Spork - Spoon and Fork forging

Bill-Epps : `02:05:08`	Tonights demo is a "Spork" It is a tool that was used by the "mountain men" in the 1800's so that they only had to keep up with one eating utensil.
Bill-Epps : `02:05:47`
Bill-Epps : `02:06:58`	We start with a bar of 1/4" X 1/2" about 4 to 6 inches long.
Bill-Epps : `02:07:18`
Bill-Epps : `02:08:51`	When I am making a fork, any kind of fork, I start by tapering the bar to a point. This makes it easier to split in the center and also starts the taper of my tines of the fork. It is easier to hit the center of a point that it is to gauge the center of a flat bar, at least for me it is.
Bill-Epps : `02:09:08`
Bill-Epps : `02:10:48`	With a hot cutter, I split the forks 1/2 on one side and 1/2 on the other.
Bill-Epps : `02:11:04`
Bill-Epps : `02:12:52`	After I split it with a hot cutter, I take a good heat and clamp it in the vice and use a rounded end punch with about a 3/16" radius on the end and bottom out the end of my sharp cut. This cleans up the bottom of the split and saves a lot of hot rasping and grinding on the finished product.
Bill-Epps : `02:13:04`
Bill-Epps : `02:14:03`	Actually at this point I spread the tines out to where they are almost a "T" and finish drawing them to a sharp point.
Bill-Epps : `02:14:17`
Bill-Epps : `02:15:17`	I want to work the T out good and smooth and round off the sharp edges.
Bill-Epps : `02:15:34`
Bill-Epps : `02:16:08`
Bill-Epps : `02:17:09`	I draw the tines out to where they are even (both the same length) this is harder than it looks.
Bill-Epps : `02:17:20`
Bill-Epps : `02:18:01`	Then over the horn we turn them back into the shape of the fork.
Bill-Epps : `02:18:18`
Bill-Epps : `02:19:12`	Using the edge of my hammer as a top fuller and the corner of my anvil as a bottom fuller, we start necking down and rounding up the stock right behind the tines
Bill-Epps : `02:19:39`	This is done by tilting your hammer and hitting straight down.
Bill-Epps : `02:19:55`
Bill-Epps : `02:20:47`	Then I come over to the horn of the anvil and I close up the forks a little bit more.
Bill-Epps : `02:21:01`
Bill-Epps : `02:22:25`	Now I take a 1/2 round file give a couple of licks just to sharpen the points up and start the spread for the handle just slightly.
Bill-Epps : `02:22:39`
Bill-Epps : `02:23:57`	Before I spread the center, I usually make the spoon on the other end. I need to get my ducks in a row.
Bill-Epps : `02:24:21`
Bill-Epps : `02:25:08`	Now I start the spoon by hammer the corner of the iron back into itself and letting it spread. I do this on both sides.
Bill-Epps : `02:25:23`
Bill-Epps : `02:26:52`	Now, when I hammer it back flat (to 1/4" thickness), It generates a radiused end. Then I use my hammer as a top fuller, the edge of my anvil as a bottom fuller and start thinning and rounding the neck.
Bill-Epps : `02:27:05`
Bill-Epps : `02:28:21`	Then I use the cross-pien on the horn of the anvil to spread out and thin what will become my spoon end. The top of the horn acts as a bottom fuller and the cross-pien acts as a bottom fuller to cause the metal to spread and become wider.
Bill-Epps : `02:28:33`
Bill-Epps : `02:29:17`	Cross pien acts as the "Top" fuller, not the bottom fuller. Sorry. Can't hear to good tonight. Horn acts as the bottom fuller.:)
Bill-Epps : `02:30:11`	Then using the heel of my hammer across the face of the anvil, I draw the stock down even thinner and out a point similar to a clip on a horse shoe.
Bill-Epps : `02:30:24`
Bill-Epps : `02:31:38`	After we get this form I use the file again just to round it up and smooth it up just a little. All it takes is a couple of licks while it is at a good red heat.
Bill-Epps : `02:31:53`
Bill-Epps : `02:32:59`	After it is cleaned up, we use a ball-pien hammer and a forming block (I bought mine from Kayne & Son) which works very well. (a wooden block will work also).
Bill-Epps : `02:33:18`
Bill-Epps : `02:34:06`	I clamp the forming block in the vice, use a ball-pien hammer to form the spoon.
Bill-Epps : `02:34:56`
Bill-Epps : `02:36:37`	Now at this point, after I have the spoon on one end and the fork on the other, I spread the center with a cross-pien and using the step of the anvil and the cross pien, I concave the handle portion slightly. come over the horn of the anvil and give the handle of the section a little bit of a radius so it fits the hand nicely.
Bill-Epps : `02:37:02`	and it should look something like this. I am sorry for having this out of order.
Bill-Epps : `02:37:02`
Bill-Epps : `02:38:28`	I do tilt the spoon and the fork upward just a little bit over the horn of the anvil so that when held in the hand the spoon and the fork are both level.
Bill-Epps : `02:38:28`	Any questions???
bhtemple : `02:38:32`	whats the overall length when your finished?
I-Wolf : `02:38:46`	NICE Spork Bill--haven't seen one at any of the Black Powder meeting Ive been to atlest not yet :)
Pix : `02:39:14`	Question, how do you keep the beans from dripping whilst sticking the meat???
Scotsman : `02:39:21`	great job Bill and Sharon! it looks like it would sell great in places where camping and hunting is a big thing!
Bill-Epps : `02:39:27`	It comes out about 8" long.
Bill-Epps : `02:39:52`	You can only eat w/one end at a time, otherwise you get juice all over your face.
Bill-Epps : `02:41:07`	This is a fun project. Takes about 30 minutes to make one. Sells for about $20.
bhtemple : `02:41:10`	Could a 4" thick lead block be used as a forming tool for the spoon, or would it melt the lead?
Leah : `02:41:47`	What size stock would you have to use in order to make it big enough to use when frying fish?
Pix : `02:41:59`	30 min for who to make???:)
Bill-Epps : `02:42:37`	Lead doesn't work too well. The hot iron will will cause the lead to splatter and get all over you as well as anyone stand around you.
Bill-Epps : `02:43:02`	Leah, 1/4" X 3/4" X 8" long.
Uncle-Goodcrank : `02:43:41`	Well Ill be durned. A spork, huh? Interesting
Tedd-Harris : `02:44:10`	That helps a lot. I tried a fork once. Lost one of the tines and haven't tried it again. But I will definitely get some made, now. I made a carving knife for my wife, but put the fork on hold until I could get a good one made.
I-Wolf : `02:44:30`	Uncle-Goodcrank where is Jackson calif near ?,northern calif heren
Bill-Epps : `02:44:33`	By using that rounded punch, after making your split, will save you a lot of clean up time on your finished fork. This is something I do on BBQ forks as well, just to make the center of the tines smooth.
Tedd-Harris : `02:45:27`	A fork to go with the knife would make a good Mother's Day present. :)
Bill-Epps : `02:46:05`	Especially if she is a camper or a buckskinner:)
Leah : `02:46:13`	When we camp, we either fry fish or barbeque, this would be a good way to cut down on dishes.