6:03 pm
NWBA Member
November 1, 2011
Hello, I have been a putterer when it comes to blacksmithing off and on for years. I have taken some short term classes in Washington, and North Carolina. I now have more time to work with it and I have a project that involves some joinery. It's a fairly small piece and I would like to make some ironwork that has 1/2" square stock that needs to have 1/4" square stock passed through the 1/2" and then riveted . Since I have never done any joinery would I use a round punch, and then follow that with a 1/4" square drift?
I also saw a great video on making a coal ladle, that I would downsize to make a soup ladle. Great winter projects.
10:08 pm
August 19, 2015
I'll preface my response by sharing that I haven't done much traditional joinery yet but feel that I have a decent understanding of the theory.
That's would work fine. You could also use a slot punch and drift to square or simply punch and enlarge with a square punch.
Make sure to upset your drift a lilttle bit so that 1/4" stock will pass through hot. Unless of you'll be fitting cold then heating with a torch.
Is the 1/4" pass through going to have a tenon? I think most go with round tenons since making a round monkey tool is much easier.
11:11 pm
NWBA Member
November 1, 2011
Thanks for the info. I was going to upset the center of the square drift I was going to use and taper the point end some and the hammer end just a little. I was able to see a pretty good youtube on making drifts, but there were all round drifts. You know making a tenon and punching and drifting a round hole may be another option. I may make some practice pieces to see how it works. It's pretty small joinery. I could even mushroom the round tenon like a rivet instead of riveting through the 1/2" square stock.
10:51 pm
NWBA Member
November 1, 2011
I made a practice piece, but I found the 1/4" square stock was going to be too small once I rounded it. So I went up to 3/8" square stock and forged one end to 1/4" diameter. It fit nicely into the 1/2" bar I had punched a 1/4" hole into.
I still might experiment with 1/4" stock if I keep it square. c
I also made a swage by taking a piece of the 1/2" square stock and drilling a 1/4" hole, next splitting it and mounting one half to fit in the hardy hole and the other half I welded onto a length of rebar. Worked pretty well. I did have to do some file clean up near the shoulder, but I think I can make a tool I can use to flatten the shoulder better.
Having a good time learning simple techniques.
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