Leland Posted December 26, 2008 Share Posted December 26, 2008 Determined to make my kid a new tool for Christmas, I diligently forged a bolster into some spring steel, drawing out either end to make a tang and gouge blade, respectively. It was going swimmingly, until the very last possible moment when the tang broke. Or crumbled, or burnt off. Twice. Too hot? Too cold? Just not paying attention? I dunno. Anyway, I blew off the idea of making a bolstered tool and forged a tapered tang instead, with a bent, 5/8" gouge on the opposite end. I turned a simple handle out of lignum vitae [my first experience with this stuff - what a blast!], and used a 3/4" copper pipe cap for a ferrule. Polished all the metal parts (leaving a few dimples in the gouge to indicate forging, rather than machining) and waxed the handle. Boxed it up and gave it to my son on Christmas Day, as a gift to inspire his continuing efforts in woodcarving and blacksmithing. The way his eyes lit up you'd have thought I'd just handed him Isildur's newly-remade sword. I looked around the living room Christmas night, and the gouge was missing. It was upstairs; he'd put it on his nightstand before going to sleep. All the best for the New Year, Leland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrynjr Posted December 26, 2008 Share Posted December 26, 2008 Pictures! we need Pictures!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leland Posted December 26, 2008 Author Share Posted December 26, 2008 (edited) All right, let's see if this will work:http://s473.photobucket.com/albums/rr98/ghostlyshows/Blacksmithing%20Projects/ I don't know why, but the "upload" button to the Gallery isn't working, and this is the best I could do. Eh, what are ya gonna do -- that bolster didn't turn out right, either!!!! Edited December 26, 2008 by Leland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrynjr Posted December 26, 2008 Share Posted December 26, 2008 That looks awesome! Excellent job. The upload issue is probably the same as the one posted about here;http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/f20/problems-posting-gallery-8674/ It has to do with the Adobe Flash plugin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lysdexik Posted December 26, 2008 Share Posted December 26, 2008 All the bolster chisels I have seen "proffesionaly" made, have the bolster wraped and welded, not upset and necked. I dont do much carving but I do make a lot of "saddled" chairs. If you have any prototypes or seconds I would be willing to take them, or I am possibly up for adoption. Paul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWooldridge Posted December 26, 2008 Share Posted December 26, 2008 Coolest post I've seen all day...good for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Einhorn Posted December 26, 2008 Share Posted December 26, 2008 Very nice, congratulations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 That's a beauty, I probably would've taken it to bed with me rather than make it sleep on the nightstand. Alone. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finnr Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 Very nicely done. I would be proud to get that for a gift. Finnr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug C Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 I know of one lucky kid and one great father. Nicest gifts are those from the heart & hearth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfshieldrx Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 One word...GEORGEOUS! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfootnampa Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 If you will hot seat the tangs (black heat... melted in rather than burned) or set them in epoxy, you will find the bolsters are not needed anyway... save perhaps on tools meant for heavy mallet driving. I misdoubt your son will ever miss the bolster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leland Posted December 30, 2008 Author Share Posted December 30, 2008 Thanks for the kind words, guys. I built a parting chisel with a cocobolo handle the Saturday following Christmas:ghostlyshows/Blacksmithing Projects - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting And, maybe one of these days I'll get a REAL lathe instead of this little ShopFox pen lathe :0) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_sandy_creek_forge Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 Very nice! If I might ask, what finish did you use on the lignum handle? Whatever it is the color made a nice, slightly subdued, complement to the copper ferule. I might have to file that combination away for future use -Aaron @ the SCF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arbalist Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 Very nice work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leland Posted January 1, 2009 Author Share Posted January 1, 2009 (edited) The finish was something that caught my son's eye in the Rockler store: Sunwax? Outdoor Furniture Wax - Rockler Woodworking Tools I wanted beeswax, but didn't want to shell out 22 bucks for a block of the stuff. This product is a blend of waxes in a petroleum solvent...and, oh boy, didn't it make that wood buff out nicely? Edited January 1, 2009 by Leland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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