swedefiddle Posted November 12, 2018 Share Posted November 12, 2018 Good Morning psa, When you are drawing out long tapers, forge a short taper on the end of the bar, FIRST. When you are forging, the effort of the hammer blow doesn't get to the center of the material and the outer surface draws out first/easiest. Leave a little lump at the tip as you are forging, forge the tip, LAST! If you finish the tip first, it flexes all over the place while you are forging the rest of the taper. Welcome to IFI. Not watching 'Forged in Fire' is probably an asset. Enjoy the journey, there is no Destination. Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psacustomcreations Posted November 12, 2018 Share Posted November 12, 2018 Neil, I started with short tapers then lengthed them the next session. The flexing and flopping around is exactly what happened to me. Thanks for the idea of leaving a lump for later. Pat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psacustomcreations Posted November 12, 2018 Share Posted November 12, 2018 Das, Since you asked about what I make, here are a few examples. 90 percent of my work is with scrap metal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hans Richter Posted November 12, 2018 Share Posted November 12, 2018 Finished the cast/blanks of the bronze trilobites another Venus and an African mask. The fossils will be placed on chalk stone pedestals. I still must carve the stones into rough forms without damaging the enclosed real fossils (fossilized sea shells and corals). For the mask, I’m looking for a rough block of Wenge timber. The exhibition pieces / pedestals will rest on 30in high stands from linseed oil coated rebar lattice girders or slender steel boxes from rusty Corten steel. psa - very nice sculptures and functional Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted November 12, 2018 Share Posted November 12, 2018 Awesome work Pat. Thanks for sharing. You have a great artistic eye. That fishing setup bell is great. You'll fit right in here. Hans, those are looking like great "high end?" Art pieces. (I'm no art specialist lol but those look awesome) Very nice work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psacustomcreations Posted November 12, 2018 Share Posted November 12, 2018 Todays goal was round tapers using the rounding hammer. I finally weighed this hammer and with the handle it is right at 4 pounds. Here is how the face looks after this session. Advice or thoughts on how I am using it? I know I need to clean up the face, but I also need a new handle on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted November 12, 2018 Share Posted November 12, 2018 The face looks fine. As you can see the hot steel is polishing it up. Might need a little touch up after some mis strikes. With the cold shuts in the ends. I got these early off in forging and still occasionally in the ends of tapers in stock getting under 1/8". It seemed to me to be when I didnt keep the stock hot enough while working and also twisting of the metal as I worked it. Are you going square to octagon to round? Or trying to taper round? Others surely can explain better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psacustomcreations Posted November 12, 2018 Share Posted November 12, 2018 Square to octagon to round Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranchmanben Posted November 13, 2018 Share Posted November 13, 2018 A few weeks ago I posted a batch of hammer heads with one that wasn’t quite like the others. I’d teased that I had plans for it. It’s finally done. 2lbs with bois d’arc handle wedged with hickory. I had my dad do the engraving. Cold blue finish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted November 13, 2018 Share Posted November 13, 2018 Beautiful work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranchmanben Posted November 13, 2018 Share Posted November 13, 2018 Thank you. It might be too fancy to use but I enjoyed making it and like looking at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted November 13, 2018 Share Posted November 13, 2018 Awesome work. Actually not too nice to use, but if using certainly not to be abused and used in show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arkie Posted November 13, 2018 Share Posted November 13, 2018 That is undoubtedly the most beautiful hammer I have ever seen. Ben, your work is masterful. Your Dad's engraving is masterful as well. You two make a great team! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MotoMike Posted November 13, 2018 Share Posted November 13, 2018 Ben, that has to be the prettiest hammer I've seen. I think using it will only make it more beautiful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranchmanben Posted November 13, 2018 Share Posted November 13, 2018 Thank you very much for the compliments. It’ll get used at some point but it’s going to get fondled at the house for a bit first. Arkie, we do make a good team but, at times, if you heard up working cows or working on a windmill you might not think so. We always end the day best friends so it works. He’ll be happy to hear of what you think. Believe it or not, He’s actually far better at tooling leather than engraving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted November 13, 2018 Share Posted November 13, 2018 Finally made a touchmark. Just over 1/4" wide. Tho I'd like to make a smaller one. I'll try a better smaller one after this one. I was happy for the success of it. Made from a chunk of a star drill, cut and filed then hardened. I remember a more recent post about these but ill be darned if I can find it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted November 13, 2018 Share Posted November 13, 2018 Nice. Distinctive and personal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted November 13, 2018 Share Posted November 13, 2018 Thanks John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hans Richter Posted November 13, 2018 Share Posted November 13, 2018 Nice and clear mark, you see immediately how made the work piece -Aric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranchmanben Posted November 13, 2018 Share Posted November 13, 2018 That’s looks good and stamps good too. What’s AA? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausfire Posted November 13, 2018 Share Posted November 13, 2018 … ben, that hammer is a wonderful work of art. An heirloom piece. I would never hit anything with it. Superb engraving! And Aric, your touchmark is great. About time you made one! It gets an AA+ from me. psa, Your scrap art is functional and elegant. That red bell is my favourite. Nice to have another scrapologist on board. Hans, your castings are always fascinating. I have one of those trilobite fossils somewhere. Western Qld is well known for its fossils. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlpservicesinc Posted November 13, 2018 Share Posted November 13, 2018 Ben, great hammer.. Please don't tell me your going to put this on a shelf somewhere.. I'm a firm believer in using quality tools... I love you can also see the hardening line (hamon) in the hammer faces.. Did your Dad really like the hammer as well? He does nice work.. Do you engrave also? That is something I always wanted to get into but I'm more of a Cow in the china shop looking for that last bit of grain spilled on the floor.. Das, nice stamp.. Your going to start marking your work? Have you been? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helena Posted November 13, 2018 Share Posted November 13, 2018 Holy crap Ben! That hammer is stunning! Nice work on the touchmark Das! Did you end up using files? I'm curious cuz I still have to make mine someday... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted November 13, 2018 Share Posted November 13, 2018 Ben, AA = my initials. Aric Armbruster. Jlp, I haven't marked all of my forge work. Some of it I did start engraving my initials and the year on the back. Helena, yeah just used a mini file set. Tried to use the engraver to make the center dot in the A but it isn't very deep and it doesnt transfer much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helena Posted November 13, 2018 Share Posted November 13, 2018 Nice! Thanks for the info. I guess I'm just intimidated because what I 'want' to have for a touchmark seems complicated... Maybe I have to come up with an easier design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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