[TheForge] 8" hemispheres

[Ries Niemi]

On Sunday, October 24, 2004, at 05:31 PM, PlumDon at aol.com wrote:

> I have been trying without any success, to get some 8" hemispheres in
> 14-16g. Many of the architectural ironworks suppliers offer an 8" hemi 
> in 11g.  I'll
> bet they all get them from the same place and prices range from 
> $15-26. But
> having no luck finding anything in the lighter gauges. None of these 
> have
> responded to my request for lighter gauge hemis.
>
> Anyone have any ideas on where to get some or a quick way to make them?
> Banging them out of a 10" disc with big wooden and leather mallets is 
> too much
> beating of an arm already in bad shape. Plus they come out a bit lumpy.
>
> Much appreciate any ideas.
>
> Don Plummer
> _______________________________________________
>


Many of the suppliers actually get them from the same place- RB Wagner. 
So first I would call JG Braun, (www.jgbraun.com/balls.html) which is 
the retail arm of Wagner, and ask them if they have them or can get 
them. I know they only list 11ga, but they often can do stuff 
custom.They are about the biggest supplier of this kind of stuff.
If they are no help, And you absolutely need em that thin, then you 
will have to have them spun- look in your yellow pages for "metal 
spinning", and call around. These are small enough that you can have 
them UPS'ed cheap, so you could use any metal spinner in the USA that 
already has tooling that size. So if your local guys try to hit you 
with a $1000 tooling charge, check out Thomas Register online for metal 
spinners, and google as well.

You can beat them out with a hammer and shot bag, but you need an 
english wheel to get em smooth again- and a lot of practice.

ries