P&Mshoe.jpg (8849 bytes) demo070b.jpg (41230 bytes)

Souvenir Horse Shoe AND Belt Buckle
Demonstration by Jock Dempsey.
http://www.anvilfire.com
September 15, 1999

guru :
20:32:15

Tonight's demo will be a (yea we DON'T make horse shoes!) Souvenir Horse Shoe AND Belt Buckle. I thought this would round out our horseshoe collection. So far we have two sculptures made from shoes and an ACTUAL shoe. This one is for the kids.

guru :
20:35:43

First, I want you to know that I AM NOT a farrier but have spent 100's of hours doing demos for the public. The public has a short attention span and will NOT watch you for more than 5 minutes. The other thing is that the public THINKS all we make is horse shoes. So why disappoint them.

jdshoe01.jpg (4015 bytes)

guru :
20:37:03

This shoe is made from a piece of 1/2 x 3/8 x 8-10" mild steel.

jdshoe02.jpg (4419 bytes)

guru :
20:37:57

You can use a shorter piece to make a belt buckle.

guru :
20:39:10

Heat an end and bend about an inch then upset to form a heal.

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jdshoe04.jpg (3875 bytes)

guru :
20:40:39

Do the same to both ends. This looks simple but is harder than it looks and is good forging practice.

jdshoe05.jpg (2147 bytes)

guru :
20:42:20

Now you have an option. You can make a plain shoe or one a little more decorative.

guru :
20:44:23

jdshoe06.jpg (3083 bytes)

guru :
20:46:56

I use a 1" cold chisel to make a short square ended crease.

guru :
20:48:29

Then I take the same chisel and make two fading creases about 1/4" from the ends of the first.

jdshoe07.jpg (3719 bytes)

guru :
20:51:40

Afterwards a sharp chisel is used to make connecting cuts. These give the appearance of nails. This chisel can be rolled a little at the ends to make the "nail" look like a separate piece. The creasing is done hot but this step is done cold.

jdshoe08.jpg (2722 bytes)

guru :
20:52:47

When done with both ends the straight "shoe" should look like this.

jdshoe09.jpg (4057 bytes)

guru :
20:55:05

The last step is to bend the shoe. A good long even heat makes it easier. I bend the shoe in the hardy hole while gripping the bar at the far end with tongs. Adjust afterwards on the horn.

jdshoe10.jpg (4562 bytes)

guru :
20:57:04

Note the gap in the creasing at the toe. This is so you can stamp initials on the shoe. People will watch you make a shoe, but they will BUY one with their kids name or initials.

guru :
20:58:09

I use 1/4" metal stamps on this size shoe.

jdshoe01.jpg (4015 bytes)

guru :
20:59:43

This "decorative" shoe is also good for making belt buckles.

jdshoe11.jpg (4635 bytes)

guru :
21:04:17

The buckle is made using a shorter piece of stock. The cross bar and "hook" is made of 3/16" round. The "hook" pin has a shoulder filed on it and then is riveted in place.

guru :
21:04:51

Questions. . .

vince :
21:06:31

do you still use the 1/2 x 3/8 stock?

guru :
21:07:37

Thanks, I'll have photos to post with the demo on the iForge page next week. I know this is not REAL exciting but I've made a ton of these things. . . Yes, I use the rectangular stock. Its only available in cold drawn.

Ntech :
21:08:24

What is the selling price?

guru :
21:10:26

$$$ You don't want to know how cheap I was making them. . . Today I'd ask at LEAST $5 :)

guru :
21:11:03

$15 anyone? $10? ? ? ?

Tedd-Harris :
21:11:02

How much for the buckles? I made 15 of these as a special order for a customer. The one pictured is serial #1 of 15. It has some flaws as it was the first trial. The rest were much cleaner. It was too long ago for the price to have relevance

tom :
21:13:16

we used to make a small shoe at demos for a buck , I know we made hundreds of them over a six year period

tom :
21:14:33

used round 3/8 or 1/4 rod (makes them come out real slick and they look better than square stock

guru :
21:15:59

I was selling them plain without the crease for $2. BUT, they HAD to watch me make them if they wanted one with their initials on it. Otherwise you'd get so back logged you couldn't keep up.

guru :
21:18:45

One weekend at a buy show I thought I was RICH. Had a pocket STUFFED with bills! Counted them after the show. . . Had all of $98! Yep, I forged a little set to go with an "apple head" doll out of 1/16" rod!

Bobby Hart:
3/22/02

How is the rivet, that goes in the belt hole, "fastened" on the belt buckle

guru :
3/22/02

A 3/16" hole was drilled. A piece of 3/16" rod was put in the hole and clamped in the vise to support it for riveting. When the head was upset cold the shank supported in the vise also expanded a little. Afterwards the extra 3/16" rod was cut off and a very slight bend and curve was put in the pin to make it hold better. Then the pin was dressed with a file to round the end and give it a little taper.

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