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| ©2014 Barry Smith - Fragment bowls - made from silver-plated EPNS offcuts |
Some time ago I posted on a new tool I had bought -
a hydraulic press. I wanted to press some small bowls that would then be hammered on the anvil and stake. I thought if I could purchase a hemi-spherical drill or wood turning cutter tool I could form the right shape into a piece of hardwood and use that to press the metal into. The only issue was that such a tool was not readily available; and the one that existed cost about $450. So the only solution was to make my own.
I started with a rusted small axe head I had been given - I thought that would give me strong hard tool steel.
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| ©2014 Barry Smith - Tool marked up on blade of small axe head |
After cutting the rough shape out, the filing, grinding, polishing and sharpening process took place - but as you can see from the series of photos below a strong sturdy tool was created.
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| ©2014 Barry Smith - Rough cut - and filing begins |
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| ©2014 Barry Smith - View of the double cutting edges |
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| ©2014 Barry Smith - Stubby but effective hemi-spherical cutter bit - 52mm in diameter |
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| ©2014 Barry Smith - The remained of the axe's edge |
And it did work - it cut the form I wanted and I was able to press some fragments of silver-plated EPNS. I tested it on soft wood first; and then hard wood on the end grain.
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| ©2014 Barry Smith - Wood form, tool and pressed silver-plated fragments |
And after hammering and polishing these fragment bowls came up well.
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| ©2014 Small fragment bowls - about 50-60mm |
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| ©2014 Small fragment bowls - about 50-60mm - facets on the back |
Fiona liked them very much and has claimed them for her own - I will be pressing and hammering more now that I have the wooden form
