Hi I was just wondering if anyone could help. I have only been doing Blacksmithing for 6 months. Firstly does anyone know where I can buy bending jigs online. And has any got any techniques for finishing my metal work off such as caddle sticks and fire pokers. 

Thanks.

I can supply various bending and forming tools, just call round tomorrow

Since this obviously has nothing to do with any IFI system problem, not even a picture of one,  there is no reason to have this posted in the gallery and feedback sections, I will relocate it to general smithing.

Welcome to I Forge Iron, I suggest you try reading in the forum rather than just joining and posting, Start with the pinned "sticky" posts.and your profile

1 hour ago, the iron dwarf said:

I can supply various bending and forming tools, just call round tomorrow

Have you got a website? 

6 hours ago, A.H Blacksmithing said:

Hi I was just wondering if anyone could help. I have only been doing Blacksmithing for 6 months. Firstly does anyone know where I can buy bending jigs online. And has any got any techniques for finishing my metal work off such as caddle sticks and fire pokers. 

Thanks.

Most any blacksmith builds his own bending jigs. Bending is one of the only four treatments you can do to iron (metal). It is therefore a needed skill to become a blacksmith. Suggest you buy some books.

 

On the other hand I only build a jig if I can't bend it in my univeral bender (Hossfeld style) but I built that too. 

Finishing indoor iron parts is as simple as roughing the item up with sandpaper but not too much, the high spots should just shine a little giving a nice contrast then wax to stop rust.

There are some very nice hydraulic bending systems out there for for under US$25000  and for finishing---nothing's so shiney as heavy gold plate!

Or can you narrow down EXACTLY what you are trying to do and limits you need to work within?   Bending jigs to go with your screwpress don't do much good if you don't have a screwpress. Are you working 1/8" or 8" steel?

I like to use a wax finish on interior items; but then I'm in an area where single digit humidities are quite common; probably wouldn't work as well on a sea coast.  (Some places I suggest using forged Monel or stainless as expecting a customer to do regular maintenance is more of a pipe dream...)

You know all of the details; but we don't unless you provide them to us!

yes but it is better to come here as most never get online, they are sold before they cool down.

anyone who calls themselves a blacksmith should be able to make such things or it is like someone with a CD player calling themselves a musician

AH,

I think the Iron Dwarf is delicately suggesting that you should amend your profile with your location. By the way, Welcome!

as a guy with a couple of years of experience i'll confirm what folks with decades under their belts have already said ... build it yourself. i've found there's no better way to learn than building your own tools. think of it as the table stakes for executing your creative vision ... making the tools you need will teach you the skills to make other objects. i bought one pair of tongs and a hammer to get started but i've made every other tool since ... tongs, drifts, punches, bottom tools, bending jigs, a guillotine & dies  and now hammers. i've learned more making tools than had i made 100 candle holders or bottle openers ... plus i've saved a lot of money along the way. 

that said, i didn't learn in a vacuum ... theres a lot of great video, the ABANA curiculum is a great guide and i've taken a few classes w local smiths. 

have fun

 

So perhaps a thread on "Please show me your bending jigs to do XYZ"  might bear fruit.  (and if you see one you realy, really like; well most smiths will often trade stuff for money....)

One thing though: often we find some weird piece of scrap that works just right for a certain project and is unlikely to ever be found elsewhere.

Greetings AH,

For starters I have my students make a simple set up for the vise.. As you can see it uses old 1/2 drive sockets for the forms. They are easy to make and adjust to many forms... I have posted this before so keep reading other post and get busy. 

Forge on and make beautiful things 

Jim

Welcome aboard AH, glad to have you. If you'll put your general location in the header you might have Iforge members living within visiting distance which will REALLY boost you up the learning curve.

When you get around to reading the replies please note folk are asking you to clarify your request. Nobody's being picky, we just can't give you a meaningful answer to such a vague question. It'd be like me asking you if it'd be better to fly or drive. you'd HAVE to ask me where I was going, how far it is, what I was taking with me, etc. 

We LIKE helping folk learn the craft, we'll converse with you about it but there's a LOT to know before you have an idea of how little you know. Sounds harsh but that's life.

Again, glad to have you. 

Frosty The Lucky.

great tool Jim

Thanks for sharing, Jim, I'll definitely be making one of those. I'll just have to visit the cheap/used tool places to find some sockets since there's no point buying new/good ones for that. 

My late father-in-law (a car guy) left me a lot of duplicate sets of old sockets. I think I just found a use for them.

Great tool Jim!

Do you find the socket tilts at all? Do you have to focus your pressure at the bottom of the socket to avoid that?

Greetings Joel, 

For the most part not. If you feel the need to hold the stock better you can just use small tongs and pinch the stock with one leg of the tong inside the socket.  After you start using the tool you find other uses for bending and tweeking. Just like an adjustable bending fork. Have fun

Forge on and make beautiful things 

Jim

 

I have an old tool box & tools I'm giving to my son that HAD a bunch of assorted sizes 1/2" sockets, guess it will be a tad lighter when he picks it up.  Super idea Jim.

On ‎1‎/‎5‎/‎2017 at 2:32 PM, Frosty said:

Nobody's being picky, we just can't give you a meaningful answer to such a vague question.

AH  this very true, most everyone on this site will have your back  but need the info needed to  form an answer.  In 1964 when I had my first computer class we were told "Garbage in Garbage Out"  if you put in the right info you get the right answer out, as true today  as then. 

PS  from what I see you have the pick of the litter (minus myself) working with you here.