larrynjr Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 So I spent this past weekend at Jerry Culberson's last ever blacksmithing class, learning how to make a traditional gate using mortis and tenon. IT IS A LOT OF WORK!!! It took me all weekend just to forge out 4 tenon's and slit and drift 4 mortis's for the frame. I used 5/8" x 1 1/8" stock. Much of the time was spent tweaking and fixing my mistakes but it was a weekend well spent. Now all I have to do is create the inner pieces. I'm planning on a dog motif, with a couple of flat bar vertical pieces with some dog prints stamped into them and after I learn how and make the tools to do it, dog heads of the tops of the frame . Nothing like a challenge! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Browne Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 And I think punching and drifting a couple of holes for screws is a lot of work!! Looking absolutely great and worth the effort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrynjr Posted November 20, 2008 Author Share Posted November 20, 2008 Thanks Rob, it a good start and I think the finished product will be good to but I guess we'll see when I actually get it finished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustyshackleford Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 yep, looks great! I get the impression that kind of work takes a lot of tooling monkey tools, chisels, punches, and drifts all for different sizes of stock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
divermike Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 The course "be seated" held by Jay Burnham Kidwell is a great traditional joinery course, he speaks to square tenons as a better way than round, as they seat and do not move, the tooling is a big part of the process, but once you have made them, the sky is the limit, I like working with the big stock like you did, well done, it inspires me to start on the one my wife wants. Glad she does not read this!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackbeard Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Looking good! Surprising how much work it is huh and to think in the days before power hammers blacksmiths did it all by hand! Bb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Nice to see a proper job, you will get quicker. Well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrynjr Posted November 20, 2008 Author Share Posted November 20, 2008 What I need now are butchers and side sets, flatter and monkey tools. It was hard enough with having Jerry's tools available but with none of those in my possession it will slow things down considerably. I think I'll try to make at least the butcher and the monkey tools from stock on hand but the side sets and flat sets I don't think I have stock for. A cheese fuller would be good too! Guess I need to get to some conferences and hope someone has some of these available! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Nice work Larry. Lots of it of course but most satisfying. I agree, you need more tools and equipment. Tell your wife I said so if it'll help. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrynjr Posted November 21, 2008 Author Share Posted November 21, 2008 Nice work Larry. I agree, you need more tools and equipment. Tell your wife I said so if it'll help. Frosty I'll tell her! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 I'll tell her! Hey! . . . Wait a minute! Weren't you sending all those cruelly addictive tools to me for safe keeping? You haven't fallen off the wagon have you? You WANT to be cured don't you? Any more tools and equipment you talk your wife into letting you buy needs to be sent here immediately to prevent a relapse! You DO want to be normal don't you? Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWooldridge Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 What I need now are butchers and side sets, flatter and monkey tools. It was hard enough with having Jerry's tools available but with none of those in my possession it will slow things down considerably. I think I'll try to make at least the butcher and the monkey tools from stock on hand but the side sets and flat sets I don't think I have stock for. A cheese fuller would be good too! Guess I need to get to some conferences and hope someone has some of these available! If you don't already have one, a treadle hammer will be a lot of help also. Greatly reduces the time to make tenons if you have the proper set tools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrynjr Posted November 21, 2008 Author Share Posted November 21, 2008 But if I get a treadle hammer or even a power hammer, I'll just have to send it up to Frosty to keep me safe and normal............... Actually I'm considering bypassing the treadle for now and order the plans for the tire hammer. My taste of using the power hammer has got me interested in.....................POWER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 Larry: For your health and well being I feel you should talk to Bob Bergman at Postville Blacksmith's Shop about buying a totally refurbished Nazel 3B. Then send it to me of course, I wouldn't want to see your addiction take THAT kind of turn! Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finnr Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 Frosty You sir are just a saint! Finnr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 I try Finnr I sincerely try. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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