piece in the area if will intersect, then after inserting the piece, heat both in the intersection and forge it closed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Heat and over lap the two bars and then using half round top and bottom tooling set them into each other. Then drill a hole through both and rivet---perhaps with copper to add in a decorative aspect or a similar steel if you want the rivet to "disappear"---counter sink the hole and then dress the rivet smooth with the surface. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpankySmith Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Coincidentally I toyed with this same concept over the holidays, I was at a Christmas Eve service at a church I'd never visited before, saw the most interesting cross shaped like a shepherds croook with a cross piece. Wanted to replicate it but couldn't figure out exactly the best way to do the cross piece, just like midnightblue here, so I'm following this conversation carefully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Coke Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Greetings 69, You might try an upset at the normal opening than forge that portion square to form the open look. The round stock should blend in well at the opening. The other option is split and drift.. Just my 2c Forge on and make beautiful things Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Depending on the stock lenght, you might consider simply "out lining" the cross to say figure one peice of stock twice the length of the combined with and hight, bend in half, to form the top branch, forge two 90's and fold back to form the side branches, and two parelel 90's to form the lower branch. This alows you several options at this point. You can (and i think you should) put a twist in each branch. You also have the tips and the center that can be worked as decretive elements, say melted marbels (bolders?) maybe copper, brass, wood, open air? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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