[TheForge] nail header

[Dave Brown]

At 00:44 06/30/04, you wrote:

>Could someone suggest the simplest way of making a nail header. I assume a
>tapered square punch should be made to form hole. If I plan on using .250"
>rd. rod for nails, I assume a .250" hole should be punched .

NO.  If you punch a .250" hole your stock will fall through before you can 
put a head on it.  The top of the hole MUST be smaller than the parent 
stock you are using.  Forge the nail shank to length and width desired.  Do 
this over the edge of your anvil so you can form a shoulder at the nail 
head.  Cut off so that the stock for the head is about 1.5 times the 
diameter of the stock.  Get it hot, insert in header, wack it with a 
hammer.  Turn the header over and nail should fall out ... may need a slap 
on the edge of the anvil.

>The hole is a punched from the bottom in a  raised bolster  which is 
>needed to form the concave head of the nail. A
>pretty simple tool but any tips appreciated.

yep, make sure the hole's taper is wider at the bottom than at the 
top.  Simple tool?  Yes ... until you go to make your first nail.  At a 
demo for the Guild of Metalsmiths, Peter Ross told us that new apprentices 
at Williamsburg have one task to do first thing every day ... make 100 
nails.  You can learn a lot about hammer control.

>Thanks,
>Bob

You're welcome,
Dave Brown

  "Not always right, but never uncertain. --Heinlein "Glory Days" 
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