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BILL
EPPS
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we ready to start (Sharon will be hear in just a min to do the typing)
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BILL
EPPS
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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.
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Figure 03 |
Figure 04 |
Figure 05 |
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BILL
EPPS
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I started with a piece of 1/2" square. However, any size stock will do. I taper the end for a scarf.
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Figure 06 |
Figure 07 |
Figure 08 |
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BILL
EPPS
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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.
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Figure 09 |
Figure 10 |
Figure 11 |
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BILL
EPPS
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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.
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Figure 12 |
Figure 13 |
Figure 14 |
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JohnF
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hi bill justwant to say high from Hico keep up the good work
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BILL
EPPS
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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.
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Figure 14 |
Figure 15 |
Figure 16 |
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BILL
EPPS
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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.
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Figure 17 |
Figure 18 |
Figure 19 |
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BILL
EPPS
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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.
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Figure 20 |
Figure 21 |
Figure 22 |
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BILL
EPPS
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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.
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Figure 23 |
Figure 24 |
Figure 25 |
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BILL
EPPS
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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.
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Figure 26 |
Figure 27 |
Figure 28 |
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BILL
EPPS
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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.
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Figure 29 |
Figure 30 |
Figure 31 |
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BILL
EPPS
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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.
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Figure 32 |
Figure 33 |
Figure 34 |
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BILL
EPPS
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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.
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Figure 35 |
Figure 35 |
Figure 37 |
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BILL
EPPS
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Now I close the ends together, and prepare it for the wrap.
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Figure 37 |
Figure 38 |
Figure 38 |
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BILL
EPPS
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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.
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BILL
EPPS
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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?
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JOCK D.
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Nice detailed demo Bill. Who did the drawings?
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JOCK D.
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Real Unique handle too.
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Ralph
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Cool stuff Bill. Thanks!
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Jim C.
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Bill, is the wrap welded?
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gypsy
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once again anouther great demo bill:)
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BILL
EPPS
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I am blessed to have "An Artist In Residence at My Shop", My Son Jay C. Epps is the artist.
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Gilly
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Thanks Bill...great demo!!
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BILL
EPPS
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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.
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rocker
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Thanks Bill for the demo. What is a good starting stock length so that you end up with the 29" to 32"
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BILL
EPPS
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If there are no more questions, I am going back to the pub. :)
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BILL
EPPS
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Rocker, I Start w/about 27" of stock.
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