Labor Day Weekend project | Blacksmith Show and Tell | Forum

Thank you for the comments Rob, Grant, and Tim.

I am planning on doing a self critique on it this weekend. I'll list out what I think I should do different and I can go into details on it's construction then. I just got back from the Fort and am taking my roommate out to dinner. Am going to pick up some more cloth to make charcloth in the process, since I start my fires with flint and steel.

Ok editing and adding in some info:

First the forge is one of the four at Fort Vancouver in the Blacksmith shop. I'd love to be able to claim that as my own. I can go over some chisels and stuff I made there at another time. As I had posted in my introduction for those who don't know I am an apprentice at Fort Vancouver. This utility rack had been in my head for months.

The original idea cam from Lorelie Simms Backyard Blacksmith book. I did do some changes to make it fit my idea. I started out with 1"x1/8"x48" flat stock for the main part of the rack and cut off I think it was 7" for the central plate that I later riveted on.

So for the making it process I center punch marked where I was fullering, cutting, slitting, etc. at home before I brought the steel in to the fort. The central plate consists of the 7" I had cut off, with a central hole punched, then going out from there towards the ends I used a spring fuller to fuller in an inch according to haw far I felt would look good. The central slits that were drawn out into the horns/ claws were originally measured out an in from there. From that point I chiseled out the ends, then drew them out and bent them to my "taste".

I'll add in further info. tomorrow. As long as everyone wants further construction info.

Thanks LeeRoy.

A couple things I did that I'd do different next time: Before splitting the ends I'd taper them then split and clean up the tapers. Remember they can be long tapers like my horns/claws, scrolls, or do leaves.

Another thing is I'd do is make a walking chisel ( already done lol ), before commencing to do the splits. Using a walking xhisel made it much more efficient to do the splitting and made it more even. I used a small chisel for the bulk of it before another blacksmith let me use his walking chisel as I couldn't find one. Monday I went and made three of them.

Using a center punch to pre mark all the cuts, splits, fullering, and punching was something I'd recommend as it enabled me to keep moving onto the next stage smoothly.

Marking the split location then going back an inch for the fuller, then another inch for the center punch worked well for me.

Now that I'm awake I realize I wasn't sure if you were asking for a walk through of the forts blacksmith shop or for me to do this thread as a walk through of the process I went about making the utensil rack, Grant.

Thank you for the comments Dave, Tim, and Grant.

I had to borrow my roomies phone to take the pics so it might be awhile before I can do pics of the fort again.

I'd be happy to walk you through the blacksmith shop Tim.

Another thing I'd do different on doing another one would be to punch square holes for the center plate that way no turning issues arise. Though riveting tight was my solution to the round hole issue.

I think I may of used 1/4" round stock for the hooks as that was what I had on hand to bring in. Slightly smaller would of been better most likely as I'm not hanging up that heavy of stuff.

I used the anvil distances between the hardy hole and the edge doubled to get my initial distances on the hooks prior to tapering. As that looked "right" to me.

Forging the bar straight then after doing the ends and then riveting the center plate worked well for me.

If any one has any questions feel free to ask.

Rashelle