Wizard Letter Opener

Demonstration by Bill Epps
B & E Blacksmithing

October 4, 2000
 
P-F
applause for Bill's enterance
J-J
Ok, everybody, here goes. If you start talking now the Tutor will tell you to "Be Quiet"
BILL
EPPS
This was shown to me by Mike Jacik at Richard Ross's hammerfest back in 1986.

Figure 02

Figure 03

Figure 04
BILL
EPPS
We start out with a piece of 1/2" square (It can be made out of ANY size Stock). Draw a long taper on the end, hammering on two sides and working at the Off Side of the Anvil.

Figure 05

Figure 06

Figure 07
BILL
EPPS
I curl the tapered end and then make an offset, with another curl. This is going to make the Wizard's hat.

Figure 08

Figure 09

Figure 10
BILL
EPPS
After I curl the hat and put the wave in it, we use a 3 sided punch to make an impression starting in the center and tapering outward. This depression is where the eyes will end up going and also makes the side of the nose.

Figure 11

Figure 12
BILL
EPPS
With the piece good and hot, using the 3 sided punch, you make 2 impressions, one on right and one on left, about the same depth (about 1/3 the material thickness).

Figure 13

Figure 14
BILL
EPPS
Now using the straight side of the punch, I set down the bottom of the nose. After I have a mark there that I can feel, I come to the sharp edge of the anvil, using a Half-Face Blow, and set it down. This will raise the nose up.

Figure 15

Figure 16

Figure 17
BILL
EPPS
Now we start adding the details to the face. First thing, we want to raise the nostrils using just a regular center punch, coming in at about a 45 deg. angle and punch the nostrils on each side of the nose.

Figure 18

Figure 19

Figure 20
BILL
EPPS
After we have punched the nostrils, the we use an "Eye Punch" to punch the eyes, obviously on each side.

Figure 21

Figure 22

Figure 23
BILL
EPPS
I also put a little round mark, using the eye punch in the center of the hat, then use a hot cutter to put 4 lines criss-crossed to look like a star.

Figure 24

Figure 25

Figure 26
BILL
EPPS
Then I use a small "Side Set Punch" to make him some eyebrows.

Figure 27

Figure 28

Figure 29
BILL
EPPS
I also put a line above the eyebrows to separate the hat from the forehead with the hot cutter. Now we are ready to make his "Mustache". I come from the center of the nose outward at an angle, and make a line w/ hot cutter. (This is where we will come back and cut it LATER). From the line
outward, I put some marks which will be the hair in the Mustache.

Figure 30

Figure 31

Figure 32
BILL
EPPS
We take a good heat, with a good sharp hot cutter we cut the mustache. Starting at the bottom outside, and cutting inward at an angle. After you do this on both sides, you take the hot cutter making 2 small cuts at the bottom of what will be his beard cut at angle like I show. Then using the hot cutter make some light lines to make hair on beard.

Figure 33

Figure 34
BILL
EPPS
After you cut the mustache off, the ends of the mustache will be very sharp, so you heat it up and turn these sharp points inward so that they won't stick in someone's hands, and to give the mustache the curled effect.

Figure 35

Figure 36
BILL
EPPS
Using a side set punch, I separate and define the bottom of the Beard from the rest of the piece.

Figure 37

Figure 38

Figure 39
BILL
EPPS
Now that we have the head finished, I will use my guillotine fullering tool to separate the head or handle from the blade in two places about 1/2" apart.

Figure 40

Figure 42

Figure 41
BILL
EPPS
Now we are going to start making the blade. I cut the stock off about 2" long. We taper it on two sides, leaving it still 1/2" thick and the sides tapering down to nothing.

Figure 43

Figure 44

Figure 45
BILL
EPPS
After I have it tapered down, then I go to a "V" swedge and start shaping the blade into a "V". When doing this, you want to hammer it in the center, down in the swedge block, going from front to back, then work it from back to front. By doing it this way, it keeps the blade straight.

Figure 46

Figure 47
BILL
EPPS
Then at a good heat, hot rasp the finish shape to the blade. (Makita grinder works real good for this too). After I have the finish shape on the blade, I put it back into the forge and heat the blade to get
it colored, then I apply bees wax and wire brush to get a nice sheen.

Figure 01
It should look something like this.
BILL
EPPS
Questions???
TANNIS
Thought of a simple way to give teh hat a brim?
BILL
EPPS
That's on the cowboy, but don't need a brim on this piece
HIGLAC
About how long did this take you?
INDIAN
What size stock did you use?
BILL
EPPS
To make one of these takes about 45 minutes out of 1/2" square stock. Larger stock takes a little longer.
STEVE-C
Bill, do you hammer the 'V' shape on both sides of the blade? if so how do you hammer the one side without messing up the other?
BILL
EPPS
The "v" swedge I have is made out of 1" X 2" by 3" long Hot Roll Steel w/a 1" hardy shank on it to fit my anvils.

Steve, I only put the V on one side of the blade. A letter opener (which this is) needs to be flat on the bottom, so it will lay nicely on a desk :o)
BILL
EPPS
When I make these in my shop, I use my power hammers and treadle hammer, and can make up about 2 dozen in 6 hours. However for a "Show Demonstration" doing it strickly by hand, it takes about 45 minutes each. Puts on a good show.


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