[TheForge] nail header

[David E. Smucker]

As far as I know the historical nail makers always (or let us a least say
nearly always) formed a
shoulder, then cut almost through, inserted into the header, broke off, and
then formed the head.

Reason, -- more nails per length of wrought iron.  The nail maker had to buy
his material and then was paid on the count of nails.  You can also be sure
they were counted and not weighted.  This was sweat shop work -- a lot of it
done by kids.  It was also winter work for farmers in a number of areas of
England and Wales.  Many small time nail makers used their hearth for
heating the rod and a lot of nailing bench / anvils set low to the floor to
make working in and out of the hearth easier.  The small "d" used with penny
size for nails is from the British historical penny which was 1/12 of a
shilling.

Watching Jerry Darnell make nails -- he always shoulders the nail on the
edge of the anvil.  I have seen him make two nails in one heat of the rod.
Takes me two heats to make a nail and I can't shoulder worth a damn.

Dave Smucker


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "jj tobako" <jjtobako at juno.com>
To: <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, July 03, 2004 11:20 AM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] nail header


>
>
> > Do
> > > > this over the edge of your anvil so you can form a shoulder at
> > the nail
> > > > head.
>
> i've seen it done where, instead of a shoulder, he tapered the end of a
> rod thicker than the hole, cut almost threw at the end of the taper,
> insert and twist off, then pien for the head.
>
> john tobako
>
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