Bill's Fire Poker

Demonstration by Bill Epps

January 31, 2001
 
BILL
EPPS
we ready to start (Sharon will be hear in just a min to do the typing)
BILL
EPPS
Tonight's demo is a fireplace poker and head. I just showed the poker head and handle that I put on it (This is NOT tradition blacksmithing). I did arc weld the poker head. I could have forge welded it just as easy, but I was in the shop, not at a demo.

Figure 03

Figure 04

Figure 05
BILL
EPPS
I started with a piece of 1/2" square. However, any size stock will do. I taper the end for a scarf.

Figure 06

Figure 07

Figure 08
BILL
EPPS
I go to the anvil and fold over about 5". First down at a 90 deg. Then come over the horn, fold it down on top of itself. By going over the horn, it brings it back to center.

Figure 09

Figure 10

Figure 11
BILL
EPPS
As in Fig. 09 you see how going over the horn, you are able to bring it back to center, then I weld it on each side and across the bottom. Put it back in the forge, heat the welded section up, and applied flux.

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14
JohnF
hi bill justwant to say high from Hico keep up the good work
BILL
EPPS
Then I stick it back in the forge and bring it back up to a welding heat. Hammer the welding bead down at a welding heat. (Whalla, an easy FORGE WELD). After you clean the weld up w/the hammer, I cut one side into as shown in Fig. 13.

Figure 14

Figure 15

Figure 16
BILL
EPPS
In Fig. 14, I go to the horn of the anvil and straighten the loop out straight, and draw the long side down to a longer, sloping taper.

Figure 17

Figure 18

Figure 19
BILL
EPPS
Now, I do the same thing on the short side drawing it to a longer, sloping taper, and I take this to the horn of the anvil to form this back to form the hook.

Figure 20

Figure 21

Figure 22
BILL
EPPS
Now I form a sweeping push end on the longer end, so that you have a hook for pulling and an end for pushing the logs. In Image 22, I start hammer the shank of the poker, pulling a long sweeping taper from the poker head to the handle. Tapering the whole tool gives it a refined, hand forged look, not to mention a lot better balance than leaving sharp edges of the square stock. Even if I was using round stock, I would still give it a taper again to enhance the piece so as to make it look forged, not fabricated.

Figure 23

Figure 24

Figure 25
BILL
EPPS
I do the hammered taper up to where I am going to do the handle. On this piece I am doing a split handle (there are 100's of ways of making a poker handle), however this one here I am just doing a split handle on. I leave about 4" of square stock, and I take a good heat in that part and split it back about 4". I do 1/2 from one side and 1/2 from the other.

Figure 26

Figure 27

Figure 28
BILL
EPPS
Just before it splits all the way through, on the second side, I put my splitting plate on the anvil and go all the way through. (I use a 3/4" aluminum plate as a splitting plate). Then I take another good heat, and I go to the vice use a "Blunt Nosed Punch" at the bottom of the split to get away from a sharp cut, and put a nice smooth radius at the bottom of the split.

Figure 29

Figure 30

Figure 31
BILL
EPPS
Now I use a 1/2 round Bottom Fuller to round up the square corners, and actually make the split part 1/2 round on the outside that will be showing on the handle.

Figure 32

Figure 33

Figure 34
BILL
EPPS
Then I flatten about 1/2" of the ends, and curl it back just a little, and make a wishbone shape out of the two parts.

Figure 35

Figure 35

Figure 37
BILL
EPPS
Now I close the ends together, and prepare it for the wrap.

Figure 37

Figure 38

Figure 38
BILL
EPPS
I forgot to say that you clamp this in the vice. I take a piece of 3/16" round, 4 1/2" long, I taper each end and put a little curly cue on it. To start the wrap, I hold it w/a pair of vice script pliers and use a torch to keep it hot as I wrap it around. On this particular piece, I wrapped it w/the 3/16" rod rather than a collar, but a collar looks nice too.
BILL
EPPS
The poker ends up looking something similar to this, and comes out about 29" to 32" long. This seems like a good length for firetools to me. Any questions?
JOCK D.
Nice detailed demo Bill. Who did the drawings?
JOCK D.
Real Unique handle too.
Ralph
Cool stuff Bill. Thanks!
Jim C.
Bill, is the wrap welded?
gypsy
once again anouther great demo bill:)
BILL
EPPS
I am blessed to have "An Artist In Residence at My Shop", My Son Jay C. Epps is the artist.
Gilly
Thanks Bill...great demo!!
BILL
EPPS
No, Jim, the wrap is not welded. I heat the rod in the forge, and use the torch to keep it hot. After I complete the wrap, I quench it, and this draws it down good and tight.
rocker
Thanks Bill for the demo. What is a good starting stock length so that you end up with the 29" to 32"
BILL
EPPS
If there are no more questions, I am going back to the pub. :)
BILL
EPPS
Rocker, I Start w/about 27" of stock.


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