[TheForge] Scroll maker

[Ries Niemi]

I dont think it would be that hard to make hinged scroll dies, and I 
think it would be worth it. Hebo actually make a spiral die, which 
results in a scroll that is sort of cone shaped. I dont think it is 
shown on the website, but it is in their catalog. It is for a shaped 
scroll, which looks pretty scary when it is done.
Hebo is designed as an integrated system, and one of the items many 
german smiths have on their hebo is an end flaring machine- a pair of 
powered, textured rolls- you heat the end of your 10mm bar in the 
forge, put it in the end texturing rolls, hit the foot pedal, and it 
flares and grooves the first 1" or so of the material. Then they make 
scroll dies that exactly match this fish tail end, and the scrolling is 
all done cold.
I actually have a Hebo machine, and the motor is about 4hp 3ph, geared 
down to 8 or 10 rpm, so it has enormous torque. I do not have the 
scroll table, as I dont do much scrolling, but I am sure it is all done 
cold, all the way up to maybe 40mm (1 1/2") material. Mine will twist 
40mm cold without the slightest hesitation, and I have seen a hebo take 
a 20foot length of 3/4" round and roll it into perfect 4" circles, 
spring style, without a gulp. These things have a lot of power.
For something as small as 10mm, I am sure you could do it cold, with a 
1hp motor.

ries