Ram Head by Bill Epps

Bill-Epps : `20:34:08`	Tonight's demonstration is a "Rams Head" with welded on horns.
Bill-Epps : `20:34:41`
Bill-Epps : `20:36:23`	This one I am making out of 1/2" sq. with 1/4" square horns. This particular piece I used on a handle for a walking stick. This head can be made any size from 1/4" up to 2" depending on what you want to use it for. The principle is the same.
Bill-Epps : `20:37:17`	Take a piece of 1/4" square 18" long. Taper and point each end and fold flat against itself in the center.
Bill-Epps : `20:37:28`
Bill-Epps : `20:39:52`	The 1/4" square is the part that is going to make the horns. We are going to jump weld on to a piece of 1/2" square. I attach it to the 1/2" sq. with dependable bailing wire or tie wire, and I heat it up, flux it, and then go back and take a welding heat.
Bill-Epps : `20:40:02`
Bill-Epps : `20:43:28`	We weld the horns on and run your weld about 1/2" or so back with the horn down on the anvil face, hammering on the 1/2" Sq. not the 1/4" square, drawing the end down to a short taper
Bill-Epps : `20:43:43`
Bill-Epps : `20:46:11`	We start using the horn of the anvil, because we want to put a little dish in his face, and give the face some expression rather than just square and chunked off.
Bill-Epps : `20:46:54`
Bill-Epps : `20:48:06`	Now, I put two flats on the corners of what will become the nostrils. Do this by hammering the corner back at a 45 degree angle
Bill-Epps : `20:48:20`
Bill-Epps : `20:49:35`	Now I use my carving block in the vice the lay the piece on so I can hold it securely while I do the details on the face.
Bill-Epps : `20:50:35`	The carving block is made by cutting a piece of 2" square at a 45 degree angle and welding a 1/8" x 1 1/2 flat bar on the bottom.
Bill-Epps : `20:51:35`
Bill-Epps : `20:51:59`
Bill-Epps : `20:52:25`
Bill-Epps : `20:53:30`	Use a center punch for the nostrils, and a hot cutter to split the mouth. All this is done at a good working heat.
Bill-Epps : `20:53:42`
Bill-Epps : `20:55:31`	You usually have to take another heat to get the eyes. I like to have a good fresh heat so I get a good impression on the eyes. I punch the eyes at about a 45 deg. angle to the head. This is where the flats from the anvil horn come in.
Bill-Epps : `20:55:44`
Bill-Epps : `20:58:14`	Now that we have the face done, we are going to start putting the twist on the horns. I lift the horns up and separate them slightly so that I can twist them. I twist them in towards the center of the bar working one then the other so I can keep them even. As you are twisting, they will twist the tightest where the heat is. test wht
Bill-Epps : `20:59:14`	I use a can of water to cool the part that I don't want to twist so I can keep the twist uniform for the full length of the horn.
Pete : `20:57:49`	Bill, do you use a shaped punch or just a plain old centerpunch? Wallace, be proud!
Bill-Epps : `21:00:33`	I use a center punch to make the nostrils. I use an eye punch to for the eyes (the eye punch is a tapered end punch with a recess in the center to make the pupil so it will stand out for definition.
Bill-Epps : `21:00:59`
Bill-Epps : `21:03:26`	Now comes the tricky part. Curling the horns and keeping them symectrical and uniform. I start at the end of the horn over the edge of the anvil and start rolling it back. Keep rolling it back, never hitting thet same place twice. This is at a working heat. (In my dreames he still does:)
Bill-Epps : `21:04:22`
Bill-Epps : `21:07:33`	After I get them started with the hammer, then I go to a pair of scrolling tongs curl horns the rest of the way. After I get them curled up in a tight twist, I take a good heat and grab the end which is in the center and pull outward as I continue to curl the horns. This gives it the spread on the horns. the horns
Bill-Epps : `21:08:20`	Then after I do this on both sides, I use a pair of channel lock pliers to even the horns up.l
Bill-Epps : `21:10:06`	Ok, I forgot a step. Back when you open the horns and start the twist, take a small hot cutter and you can put two small cuts on the corner of the 1/2" square to give him some ears. You have to do this at this point.
Bill-Epps : `21:10:29`
Bill-Epps : `21:12:16`	Then we even the horns up to suit. This particular piece is a handle for a walking stick, but this same application can be used for fire place tools, letter openers, andiorns, or anything else like a door knocker.
Bill-Epps : `21:12:38`	QUESTIONS Now please!:)
Paw-Paw : `21:23:21`	Bill, I made my animal eye punch by grinding a center punch flat, then counter drilling it for the pupil.
Paw-Paw : `21:24:06`	Made a second one for human eyes the same way, then heated and tapped it oval on the anvil.
coZy : `21:24:04`	Bill: what is the diffreance between a hot cutter and a cold cutter ?
Bill-Epps : `21:25:01`	A Hot cutter has a lot keener angle, and sharper
coZy : `21:26:02`	so a hot cutter would be more like a wood chisle shape ?
Jock-D : `21:28:44`	Great! Yes, a hot cutter is SORTA like a wood chisle in thickness but the edge can not be so low an angle.
scotsman : `21:28:46`	Would a wood chisel be a good substitute for a hot cutter?
Paw-Paw : `21:25:53`	Bill, I use a cold chisle to do the mouth with. Give a little more "open" cut. Seems to have more definition to me. But that may be my eyesight, too.
flatthumb : `21:25:55`	Will 4140 make a good hot cutter?
Jock-D : `21:30:40`	4140 is too low a carbon for a hot cutter. Wood chisles generaly don't have anything that can take being struck with a smiths hammer.
Ntech : `21:28:46`	Bill, what is the selling price of the ram's head?
Paw-Paw : `21:29:59`	Bill, one trick I use for selectivly cooling areas to control twist. I take a drink bottle, (pepsi, coke, all sport, gator ade, whatever) fill it with water, and drill a small hole in the cap. I can let just a drop or two dribble where I want it, or by squeezing the bottle, shoot a pretty steady stream Is good for colling off smart mouth kids too, (of course accompnied by an "Oop! Sorry bout that!) :)
Paw-Paw : `21:30:27`	Ntech, I sell a four piece fireplace set with rams heads for $180.00
Bill-Epps : `21:31:54`	Ntech just depends what you put it on and how big it is