Man began to make nails from the moment he mastered the technology of metal processing. Even the ancient Greeks widely used forged copper pins in the construction of their ships. Today, the main technology for making nails is cold stamping, but the ancient blacksmith's craft has not disappeared - the forging method continues to make nails for horseshoes.
Necessary
- - forge;
- - anvil;
- - blacksmith's handbrake hammer;
- - tongs;
- - vice;
- - undercutting (chisel);
- - nail making;
- - round bar.
Instructions
Step 1
Take a round bar about a meter long and 10-12 mm in diameter. Heat one end of it in a furnace. At a distance of about 50 mm from the beginning of the rod, squeeze in one plane. Rotate the rod 90 degrees along the longitudinal axis and perform the same pinching in a different plane. As a result, the cross-section of the workpiece in the clamped place will turn out to be square, about 10x10 mm in size.
Step 2
Extend the rod from the pinched point to a 100mm square pyramid with a pointed top. To do this, place the workpiece on the anvil horn and apply a few quick and strong blows, turning the rod 90 degrees. While the part is still hot, line up the edges on the flat surface of the anvil.
Step 3
On the edges of the pyramid, chisel off a few notches at an angle of 45 degrees with a chisel. Along this cut, cut off the rod, stepping back from the pinched place 20 mm towards the round part of the rod. You should have a square nail body with a cylindrical "boss" (bulge) at the end. All the work done should be done in one heating of the workpiece.
Step 4
Use a blacksmithing technique called heading to form a beautiful nail head. This method of processing the material is the opposite of broaching, that is, from a thin and long workpiece, a short and thick one is obtained. Heat the end of the workpiece to a white glow, and then clamp the cold part of the rod in a vice. With short frequent blows applied to the end of the workpiece, siege its end. Depending on the required volume and shape of the cap, this procedure must be repeated several times.
Step 5
From the bulge made by planting with a hammer, give the head the required shape. It can be flat or in the shape of a bolt, a ball, or even a flower if you need decorative nails. Sometimes, for the convenience of making the cap, a nail is used - a special plate with rows of holes of different sizes and sections.
