I just finished up my Christmas projects for this year. I decided to make big clothes pin paper weights. I was walking around Ben Franklin (craft supply store) with the family. I picked one up made out of wood and asked Mike if he thought I could forge that out....So I ended up buying a dozen over two trips and found some steel close to the size of the wooden parts. Mike was a big help as always...

It is forged. All the holes were drilled. And the pin is plug welded to the base. All of it was tumbled and wire brushed then assembled.

The springs are from the originals I bought in the store. I had to drill holes for the springs for it all to work. The slots in the top and bottom were not working AT ALL!

I painted the springs flat black, and the rest of it was sprayed with clear.

I also put felt on the bottom to keep it from scratching up the tables.

This was a lot of fun and I learned a lot. The next batch will be a lot better, but these turned out okay for my first try.

Peyton

Primetech that is cool. Now if you pair those up with a nice big flat washer you can give folks their very own heavy duty washer and drier!

James

Ohhhhh Ya! Now your cooking.
No doubt that your forging skills are something to be proud of.
My chest would stick out so far that I would bust the buttons off of my shirt if I had forged them!
Just keep it up.
Ted Throckmorton!

James,
Nice Idea!!!

I may go buy a few BIG washers and throw them in the forge and beat them up a little to make them match.

Thanks for the idea.

Ted I appreciate the positive mojo. I always feel a little weird posting photos of my stuff on here. There is a lot of really nice work and I just do not see myself on any level close to it...

Peyton

Peyton, nice work. Don't feel like you aren't doing good stuff!!
Finnr

Have no doubt Peyton, these and all I've seen from you are equal to anything I have seen on this site. These are very cool and you did a great job.

Cool! 2 questions....How hard is it to open? How heavy are they? And the washer idea is really cool.
Also, you have nothing to be ashamed of as far as your talent goes. I think you do nice work! We are our own hardest critics.

Those are really cool, and don't try and get rid of all imperfections, they are what help distinguish hand crafted from store bought.

welder19

It is actually pretty easy to open. There is good resistance to keep it closed to hold a lettter or something.

The base is 3" x 7". It weighs maybe 5 pounds. I forget what the parent stock of the pin started out as....maybe 1 1/4" x 5/8"....I am not sure.

Mike took me to the shop and helped me find what was close to the wooden one I had.


thanks guys...

Peyton

You have done a right fine job on those.As Thomas said we are our own hardest critics. They are very well done and unique!

Make sure those big flat washers are not zinc coated if you are going to heat them. Great work. Very unusual and cool gift idea.

Very cool Peyton.

Washers are a great idea too.

I'm always hesitant to show my work in the company of other smiths though I don't hear bad things said. Still, I know how much better the other guys are compared to my meager attempts.

I'm trying to beat that sentiment out of myself though, I do what I do as well as I can, or as the situation dictates and I'm always after the new guys to show their work. It'd be a bit hypocritical if I didn't show mine as well. Eh?

Besides, I'm starting to get used to being in shear awe of what you guys can do.

Anyway, great paper weight/clips Peyton. Very imaginative and well executed, perhaps damascus to represent the wood grain for those "special" recipients would be a nice touch.

Frosty

I'm special!!! They said all of us on the short bus were!!!!!

Finnr

Where I come from we called it the "Sunshine Bus". So whats your favourite flavour window Finn? ;)

Great looking stuff, might bring down the close line though.