[TheForge] Forging triangles

[Bruce Freeman]

Like Albin says.

The problem is in forging a bar into an odd number of
sides.  Hammer on top, anvil on bottom, makes even
number of sides (2 [flat], 4, 6 or 8) easy.  For odd,
where do you hit?  A V-block is the obvious solution,
but not a shoo-in either.

If one angle can be nearly 90 degrees, then the step
in your anvil could be the V-block.  Otherwise an
upper or lower swage is in order.

For taper, you'll probably need a tapered V-block. 
Not a real problem to make if you have access to a
mill.

All that said, you MIGHT be able to fake it using a
piece of roundstock bent hot into a "hairpin" (no
gap).  This, you'll observe, is almost a V-block.

Good luck

Bruce
NJ
--- Albin Drzewianowski <dski1045 at qis.net> wrote:

> To start things off, you're not going to get very
> far calling us old.  It 
> may be true be we don't need to be reminded.   8^)
> 
> The only way I know to do this is in a V block.  The
> real trick will be to 
> get the taper to a point.
> 
> Trying to do it free hand by turning 1/3 will not
> work.
> 
> If I were to try this, i would first make a 3 sided
> piece using the V block 
> and then see if by driving it (at a very high heat)
> deeper into the V with a 
> cross pien will give some taper.   I am betting to
> get a sharp point, you 
> will have to file or grind.
> 
> For short 3 sided tapers, say 3-4" I have seen
> blocks that had a tapered V 
> groove and the steel would be driven into that.  But
> the ones I saw, were 
> for a very small cross section, on the order of
> 1/4".   How long do your  3 
> sided pieces need to be???
> 
> Come to think if it,  I think I have seen some
> fairly long tapered V shaped 
> grooves in some swedge blocks, but I think they got
> too wide too soon for 
> your purposes.   Sounds like you need a pretty
> gradual taper.
> 
> Only way to know is to give it a try.   In any case,
> a V block is a standard 
> tool, so it will be useful to make and have one in
> the shop.  I have made V 
> blocks by welding a piece of angle iron into an
> appropriately sized  piece 
> of channel.
> 
> regards,
> D-ski
> Westminster, MD
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Widham, Mitchell P." <widha8d3 at erau.edu>
> To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2007 10:30 AM
> Subject: [TheForge] (no subject)
> 
> 
> Help old wise Smiths.
> 
> I am fairly new at blacksmithing and have a question
> on a forging
> technique. I have never seen anyone or read anything
> about forging three
> sided objects. I have a couple of projects that I
> would like to use
> triangle shaped stock, out of 1/2 inch round or
> square stock. One being
> a spike for Tomahawks and the other being spikes for
> a set of tree
> climbers. I don't have a V shaped swage block only
> half round, could I
> make one out of heavy angle iron, or do you just
> hammer it, turning 1/3
> each hit? These spikes would be tapered from 1/2
> inch to a sharp point
> and maybe curved.
> 
> 
> Mitch Widham
> Operations Supervisor
> Campus Safety Department
> v: 7580
> f: 4932
> mitchell.widham at erau.edu
> 
> 
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