Iron Poet Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 I've been searching for a good swage block, especially one with triangular grooves. I have found a few places that sell them like Pieh or Saltfork but they aren't quite what I'm looking for. Searching on craigslist is hopeless in my area, and ebay is killing my soul.Would it be advisable just to have the pattern I have in mind custom cast? If I go that route, I'd be able to make it exactly how I want, but it would more than likely cost me dearly. I'd be quite happy if anyone had any good leads to follow up on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wana be Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 Hi I don't know where you are but if your in New England join the NEB we cast our own S/Blocks they sell for $210 John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Poet Posted September 19, 2015 Author Share Posted September 19, 2015 Hi I don't know where you are but if your in New England join the NEB we cast our own S/Blocks they sell for $210 JohnNew York, near Kingston, Ontario. Do you happen to have any photos, maybe a link? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wana be Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 I misspoke the S/Blocks are $170 & they weigh 70 lbs. we also have 1" fire pots with clinker bkr, & 4 1/2" cone mandrels cast for us I'll try to get pic's tomorrow John Sorry I didn't think of it before if you go to New England Blacksmiths web site there might be pic's John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Poet Posted September 19, 2015 Author Share Posted September 19, 2015 I misspoke the S/Blocks are $170 & they weigh 70 lbs. we also have 1" fire pots with clinker bkr, & 4 1/2" cone mandrels cast for us I'll try to get pic's tomorrow JohnSorry I didn't think of it before if you go to New England Blacksmiths web site there might be pic's JohnIt looks very similar to the Saltfork swage block, it's too bad they don't have a picture of the otherside available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swedefiddle Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 Good Morning,Take a piece of "cut-off" or what sometimes is called a "Drop" and make what you seem to think is important. Press a shape into a hot block with a hydraulic press. Talk to your local steel supplier or Fabrication Shop, What is in their scrap pile. Don't go in asking, with empty hands. Payment doesn't necessarily mean MONEY. Something for their lunchroom (box of muffins) or something for the Boss. Scope it out first, What does he drive? What does he do for recreation?, What do his kids do?? etc. What does the Torch Operator, like?Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 Torch out the shapes you want. My Dad made a nice swage block on the automated torch at the college. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 If you have a horizontal vertical cut off band saw you can saw your V and hex grooves and do a little cleaning up with a file. Through holes are drill press saw and file work. half rounds require a second block clamped to the block, drill the desired size hole between them. Yes you can drill large holes, use a hole saw, slow rpm, gentle feed rate. Air hose to clear chips and cool the saw.Of course if you make your pattern and do enough bribing at the local iron foundry it might accidentally get poured with when they clean the ladle on a pourFrosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSW Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 (edited) V's in the side of a piece of heavy block would be easy if you have access to a full sized mill. A nice swage block would have made a dandy milling project when I was taking the machining class at the tech school at night. I'd either have cranked the head on the mill over to 45 deg or set the block up on a step at 45 deg and simply milled in various sized V's using an end mill. I may eventually do something similar to this and Frosty's idea to make 1/2 rounds and some small thru holes since my swage block doesn't have any small shapes in it. Smallest starts at about 1" and goes up. Edited September 19, 2015 by DSW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 How many V's do you need and what size? Find a piece of angle iron, turn it point down, and weld it to a hardie plate. Build up the sides so they are supported. Make one hardie block at a time in the size you need. Much easier to carry one hardie block that you can use rather than a 100 pound block with several features you do not use. (grin) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Poet Posted September 19, 2015 Author Share Posted September 19, 2015 How many V's do you need and what size? Find a piece of angle iron, turn it point down, and weld it to a hardie plate. Build up the sides so they are supported. Make one hardie block at a time in the size you need. Much easier to carry one hardie block that you can use rather than a 100 pound block with several features you do not use. (grin) I do a few small shows and festivals in my area. Weight isn't an issue, however space is. A swage block is much easier to squeeze in than what you suggested. However I have made a few of those, mostly shallow ones I made to preserve the spine of leaves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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