Getting Edgy At Zilker

The finished edge tool in place in the hardy on the smaller anvil at Zilker.

Kainon and I created a new edge tool at Zilker the other day. We used a piece of a jack hammer bit for the stock and had what Kainon characterized as a ‘relaxed’ bit of striking and directing.

Side view of the edge tool in place on the small anvil.

We began by forming the taper and then cut the waste away from the billet. Each time we heated the billet we cooled the top in water to prevent it spreading and to confine the upsetting to the shoulder area. Once the billet was shouldered correctly we continued to flatten the top and maintain the hexagon shape from the original bit billet. The final step was to take the flatter and give everything a final squaring and flattening. The proper orientation of the tool in the hardy is marked since this anvil has a very oddly shaped and bent hardy hole. If the tool is inserted in any other direction it won’t seat properly.

The tool is marked to provide the user with the means to insert it in the right direction on the anvil.

Now we can make more rings and small items without having to worry about finding a good edge on the anvil. Plus the small width makes it possible to round and reverse taper fine stock easily.

Thanks again for dropping by and check back soon for hammer making pics. Yep, we finally got one done and I am getting ready to show it off!

 

 

 

Tags: anvil, Austin Texas, blacksmith, blacksmithing, blade, bladesmith, bladesmithing, coal forge, coil spring, craft, forged, hammer, hand made, iron, iron working, Kainon Baumer, knife, Laurie R. Wicker, spring steel, steel, tools, zilker park

• February 15, 2013
• Adventure, Blacksmithing, Bladesmithing, Building, Coal Forge, Crafts, Hardware and Findings, Making Things, Metal Work, Recycle and Reuse
• 3 Comments