[TheForge] Power Hammer Dies

[David E. Smucker]

Lots of ways to make this type of die -- or shall I say tool.  I think of 
this in terms of a set in tool that rides on the bottom die.  It can be hand 
held, but it is better if it can be locked in place to the bottom die.  The 
work piece is going to be forged up side down with the back in contact to 
the upper power hammer die.

Now how to make this tool.  Mild steel will work fine unless you are going 
to make miles of collar stock.  This is for the tool, not knowing the size 
of your power hammer -- but guessing I would make the tool out 3/4 to 1 inch 
thick hot rolled stock and 2  x 2 square or 2 -1/2 x 2 -1/2.  So cut this 
material and weld on a handle so it is easy to place it in your forge and 
get hot.  Now make you sample of the collar stock by manual methods -- it 
only needs to be 3 to 4 inches long and also need a handle.  Then bring your 
die up to a really good heat, place under your power hammer and drive the 
cold collar sample into the die.  When the back of the collar stock is flush 
with the top of the die stop hitting it.  Your die will now have the reverse 
impression of your collar and you are almost ready to make collars.  But 
first, after letting your die cool to room temperature, you should dress the 
edges (round them off).  You can do this with files, emery cloth or a flap 
wheel in your hand grinder.  What I like best is a small disk in a pencil 
grinder, but not everyone has one of those.  If you don't dress the edges 
well it will cut your collar stock when making the stock.

You are then ready to make collar stock -- take a long heat on the basic 
plain stock -- and then pull it through the die under the power hammer --  
this is where having the die held to the bottom hammer die make this easy --  
but I have seen Bob Bergman make lots of this with the die on a handle in 
the left hand and the collar stock in the right hand.

You don't need a power hammer for this -- you can do the same thing with a 
treadle hammer or under a fly press.

Another form that make nice collar stock is to make you forming die out of 
several pieces of round stock tack welded together.  To make a 1/2 inch 
collar stock weld 2 -- 1/4 dia mild steel rods together -- to make 3/4 stock 
weld 3 -- 1/4 rods together.  Now hammer these into die block with the block 
hot and the rods cold.  You can use different size rods to get different 
effects etc.

Dave Smucker
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ron Swisher" <rwswisher at verizon.net>
To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2006 1:26 PM
Subject: [TheForge] Power Hammer Dies


I need to make some dies for my power hammer that will make the traditional 
2 parallel lines on hot collars used in attaching gate elements.  My die 
making skills are nonexistent and the thought of using dies to make these 
lines is somewhat abhorrent to my sensibilities...but I need to get over it 
and work smarter and faster.  Sound familiar?

Any suggestions welcome.

Ron
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