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Nail Header
Demonstration by Ralph Douglass .
April 19, 2000

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!

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Ralph :
01:42:13

I start with a piece of mild steel that is 6" X 2" X 5/8"

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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Ralph :
01:58:57

Now a quick demo on nails

Ralph :
01:59:41

Start with some 1/4 stock

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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"

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Ralph :
02:01:10

 

Ralph :
02:01:28

Remember two sides for shoulder

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Ralph :
02:01:44

 

Ralph :
02:02:18

Draw til the nail will fit in teh header

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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

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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.

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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

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