Dano83 Posted July 8, 2017 Share Posted July 8, 2017 Went to a barn sale today, bought a few hand made tongs and then made a little coal rake from a piece of mystery steel a little smaller than a rr spike. Overall was a good way to spend a morning! Wish I started with a bigger piece of steel to make the rake a bit longer, but I'm still new so it was good practice if nothing else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted July 9, 2017 Share Posted July 9, 2017 You can always make a decorative handle and rivet it onto the rake. Everyone seems to get stuck on the notion that everything has to be forge-welded and the like, but rivets have been around for ages. Take a piece of 1/8"x1/2", bend it into a U shape, drill some holes on the ends so you can pass the rivets through.... and you've got a nice clean "stay cool" handle design that also acts as a loop to hang the rake by. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dano83 Posted July 9, 2017 Author Share Posted July 9, 2017 That's a good idea, I think I understand what you're saying. Maybe I'll look up some pictures to get a better idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 9, 2017 Share Posted July 9, 2017 Your coal rake is a fine length, turn off the blower when you rake and you won't get too close to the fire. I'd put a little point on the end and bend it closer to a 90, a little curve is helpful as well. However, a cool handle is a good addition as are decorative twists. The blacksmith's tools often have decorative touches. Coal rakes are often one of our first projects and a good place to experiment. I'm a propane forge guy and I have several coal rakes, one is the stove poker in the living room though. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dano83 Posted July 9, 2017 Author Share Posted July 9, 2017 The bend I believe is a 90 degree, or real close to it, doesn't seem to look like it in the picture tho. Only reason I didn't put a twist in it because everything I make has a twist haha. Does look a little plain the way it is though. Original plan was to put a loop in the end but I didn't want to make it any shorter. Hmmm maybe I'll go put a couple more finishing touches on it today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 9, 2017 Share Posted July 9, 2017 one of my small coal rakes got taken over as a rake/poker for our woodstove too. My wife didn't like the larger official poker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted July 9, 2017 Share Posted July 9, 2017 4 hours ago, Dano83 said: The bend I believe is a 90 degree, or real close to it, doesn't seem to look like it in the picture tho. Only reason I didn't put a twist in it because everything I make has a twist haha. Does look a little plain the way it is though. Original plan was to put a loop in the end but I didn't want to make it any shorter. Hmmm maybe I'll go put a couple more finishing touches on it today. I see your handle laying right next to the rake. It looks like an earlier project with a twist and sort of hooks on each end. Draw the longer end to round then wrap it around the end of the rake then secure it with a single rivet at the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dano83 Posted July 9, 2017 Author Share Posted July 9, 2017 Irondragon that's a good idea. I should try making projects thatre useful not just practicing drawing out rr spikes and twisting and bending them. I've never tried riveting anything yet so that'll be another good learning experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 9, 2017 Share Posted July 9, 2017 I've never been a fan of doing "repetitive useless items" So if I need to practice a skill I try to design something that I can sell that uses it. Usually more than pays for the fuel, time and stock and since I will be selling it I tend to focus on improving each one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 10, 2017 Share Posted July 10, 2017 RR spikes make good garden tools, weeding fork is a good start and a little hoe and spade need rivets or significant drawing. Remember the ladies like softer twists, pineapple and cube twists have too many sharp points to be comfortable in their hands, cable and other twists with the corners broken is a different thing entirely. A nice, not to large cable twist is a good seller. RR spikes tend to be on the upward end of the comfortable dimension for the ladies, draw the handle section to about 1/2" is about right. If you want to do repetitive projects, nails are good warm ups they need an even taper and a peined head. AFTER you make a nail header that is. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 On 7/9/2017 at 1:57 PM, Dano83 said: ...I think I understand what you're saying..... Lots of ways to add on, use up some scrap, and make something really different. Found a good example online..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 And as you can tell using a thin piece of channel for that hook it could easily become a bottle opener with a little tweaking... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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