I keep getting inquiries on how my tooling is set up to make these bottle openers.  I'm making a large batch now, so I put together this video of the process.  It was a good deal of work to figure out/fabricate the tooling, but it results in a bottle opener with no hammer marks.  Anyhow, thought I'd share and thanks for reading

John Rigoni

Rigoni Ironworks

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-Zg1-fR9kU

Wow, really good video. This is some production you got there. Is there really a huge market for forged bottle openers?

Thanks, I want a few different items that with tooling won't take a long time to make and will still be profitable.  I started doing these by hand, but with tooling it is much faster when doing batches. 

Great example of how some simple tooling can make a production job easy.

I love the simplicity in it. I was wondering when I saw your openers on a different thread and now it makes perfect sense. 

That was a complete pleasure to watch!

forgive my ignorance, but what did you sprinkle on the handle and why?

now if I could just acquire a half dozen more tools including a press.  Sigh....maybe someday.

now that was very cool. Thanks for sharing. 

I like that power hammer jig you have. I might have to steal that Idea at some point.

 

Thanks! spankysmith: The taper when finished looks very smooth, almost machined, and needs texture, so I sprinkle scale on the top.  Scale is harder than the steel and dents in, creating texture.

Very nice video. Great finished product. It looks like you could build them in your sleep. Nice shop to, I'd love to have some of them tools at my disposal. 

Greetings JR,

Another score for the P6 and creative tooling..

Great vid and love your set up.. Keep up the great work..

Forge on and make beautiful things

Jim

I don't think I've ever had two bottle openers that look even close to the same.  You have cool toys.  Well done!

 

Thanks! spankysmith: The taper when finished looks very smooth, almost machined, and needs texture, so I sprinkle scale on the top.  Scale is harder than the steel and dents in, creating texture.

Wow, I kinda figured that's what you were doing but I spend so much time AVOIDING scale it messed with my concept of the universe to consider someone might actually purposely introduce scale!     I like the idea, it's just now I have to totally adjust my thinking...getting really too old for that. 

So devastated john

i watched your vid and then clicked on your youtub profile to see more of your videos thinking I would watch them all 

and there was only two 

please can you upload more it was a pleasure to watch someone work so efficient and smart 

that is also a well proportioned stylish bottle opener you make there 

fergy

        

Edited September 10, 201510 yr by fergy

Looks like you have a real sweet setup and know how to use it. Great video too. Thanks for sharing that.

Great video and tooling! Well done.

 

Great video but what i really want to know more about is your initial slot punch setup. Looks slick and would probably work well in my world with guards for blades.

J

JWS, the slot punch tooling makes a centered 3/8 hole, shearing out a 1/4" thick slug.  I have a no.5 flypress for this.  The front clamps I adjust so there is a bit of play cold so the bar doesn't get stuck.  The piece swells slightly after punching.  The punch is machined from 4140 and drives down flush with the roof of the cavity underneath.  The cavity/channel is slightly taller than 1/4" to account for the flashing.  The horizontal bars keep the piece from getting stuck to the punch.  The jig is mild steel that I case hardened.  Hope this helps.

nice job!