August 7, 201510 yr These are just some of the projects coming out of my shed recently. I'm a terrible photographer and most of these were made a few months ago now but heres a few bits and bobs. "Dragon bottle opener" Little "mushrooms" The start of a horse shoe "heart" Which goes into making one of these Letter stands This is the start of a dragon style poker I've been playing around with. I'd like to make them a bit more dragon looking though Finally this is a handle for a fire rake I made. I really love this design it feels great in the hand and looks nice too. Thanks for looking Andy
August 7, 201510 yr Author That is the cutest dragon bottle opener I've ever seenThanks. It started life as a tong blank that went wrong, so it got repurposed. Andy
August 7, 201510 yr I agree, that's gotta be the most loveable dragon I've seen in a long time. I like your fire rake handle a lot. I like things that look harder to make then they are, especially when they look and work well.Nice bits and bobs Andy.Frosty The Lucky.
August 8, 201510 yr That fire rake handle is very clever. I like the way you dealt with the 'loose' end of the twist - very neat!
August 8, 201510 yr Author That fire rake handle is very clever. I like the way you dealt with the 'loose' end of the twist - very neat!There's really nothing too complex about it at all. I struggle with accurate fire welding so I forged the end to a point before folding it over and then arc welding the two together before twisting it. Then I drove a large drift through the hole to make sure it was round. You can see it at the very end of this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lix0PS8cAiM All the best Andy
August 8, 201510 yr Since I never played dungeons and dragons like some Frostys out there ... well, I'm not a dragon man. But the mushrooms. Ah! I used the mushroom design in a job a few years ago. Yours are more detailed and quite elegant, lively.
August 9, 201510 yr Author Cheers Yves. I'm a bit partial to the mushrooms too. Each one I make is slightly different and I reckon they look pretty good. I've had good feedback from everyone that see's them. All the best Andy
August 9, 201510 yr Author I buy in 2"x1/8" discs - heat them up and then put the disc over a hole in my swage block and batter them in with a rounded punch. Then I put a taper on some 5/8" round stock, cut it to length and usually upset the fat end slightly to give the mushroom a more stable base. Then I just tack weld the stem to the head. Nothing fancy just enough to hold it in place. All the best Andy
August 9, 201510 yr Thanks. I didn't know if they were upset, and forged, or two piece without seeing under the cap. They look great, I may have to try some myself.
August 9, 201510 yr Nice that you can access 2" x 1/8" discs (at reasonable cost??) - I wanted some similar discs for a commissioned job making a comemmorative rose, and a set of four discs, from 3" down, cost me $40 from a local engineering shop. Makes for expensive roses. (I rough cut my own from scrap plate now).
August 9, 201510 yr Author I bought mine through a firm on eBay - I believe they are just offcuts from another job by the looks of it so they are cheap enough. I forget what I paid now but it can't have been that bad. BGD - you could certainly do it like that but I simply don't have the time/ energy. Two pieces is much more efficient for me. Andy
August 10, 201510 yr Round these parts welding supply shops sell disks to cap the ends of pipe. Usually they have a bit of dish to them already but a forge and a flattner takes care of that in one heat and their cheap compared to getting them cut!
August 10, 201510 yr If I couldn't buy disks for reasonable locally I'd have to chuck up a 2" dia. round bar in my cut off band saw. It'd probably take 1 1/2 - 2 minutes per cut and setting the stop would speed repeats. The cut off band saw is the only power tool I'll start and walk away from.I think rather than weld the cap to the stem I'd braze them in the forge, it isn't structural after all.I'm thinking some mushrooms might be in my future.Frosty The Lucky.
August 10, 201510 yr Hmm that's not a bad idea Frosty. Not a bad idea at all... AndyI wish I could remember the name of the fellow who showed us how easy and well it works I'd give him full credit. I'm proud to pass it along. Frosty The Lucky.
August 10, 201510 yr Nice that you can access 2" x 1/8" discs (at reasonable cost??) - I wanted some similar discs for a commissioned job making a commemorative rose, and a set of four discs, from 3" down, cost me $40 from a local engineering shop. Makes for expensive roses. (I rough cut my own from scrap plate now).
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