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Tools I made - forge, blaster, post vice, etc.

Chaz - Tuesday, February 2, 2010 - 3:43pm

Hey Guys,
I thought I might throw out some pix of some of the tools I've made. The forge thread brought this to mind. Unfortunately, I haven't figured out how to post pix yet so if you'd like to see them just go here; http://s58.photobucket.com/albums/g279/Skulptor/?start=all
You can see a few of the tools I've built amongst some other pix that have nothing to do with tools. There are 3 pages (I think) or it might be condensed down to one.
There is a pic and a drawing of my NG forge (Can be propane if you want) that I absolutely LOVE!! It is totally versatile with it's ability to be raised up and down. I just revamped it a bit for a little more versatility.
There is also a pic of one of my post vises. I have a big studio so by mounting them this way I can use them all over the studio, take them to demo's, as well as put a couple together to hold large pieces.
There is also a pic of my planishing hammer as well as my sand blaster from an old oil drum. I made it "Clam shell" design also.
If ya got questions, I'll be happy to answer when I can but, I am getting ready for a big show so time is limited. I just wanted to mainly get this out to show another option for a really versital forge.
I also took a couple shots of a stake and hammers I just made plus what a Transit bus spring looks like. It might give you inspiration for making tools out of them. I have one that a buddy gave me who works for a Transit Authority and apparently, they break on occasion and can be gotten. I just have to figure out how to post pictures. I'm limited on time right now.

Enjoy!
Chaz


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Chaz's picture

Smaller tools

Chaz - Tuesday, February 2, 2010 - 4:32pm

Stake, transit spring, hammersStake, transit spring, hammers

Another viewAnother view

last shotlast shot

Ok guys, I had a minute so I thought I would try to post a couple shots of stuff. Hope it works. if not, I'll try again later.

The pix show a stake I made for doing a butterfly body I am working on. I used a piece of 1/4" thick wall tubing and a ball hitch and welded them together. I clamp it in a vise and it seems to work ok, especially off dolly on the other side of the ball. I left it long so I can work deep if I need to. (I can always cut it off :)

There is also two hammers I just forged to do the same job. Plus, I just wanted them. :) One started life and a piece of coil spring and the other was a hardened shaft.

Then there are the big ugly pieces of metal that were a bus (transit) spring. They have some good curves to work with. I welded a solid bar to both sides of the one piece so I can put it in my anvil. It will give me 4 different ends to work off of. I still need to finish out the one end but will wait til I have a specific need. The bigger piece might work as an inside or outside curve for something. I thought they were nice shapes for free!! :)

Any suggestions or other ideas?

Well, hope this works. Enjoy if it does!!
Chaz


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warren's picture

Good Start

warren - Wednesday, February 3, 2010 - 11:33am

Chaz, so how are the bowls coming? I was going to attach this picture earlier to show you what I use to make the bowl for my bird baths. I do not make them too deep so I can get by with using wood for the stake. I am working with a 30" disc of copper and boy are they fun to handle. For your 14" bowl you would need a 21" piece of copper so lots of hammering. The little short wooden one for helping to plannish my curved rim. Back one was the actual raising stake, long taper was my template and plannishing stake. I used a wooded hammer from ball bat,for most of the raising and the metal hammer and stake was just to work out the rim.
Raising with woodRaising with wood

Looking at your hammers not too sure about the angle of the head. When raising you need to hit straight down with the hammer so that you do not stretch or shrink the sheet. With the curve head would seem that you would be hitting a shrinking blow.
I like the nice big spring material. Looks like a lot of possibilities for it use.

www Metalrecipes -- heat and beat to the desired shape, repeat as necessary.
warren


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Bob Wilkerson's picture

math

Bob Wilkerson - Wednesday, February 10, 2010 - 11:16am

Warren,

You wrote: For your 14" bowl you would need a 21" piece of copper. Can you explain the math?

thanks

Bob


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warren's picture

Sure

warren - Wednesday, February 10, 2010 - 12:47pm

Bob,
To raise for a normal straight side vessel you add the designed finished diameter plus the finished height. This is the normal practice for silver smiths to figure out how much material they will need.

Example- 4" diameter plus 8" height would be a 12" disc.

Now if making a bowl since the diameter is tapered you just add half of the height plus the diameter.

So I guess I gave the wrong size of disc. It would actually be:

Objective to make 14" bowl = 14" diameter plus 3.5" (half of 7") height equals 17.5".

Sorry for the wrong figure, it has been a while since I made a bowl and just added wrong. Glad not making in sterling silver would of been a waste of material.

This also explained further in the book "Silversmithing"

By Rupert Finegold, William Seitz

It was the book that my instructor used in my class.

www Metalrecipes -- heat and beat to the desired shape, repeat as necessary.
warren


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Bob Wilkerson's picture

Thanks...i'm in the process

Bob Wilkerson - Thursday, February 11, 2010 - 6:57pm

Thanks...i'm in the process of doing my first bowls. I'm using 14 gauge and 18 inch discs, so lots of pounding and annealing. Hopefully i will have something not to embarrassing to post for critique soon.


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