[TheForge] Swedge block question

Tue Apr 22 22:05:00 2003

I didn't go all the way with it to the half-round profile.
I noticed it wanted to swell over the top portion, even though I was peening it
in the direction for it to lengthen.
Today I forged it to a somewhat square profile which was reasonably close to
the amount of material to result in the profile I wanted.
I was easily able to stretch the material doing this. I ended up almost exactly
where I wanted to doing it this way.
I also thought that it was possible that it wasn't stretching due to
insufficient heat, especially all the way through.

I agree that hand swaging is hard work.
Unfortunately, I couldn't cut another piece of this stock.
I have this and one other piece, and time constraints have prevented me from
making a run out for more.
This first is being used to work out any design problems.

I agree with your calculation, though.

It isn't a cap railing.
It's a bracket for a swinging tabletop for a laptop computer.

Thanks for the feedback.

Bob

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of gblacksmith
Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2003 11:44 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Swedge block question

Bob:  After swaging, did you get the 3/4 half-round profile you wanted, even
though short?

Quite often, when only a small amount of stretch is observed, it is because
the stock was not heated sufficiently.  Swaging is most efficient at a
yellow heat.  A striker with a sledge can be a big help.  If not available,
a heavy single-jack is the next best thing.  Hand swaging is hard work, at
best.

If the profile you produced is acceptable as you need it, except for length,
calculate your actual stretch of 4" as a percent of  the 15.5 you started
with (26.6%), and cut a starting piece that is 26.6%  shorter than 31", or
22.754"

I have used this method satisfactorily in the past, but given the choice, I
try to work with stock that is as close to finished dimension as possible,
taking forging into account.

Are you making a cap railing for a stair?  Let me know how you solve this
problem

                                Grant  Marcoux