tophand Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 These are a custom order. The pair is made from one rasp. each spur is one piece. This is my 6th pair and I think I am gaining on it. My next pair will have a forged shank. The rowel is blued with heat. It is a nice touch when new, but will wear off. Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
781 Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Thanks for posting the pictures They sure are purdy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
element Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Wow man, over the top for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ralphy Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Those look great! it's amazing the things that can be forged! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Confederate Forge Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 I really like those. Very well done. You should be selling those. I would like to see a lot more hand made spurs around here. Keep it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tophand Posted February 12, 2009 Author Share Posted February 12, 2009 I really like those. Very well done. You should be selling those. I would like to see a lot more hand made spurs around here. Keep it up. I do sell these. It is starting to get crazy around here. Someone sees them, they want a pair and so on and so on. I am 2 pairs behind right now. I am out of legitimate work, so I have alot of time to devote to the craft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tech413 Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 I would still call it legitimate, you are working. I really like them too, great design! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Those are outstanding Matt. Great concept, design and execution. The texture is exquisite and perfectly preserved. Hotcakes, these should sell like hotcakes. Heck, I want a pair and I haven't owned a horse in nearly 40 years, don't even have a pair of riding boots anymore. . . Still. Well done hardly covers it. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finnr Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Beautifully made, Haven't ridden in as long as Frosty and I want a pair! Finnr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kasaino Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Wow, those look really cool, too bad my GF sold her horses... Great work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcs7 Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Hey Matt, Those are really nice. If you don't mind me being nosey, can you explain a little about they're made? Our farrier has been leaving me rasps and he said I should be making spurs and bits. I've been thinking I should make him a set. I have my own ideas on how to make them, but not sure on how to size them. Russell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlewolfsmithy Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Wow, those are stunning, unique and functional, Well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shane Stegmeier Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 If you are charging enough for them, this "downsizing" just might be a gift from God to do something you really enjoy, and make a living from it. Every cloud has a silver lining, sometimes it is hard to see while you are all wet, but keep looking for opportunities to turn your trials into blessings. Nice clean work by the way;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Very well done! We see those out this away too; another trick is to braze the pattern full of brass and then surface it back down until you get brass and steel patterns on a smooth surface. When you say it's made of one piece; do you mean that the shaft for the rowell was made by bending the stock double and welding it up there---or just that each spur is made from one rasp? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shane Stegmeier Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Judging from the pics all the peices are cut from one rasp, and then formed and fabricated, clean and quick... It also looks like the rowels are not sandwhiched on the shanks, but riveted on one side... ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strongback Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Those look great! I'd be interested in finding out how you manage to get the Spur end forged out without distorting the texture. Do you mind giving a quick brief on your process? I don't anticipate having to make any spurs but that technique would definitely be useful in other endeavors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tophand Posted February 12, 2009 Author Share Posted February 12, 2009 Thanks again for the comments. The shank is stock removal. I plan to forge sahnks in the future. Here is the quick and dirty: Usuable length on a rasp is about 14" long. Cut the rasp in half. You now have 2 pieces 7" long. Split the rasp lengthwise 4" from the smooth end. make another slit 2 1/2" from the other end leaving 1/2" of material. heat the 1/2 spot and fold the rasp. Spread the bands to 90` and then curve with heat around your mold. length and width of band is determined by boot size. 4" works well for most men. I will do a few pair in a couple of days and getr more in-depth if there is enough interest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 I got it and it's a lot easier than I was thinking. What I get for thinking eh? Thanks Matt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tophand Posted February 12, 2009 Author Share Posted February 12, 2009 I got it and it's a lot easier than I was thinking. What I get for thinking eh? Thanks Matt. Frosty, it took me a while just figuring proportions and ways of cutting. In another post you mentioned cutting steel with a cheap skill saw. That is exactly what I do. I clamp it in my vise upside down and wheel it outside. I built a guard from salvaged material. The skill has alot of torque and eats the rasps up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S.Willis Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Very nice Matt. I always have wanted to make spurs,but really didn't know how to even start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Y Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 Thanks for the pictures Matt. These look great. Have you made any with curved or goose neck shanks? Do you fab your own swing buttons for the spur straps? I would be interested in more pictures if you have any. Thanks, John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tophand Posted February 13, 2009 Author Share Posted February 13, 2009 (edited) Double Y, I used to make my own buttons but it was really labor intensive. Now I get them from Bill Adamson in Colorado. I got these swingers from Jeremiah Watt just to try out. They are hell for stout, but I do usually make my own. I am working on forging some shanks, but I just got to where I can make these very quick this way. I usually pull a pattern out of the air and draw it on vulcanized paper to trace out. What I like about these is there are very few creative limits. here is a pair I am finishing that went to ebay. I am providing the customer with four different rowel options. We will see how it plays out. I also included some nickel silver ladies that I just cut out. Matt Edited February 13, 2009 by tophand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
element Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 do you forge weld the two halfs together? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Y Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 Nice work Matt. I have been interested in making spurs for a while and have been rat holing rasps! I like your concept. Do you weld the two halves? I would think a bead inside where the two halfs come together and under the shank would be a good option. Do you just flap disk the sharp rasp cups down? Have you tried to blue a set ever? How about just posts for attaching the spur straps? I have seen lots of spurs like that. I look the look of the roper spurs with the slight neck to the shank. Nice work! John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tophand Posted February 13, 2009 Author Share Posted February 13, 2009 Double Y, the spurs will blue, I have just not done it. I do weld inside the band from top to bottom. the half inch of steel left between the shank and band is the initial bend area. I just weld to keep them from seperating. The bands are not forged together. Look at pics in previous posts. Buttons without swingers are not very popular around here. They are faster to make however, they tend to make to spur tip up in front. Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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