[TheForge] New Style Lil Giant Dies

Sun Dec 1 07:32:00 2002

        Ed,  Sid got together on this bolt on die system with Rob Gunter
after Rob had worked a job doing hundreds of feet of rail and iron work at a
job with great results with this style die.  Talking with Rob at the ABANA
conference he said the bolts never loosened up while he worked the dies
(success for two years use as I heard it).
        I've never had any problems with my air hammer dies loosening bolts
either........so I'd say it isn't a problem.   Your working hot steel(or
should be) and the dies are welded to thick mounting plates that will take
forever to stretch out that plate enough to cause a side shear on the
mounting bolts.  With blocks of 4140 and in Sid's case they are
hardened.......your upper dies are the sacrificial points for sure, as the
hardened dovetail isn't going to suffer any.  The hammer strikes straight up
and down and I don't see where any side shear is going to come into play to
ruin, damage, or loosen those bolts.
        The other point is to consider what these dies were designed for in
the first place. If you want to draw out 7/8" round stock all day, I'd
suggest you lock in a set of drawing dies or at least combo dies that are
one piece.  The lower dovetail block was a concept to work rail cap, collar
stock, and reshaping stock to use for a particular application.........it's
more of a quick swage tool of sorts, more than a permanent die for drawing.
The beauty of the idea is if you ruin what you made for a limited run, you
don't need $100 worth of tool steel to make another blank, you throw
something together to use to get the job done.
        I have one of these lower die blocks and have made a couple top dies
for limited use - the bolts haven't loosened, but then again - I didn't try
to make a set of drawing heads to bolt on it either.
        If you are really worried about dies loosening bolts - cut a full
lower die to take a 2" square insert that is 1" tall and you can dovetail
and key into the lower block.  This will allow alignment and a more positive
holding situation than bolts.........but that's just if your looking for
something better when this system fails(if it does).  This works sort of
like a permanent spring swaging system for a hammer..........again, not
intended for drawing or flat die work.

Ralph


----- Original Message -----
From: "Ed F" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, December 01, 2002 12:07 AM
Subject: [TheForge] New Style Lil Giant Dies


> I just installed a new 2 piece bottom die on my 50# Little Giant.  I
bought
> it from Sid.  But I just asked for the bottom part and made my own top
> piece.  But I'm just leery about it being held on by only (2) 3/8" bolts.
> Seems like they could shear right off with some fatigue.
>
> Does someone out there have the top part from sid?  I'm wondering if it
> locks together in some way so the bolts aren't depended upon.
>
> Ed
>
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