December 24, 20178 yr Author Started on 3 feathers today. Still have shaping and clean up to do but tank freezes up fast at 9f in the shop. Hoping to finish these 3 today
December 25, 20178 yr Those look cool! I need to try some feathers! How is your ribbon burner forge build going? I think after I get my forges built for my friends, my next adventure into forge making will be something similar.
December 25, 20178 yr Author I haven't done much recently. Been so busy my time in the smithy has been short. I need to get on it but I keep getting side tracked lol. Today my propane kept freezing up fast like 30 - 45 min so I'd un hook it and stick it in the well house for a bit. With the heater going in the well house I can't run a heater on my tank and haven't found a tub to put my tank in yet cause everything is buried in snow. Any my way while waiting for the tank to heat up I made a monkey tool in 3/8" 1" deep. May go a bit deeper depending on my next project but I'll talk about that later. once the tank heated up I started on my h13 drift. Even at yellow heat the 8# hammer didn't move it a lot. I think I'm about 50% done with it. I started with 8" of 1" round and I think I sould have went with 6" but that's ok. Phone died before I shut down for the night so no pic of the drift yet. I left it in the forge to cool slowly so it won't harden while I'm away.
December 25, 20178 yr If you are making a real Monkey tool, you need a side hole to see where the tenon is... Nothing against you, but I think a lot of people misunderstand what a monkey tool is actually used for.. It was used to square the shoulder on a mortise and tenon assembly like wrought iron work and such and was struck on the end against the bar.. IE the monkey took was struck with a hammer. A bolster plate was used for general shoulder work and the metal being work was struck against the plate, much like a conventional heading tool but had different shaped holes and then a good old header.. Traditional monkey tool
December 25, 20178 yr Author jlpservicesinc - that is what I made it for and how I was taught to use it. But I never knew about the hole in the side. First and only one I used had no hole in the side but the tenion never bottomed out. Thank you
January 6, 20188 yr Author Finially Got it back and mounted my anvil in it. Very sturdy! Quite happy with it. Didn't get time to beat on it yet but maybe tonight.
January 7, 20188 yr Heck yah.. That is serious hammerin fun.. Will you find a way to bolt it in or a way to retain it in the stand?
January 15, 20188 yr Author Finished up my H13 drift today. Took working end up to yellow heat and let air cool in 10 mph wind then once it was black(looking in the dark) I took back to a dull cherry and again air cooled. Never let the struck end even get to a glowing heat through the whole forging. Made this one differen than the spring steel drift. Found some oval hammer handles same price as the square head but oval shape and much more consistent size than the squares. With the 4" X 1" round I have left of H13 I may make a new hammer punch. Guess it's time to finish my hammer head tongs.
January 20, 20188 yr Time to move up to two prong toasting forks unless steak flippers are crazy great sellers in your area. cool and interesting tongs. What's the idea? Hammer eye tongs?
January 20, 20188 yr Author Yes small hammer eye tongs. I have done a few bb'q forks. Everyone likes the steak flippers
January 20, 20188 yr Surprising in my opinion but hey, that's great. Steak flippers are half easier if not 3/4. .
January 23, 20188 yr Author Had a little fun today. Decided to test my h13 drift. So I cut a 3" of 1 3/8" axel. Squared it up and punched a hole. Drift worked awesome! Hammering end is nice and soft. Working end is nice and hard. Put a ding in my striking anvil. Used the anvil to get the drift threw then finished it off at the vice. Wish my hardy was deeper. Drift needs thinned down just a touch on the cheek sides but other than that I'm impressed! H13 is awesome for hot tools!
January 23, 20188 yr Author Thanks daswulf . It works very well imo. Hammer tongs work well too Going to make this one in to a masonry hammer for my brother
January 23, 20188 yr I'll be waiting to see how it goes, and curious to know how it works. I've redone some masonary hammers but never made one.
January 23, 20188 yr Nice. Isn't it funny how that works... Make enough of them and they just seem to happen after a while. Like muscle memory.
January 23, 20188 yr Author Upsetting and tapering has gotten much easier aswell. I think I'll incorporate leaves in to the coat rack I'm planning.
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.