Nail Header

Jock-D : `01:37:40`	Folks tonight we have a NEW demonstrator. Ralph Douglass is doing a nail header and nail demo tonight.
Ralph : `01:39:32`	Well suppose I should get started.
Ralph : `01:40:02`	I will try to show how I make a nail heading tool and also how I make nails....
Ralph : `01:40:57`	this is a drawing of the finished tool. Any questions!? :) ha! ha!
Ralph : `01:42:13`	I start with a piece of mild steel that is 6" X 2" X 5/8"
Ralph : `01:43:25`	Two inches from one end fuller the edges. I go about 3/8 in deep and use a fuller that is made fron 3/8 round rod.
Ralph : `01:44:34`	Now the only hard part is to draw teh bar down till it is a comfy fit to the hand. Mine ended up about 10 in long
Ralph : `01:45:13`	if you have a pwr hammer no problem, but I did it with a 2.5 lb hammer
Ralph : `01:46:33`	Now I punch a hole, or you can drill it. Use either a 35/64 or a 9/16 drill. I will explain why in a min
Ralph : `01:46:59`	Now we are done with this piece for now.
Ralph : `01:47:07`
Ralph : `01:47:45`	Take a number 8 HC bolt A #/4 one
Ralph : `01:48:26`	Cut the stud off till you only have about 9/16 left
Ralph : `01:48:48`	BTW it helps if you have anealled this bolt first!
Ralph : `01:49:47`	Find the center of the bolt. I scribe lines so they intersect. Then drill a 3/16 hole thru it
Ralph : `01:50:23`	Helps if you center punch it, and if you have a drill vise it will be easier to hold
Ralph : `01:51:31`	now flip th ebolt over and drill a 7/16 hole from the bottom. But DO NOT go all teh way thru. Stop about 1/8 fronm the edge
Ralph : `01:51:44`	Now the fun stuff!
Ralph : `01:52:54`	Get it nice and hot. Yellow works for me. Then use a square punch of the size nail you want... And punch the round hole to make it square
Ralph : `01:53:55`	I do this over the pritchle hole. Or you can use a punch block and do it on the face
Ralph : `01:55:00`	Now file the top to a nice dome shape. But keep some of teh flats on teh bolt as you will need them later.
Ralph : `01:56:35`	Now we take the handle and tap it to take teh bolt insert. If your bolt was 5/8 11 then used the 35/64 drill if it was 5/8 18 then use the 9/16
Ralph : `01:57:34`	Or you can also do what I did on my first one. Use a bolt to cut the threads in teh handle while it was at a yellow heat. Either way works
Ralph : `01:58:18`	Now screw it into the handle and you have a nail header that you can change insertys on for different sized nails.
Ralph : `01:58:57`	Now a quick demo on nails
Ralph : `01:59:41`	Start with some 1/4 stock
Ralph : `01:59:55`	I use square
Ralph : `02:01:00`	Make a shoulder on teh bar. On two sides. How much well depends on size nail. For a 2-3 inch nail I use about 1"
Ralph : `02:01:10`
Ralph : `02:01:28`	Remember two sides for shoulder
Ralph : `02:01:44`
Ralph : `02:02:18`	Draw til the nail will fit in teh header
Ralph : `02:02:38`
Ralph : `02:03:32`	Cut almost thru using a C/O hardy. About the same thickness as the stock is what I use to gauge where to cut
Ralph : `02:03:45`
Ralph : `02:04:43`	Now twist off in the header and then hit straight down a good blow. Then a quick 3 or 4 all around and you should get a nice 'rose' patter nail.
Ralph : `02:04:56`	Questions?
Ralph : `02:05:32`	BTW in teh 1840 a pro nail smith could do about 100 an hour for 10 hours a day!
Bill : `02:05:42`	when did you point the nail??
Ralph : `02:05:58`	Also do not head the nail if it is not red.
Ralph : `02:06:17`	Bill the point accurs during the drawing out
BenThar : `02:06:25`	I like using a bolt for an interchangable set, good idea
Aaron : `02:06:26`	Any particular reason you made the hole from the back larger? If it fits into the smaller top hole I wouldn't expect it to get stuck.
Jock-D : `02:06:40`	Do you harden the "bolt"?
P-F : `02:06:47`	Good demo Ralph, thanks,,,,hOW DO YOU GET THR HEAD CENTERED?
Ralph : `02:07:16`	Oh yes I forgot. I do heat treat the insert. Take it to cherry and oil quench. Shine it up and draw to a blue temper
Ralph : `02:07:59`	If the bottom hole is not bigger the na\ils get stuck most of the time... Not sure why tho
bbb : `02:08:16`	two sides paralell, two sides tapered?
Jock-D : `02:08:23`	Inserts look like a good small lathe project :)
Ralph : `02:08:54`	Pete, you mean in the handle? It just takes a bit of care. I also scribe an X on teh header to find the center of teh Pad
Tom-Stovall : `02:08:57`	Ralph, in your opening statement, you said, "start with 2" x 5/8", but your drawing shows 2 1/2" x 5/8". Which is correct?
BenThar : `02:09:11`	A small lathe would knock those out in a flash :)
Ralph : `02:09:18`	The nail will be more or less square
Ntech : `02:09:29`	What is the selling price of the finished nail?
Ralph : `02:09:59`	Typo was supposed to be 2" X 6" X 1/2"
Joe-Rolfe0 : `02:10:31`	Could you explain what kind of bolt that was again?
Ralph : `02:10:58`	BUt I do not have a lathe! :) Have not sold nails. But nail rings go for about 5 or 6 dollars, unbless it is a pretty young lady... :)
P-F : `02:11:02`	no, I meant, seeing as it is only necked on one side, why does the nail head come out centered on the nail shaft?
Ralph : `02:11:34`	I use #8 High Carbon bolts either 5/8 or 3/4 size
Bill : `02:12:01`	I get $1.. each
Ralph : `02:12:32`	It sometimes is not centered. But as you draw it out you can centerit or as you head it you can hit off center to move it over.
SmithinScout : `02:12:35`	that was nice ralph, i wondered how they got the head on there :)
Ralph : `02:13:25`	as we did in the navy use firm pressur with the palm of your hand! :)
Bill : `02:13:49`	how maney heats do You take to make a nail Ralph???
Ralph : `02:15:18`	Bill now you are putting me on teh spot! :) if I have not made nails in a while I use two, But eventually I can do a nail a min for a while. But then I am exhausted