I am missing some parts on a pickup bed project I'm messing with...curious if anyone can recommend a good blacksmith to make a couple hinges and bedside braces. I have detailed photos and catalog drawings (including dimensions).
All help is appreciated
GW
Last I knew, Dan Rick, T guy, was the blacksmith at Knotts Berry Farm. DKRmodelTatAOL. ...
I haven't had email from him in quite awhile, so not sure of this addy. He's not in the latest Orange County roster.
rdr
Gary, I do, but he is here in Califunny. Shipping Iron from here may be 'spensive!
A buddy of mine has been doing that for a bit, not sure he is taking on projects but can ask.
where are you located, i have connecetions with an entire blacksmith community here in Vista CA.
Thanks for the replies...I'm in the Houston area (Texas). Have contacted some local blacksmiths, but none seem too interested. Would appreciate any leads, don't mind paying for shipping if the product is quality.
ok, i see your in Texas. there is a website called anvilfire.com you might be able to find an experienced smith in your area, or learn how to do it yourself.
ive made a hinge before, its alot of fun. its best if you can find a group near you that teaches lessons.
Gary ... what parts are you looking for? Depend on the finish you want .. blacksmiths may not be necessary, A local 'welding' shop, can most likely do what you want as well. Might not be inexpensive .. but depends on what you want. Shipping and custom 'one-off' work won't be inexpensive, either.
Most everything is (or can be) bar stock.. I'm looking for the rear sill braces myself, and think I'll just venture into making myself.
Gary -- I know a couple in this area. Email me if you want to follow up on them.
Matthew, would you mind passing along a contact person in the smithing community?
You might look in the mirror.
This company sells plans and also hardware for trucks and hacks. They have hinges and braces. Might be what you're looking for and cheaper then "special order work". I think the address is still current.
Wagon Works
213 S.W. Kline
Ankeny, IA 50023
515-964-5085
wagonwork2@aol.com
Gary,
Send me the pics and drawings of what you are looking for. I'm not a blacksmith, but might be able to make something out of bar stock/ welding. I need to make the same thing for the box I'm building. If I can do it, I'll make 2 sets and send you one.
Gary if you can eventually find a welding shop that will make thoses pieces, just show them the dimensions and a drawing of the pieces you want made.
Most any welding fab shop can make those for you. A guy thats handy with a torch and can weld can make those pieces. Some shops shy away from any old car work or fab work if they know thats what its for. They seem to get nervous or shy when you mention old car for some reason.
It doesent necessarily have to be a 'blacksmith' to make pieces like that. An oxy-acetelyene torch replaced a lot of blacksmith forges.
Blacksmiths have there place for sure but some things can be made with a torch.
I'd start here: http://www.ntxba.org/
You might also find some of what you need is available commercially. For hinges try Hardware Source among others.
My buddy says if you want some custom made bits, send me a drawing with measurements and he can give an estimate of time/cost.
Gary, just read you are in Houston. So is my buddy he's in Friendswood and would like a shot at it.
my email is texaslifeonline *at* gmail d.ot COM
If I can make my own hardware, anyone can. I made all this hardware but modified things a bit. I wanted the "ribs" on the outside and the tail gate locks are a copy of what the farmers used when I worked on the farm in the 1940s.
Nice Job Hal. I'm going to make some next week. Hopefully I can get my box built this weekend.
Hal ... good inspiration! What kind of heat did you use for the bending? .. or I should say 'how much'? Would one of the larger propane units (20+lb tank with oxygen for higher temp, and oxygen) work? I don't know the temp difference between that an an acetylene ...
Looks like the nut is welded .. or brazed... to the rear sill brace?
Anyone who restores old cars, fabricates or repair parts and etc. needs to invest in a Oxy- Acetelyne rig.
To me its kind of like compressed air in the shop.
Its a Must Have item and once you get the hang of using it you wonder how in the world you ever got along without it.
Acetelyne used to be called the hottest flame on earth and it will do any job any one can come up with.
Think of it like learning to drive. Its a must learn skill that most anyone can do with a little practice.
I guess I was lucky growing up on the farm and still on the farm and learning a lot of skills some people dont get to be around.
