The Metal Artist Forum

Hello all

This is my first thread on the forum, so please, if its in the wrong place let me know and I will do what I can to sort it out.

Most of my experience to date has been basic items for reenactment, my primary focus being 14th Century Armour (see facebook link below), however I am trying my hand at blacksmithing simple item, cutlery etc ... But I have been asked to make a tripod used for cooking and wondered how to make the 'dags' that can be seen poking out of two of the legs in the image below.

I figured you could chisel them from the bar stock and draw them out to shape, or weld them on. I plan on using 20x20mm bar stock for the item, but would appreciate any thoughts you may have as most of you have far more experience at this than me. I would prefer to avoid modern techniques as far as possible.

Here is the link to the medieval cooking tripod
Here's a link to some of my recent armour for those that are interested.

Thanks for any help you may be able to offer.

Kind regards

Graham

Hi Graham and to MAF!

We have some great blacksmiths on board and I'm sure they'll chime in w/their recommendations.

To the forum And don't worry if it's the wrong forum we would move it. Then send somebody to beat you about the head and shoulders with a fish as in the holy grail!
Since you already said you would prefer traditional rather than modern methods. you probably are on to something with the split and bend out. You are working with about 3/4" square stock it probably work for everything other than a heavy large boar etc. and yes we have a number of actor's and re-enactors on this forum. Should be able to get you pointed in the right direction.

Graham-

Welcome to MAF! I got started in metalworking making stuff for re-enactors, thou it's been many years since I played that game. Most of the photos of period pieces that I've seen would lead me to believe that most of the integral hooks on tripods were forge welded on. Foggy memory also makes me think that I saw one with riveted hooks, perhaps Norse? These tended to be functional items, so what was the fastest way to make them with the tools/tech. at hand? If you were referring to the feet of the tripod legs when you mentioned dags, the only good example that springs to mind is indeed a Norse piece from one of the burial ships like the Gokstad (not sure of the spelling) where the feet are clearly a forge welded assembly that looks like a claw. Hope this helps.

-Judson

Hello

Thanks for the speedy responses.

Would I be right in thinking them that the simplest way to attack this might be to weld the required hooks to the upright in a flat form with just a taper at one end and then bend them to shape once they are attached? Or the other way is to draw out from a cut .. I think I am goingto need to practice this on some small stock to begin with.

Once again, my thanks and appreciation for the quick responses.

All the best

Graham

Either way would work, I think it would depend on your experience with either way. Or the one that you have more working experience with.

Welcome Graham, this is just spculation on my part, I suspect the Smith pierced the upright bars and installed the hooks then peened their rear ends to hold them in place. It might be easier to do than welding.

Jim

Hello all

I have to admit that I cheated on this first go and welded the hooks using modern techniques as time was an issue unfortunatly. However I am not happy with the general shape I have ended up with and will be making a second next month when time allows and will try and pierce the hooks instead. I'll let you know how I get along. Thanks all for your help.

Graham

Q. Why wasn't forge welding difficult in those early days?

A. Because it was the ONLY WAY!

edit by ShawnM to remove school link

(04-28-2010 05:59 AM)FTurley Wrote: [ -> ]Q. Why wasn't forge welding difficult in those early days?

A. Because it was the ONLY WAY!

http://www.turleyforge.com Granddaddy of Blacksmith Schools

Amen.