I have an "Oxy-Acetelyn" torch but for this job I'm quite sure propane would work, but take longer. If you go to heavier metal propane probably will not be hot enough. You need a heavy vise and a drill press.
I picked up some 5/8 steel rod today, and will play with it this weekend. The vise and drill press I have .. borrowing a Oxy-propane torch. Kinda pricy to get set up with my own again. I had an acetylene version, some time back, but 'loaned' it out. Haven't seen it since!
For brazing, cutting (burning), forging and bending a propane/oxygen flame will work fine. In fact for bending and forging (shaping metal) a propane burner will work fine. I have not tried brazing with a propane burner but I be it would work too.
I made a simple home made propane burner similar to this one that I use for forging:
http://dc189.4shared.com/img/1ZoG2s-L/s7/burner.gif
Jim
Nice work Jim... I really need to make one of those propane burners . I spent the last 2 days bending, taping and shaping a handle for the side of the speedster. Everyone who gets in wants to grab the windshield so I knew a handle was in order. I used a piece of 1/2 rod from an old "Made in china" day bed frame. Damn, that was the hardest steel I ever bent ...must have been made of old USA Ford Axles.
A propane torch did little to no good so I spent way to much time with a vice and hammer then way too much time with a file to make it pretty again. To many compound lines and "swoopies" ..... I think it turned out okay ....
Jim, what do use for a regulator ? I would assume a standard "Bar-b-que" type doesn't allow enough pressure ......
Dan,
I use an adjustable regulator. I think you really need something that is adjustable. The mixture on my burner can be adjusted by moving the propane orifice in and out of the venturi on the burner.
When forging on smaller items I used a 4" or 6" dia section of pipe with the burner coming in the side and one end blocked off. You can also make a containment out of fire bricks.
There is a bunch of info on propane burners and forges online at:
http://ronreil.abana.org/design1.shtml
And here is a nice tutorial:
http://www.arscives.com/bladesign/forge.tutorial.htm
And
http://zoellerforge.com/simplegasforge.html
Jim
You can also do forging with an off the shelf weed burner as:
http://www.ramanon.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=24030&d=1329542191
A bunch of ideas here:
https://www.google.com/search?q=propane+weed+burner&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozill a:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&ta b=wi&ei=Ro02UJeVH-nbyAGFzoAY&biw=1200&bih=620&sei=WI02UOPMFM-QyQHx44CYCA#um=1&hl =en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US%3Aofficial&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=propane+we ed+burner+forging&oq=propane+weed+burner+forging&gs_l=img.3...24933.28026.0.2869 8.8.8.0.0.0.0.137.953.0j8.8.0...0.0...1c.8GwFMxW9aOQ&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw .r_qf.&fp=74906438b4c0463&biw=1200&bih=620
Jim
MAPP gas is hotter than PROPANE and either torch is available at your hardware store. Here is your best bet but you will need tanks. .http://www.ebay.com/itm/OXYGEN-ACETYLENE-WELDING-CUTTING-OUTFIT-TORCH-SET-GAS-WE LDER-KIT-w-15FT-HOSES-/120835830648?_trksid=p3284.m263&_trkparms=algo%3DSIC%26it s%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BFICS%252BUFI%26otn%3D21%26pmod%3D26095780039 9%26ps%3D54
Harbor Freight sells a bender for about 100. Easy to use!
You can use charcoal to make a very hot forge. Take a large metal bucket and a much smaller one. Punch a bunch of holes in the bottom of the smaller one (maybe 1/2 inch or smaller). Cut a passage way in the top on the small one and at the bottom of the larger one for the insertion of a vacuum cleaner hose when the smaller bucket is inserted upside down into the larger one. Insert the vacuum hose through the holes (passage ways) in both buckets and fill the space between the two buckets with sand or gravel. Put a thin layer of the courser stuff over the small holes punched into the bottom of the small bucket. Now fill the space above the small bucket with charcoal and light it as you would a BBQ (don't use too much liquid starter). After the coals are lit, connect the vacuum hose to the blow side of the vacuum cleaner and turn it on. The charcoal will get hot enough to melt iron.
Jim ... SOLD! ... I'm picking up a weed burner tonight after work, and making a little forge with heat resistant fire brick. Thanks for the nudge!