Some tools I made for myself.

[TTcustom]

Here are just some of the tools I have made for myself.

First I wanted to dome my copper rivets and the Tandy store didn't have these in stock. I wasn't so hep to the interwebs and I have the resources to make a lot of "metally" things so how hard could these domers be? I used round bar stock cut-offs and an appropriate ball end mill in a metal lathe and turned these.

Then I saw all the cool kids using these awesome and beautiful mauls. So I went to a local supplier and got a chunk of nylon (??? whatever it was it may be too soft) that was also a cut-off. I used some large round bar stock cut-offs for the cap and base and then bought some 1/2" all thread and an acorn nut at Ace Hardware. I used the largest punch I could find and also cut out the larger leather washers. I mounted these on the left over all thread and clamped them tight as I could turn the nut. Then in the lathe I turned the handle using files and a shureform ("cheesegrate") rasp to get the contour I wanted. Using progressive grits of sandpaper down to about 220 I smoothed it out.

After seeing here the leatherworker from Kazakhstan's work I noted his use of drift punches in the borders. So I thought that it would be cool to have a "bullseye" stamp to use in this manner. I tried it out on a scrap piece and I think I like it.

So that is some of what I made so far. Right now I am fooling around making other stamps from the inspiration I have been getting from y'all.

I forgot to add that over time the leather washers in my maul have compressed and I had to add on. I never figured on them compressing any further.

Edited August 16, 2009 by TTcustom

[pancho47]

nice i like em

[tonyc1]

Here are just some of the tools I have made for myself.

First I wanted to dome my copper rivets and the Tandy store didn't have these in stock. I wasn't so hep to the interwebs and I have the resources to make a lot of "metally" things so how hard could these domers be? I used round bar stock cut-offs and an appropriate ball end mill in a metal lathe and turned these.

Then I saw all the cool kids using these awesome and beautiful mauls. So I went to a local supplier and got a chunk of nylon (??? whatever it was it may be too soft) that was also a cut-off. I used some large round bar stock cut-offs for the cap and base and then bought some 1/2" all thread and an acorn nut at Ace Hardware. I used the largest punch I could find and also cut out the larger leather washers. I mounted these on the left over all thread and clamped them tight as I could turn the nut. Then in the lathe I turned the handle using files and a shureform ("cheesegrate") rasp to get the contour I wanted. Using progressive grits of sandpaper down to about 220 I smoothed it out.

After seeing here the leatherworker from Kazakhstan's work I noted his use of drift punches in the borders. So I thought that it would be cool to have a "bullseye" stamp to use in this manner. I tried it out on a scrap piece and I think I like it.

So that is some of what I made so far. Right now I am fooling around making other stamps from the inspiration I have been getting from y'all.

I forgot to add that over time the leather washers in my maul have compressed and I had to add on. I never figured on them compressing any further.

That Bullseye stamp is very nice!

Tony.

[Romey]

Always nice to see tools made rather then bought, kudos

[TTcustom]

Always nice to see tools made rather then bought, kudos

Thanks! It really is the result of being cheap and or poor!

[TexasLady]

Thanks! It really is the result of being cheap and or poor!

8/18/09

That, and probably having an over-abundance of creativity. Good job! Thanks for posting.

I'd been reading somewhere on this forum about how to heat up metal (as for a knife blade, I believe) and when it gets to a certain color (red? blue?) thrusting it into cold water. I didn't 'save' the link to that posting, and now, I can't find it anywhere. If anyone knows where that is, please get back to me.

Before I'd found this forum, I'd already bought a rawhide 'dog bone' toy at a Dollar Store, soaked it, separated the pieces, and experimented with cutting it and drying it. Although I own a great rawhide hammer, I don't want to take that one with me when I go places where I might loose it or forget it. So, my intention is to make a 'knock-off' cheapie using the rawhide from the dollar chew-toy and maybe attaching it to a dollar store hammer,... somehow.

TexasLady

[TTcustom]

Wow I look forward to pics of your Rawhide hammer.

I think there are a couple of blacksmiths/knifesmiths here that can answer your metal tempering question. There are several websites that explain better than I could.

Wikipedia article on Metal TemperInstructional on tempering metal click here. 

Edited August 17, 2009 by TTcustom

[TexasLady]

Wow I look forward to pics of your Rawhide hammer.

I think there are a couple of blacksmiths/knifesmiths here that can answer your metal tempering question. There are several websites that explain better than I could.

Wikipedia article on Metal TemperInstructional on tempering metal click here. 

8/18/09

Thanks for the links on tempering metal that I needed, TTcustom. I'll have a look at them in a minute. And thanks for encouraging me in my 'cheap rawhide hammer' quest. Although, I'm suspicious that you "look forward to pics" of it just because you know it will give you a good laugh! I'm considering 'sewing' the rawhide strip 'spiral' (while soft) to another piece of flat rawhide (while soft), then stretching that flat piece over the $1 hammer. And I'll tie it on to dry with either twine or leather lace. I don't want to use glue, as I doubt that that would hold up at all. Also, I've already spray painted the hammer head with enamel paint, in hopes of slowing down corrosion.

-TexasLady

[TTcustom]

Seriously I was just eyeballing a $40 rawhide mallet and thinking about it myself.

I made two new stamps that get used like a meander style stamp. Had to show them off. Thank you Kazakhstan!

[RichardCollmorgen]

How did you make the rivet domer? I can't visualize how to get a consistent curve on the tip.

[tomcat]

8/18/09

That, and probably having an over-abundance of creativity. Good job! Thanks for posting.

I'd been reading somewhere on this forum about how to heat up metal (as for a knife blade, I believe) and when it gets to a certain color (red? blue?) thrusting it into cold water. I didn't 'save' the link to that posting, and now, I can't find it anywhere. If anyone knows where that is, please get back to me.

Before I'd found this forum, I'd already bought a rawhide 'dog bone' toy at a Dollar Store, soaked it, separated the pieces, and experimented with cutting it and drying it. Although I own a great rawhide hammer, I don't want to take that one with me when I go places where I might loose it or forget it. So, my intention is to make a 'knock-off' cheapie using the rawhide from the dollar chew-toy and maybe attaching it to a dollar store hammer,... somehow.

TexasLady

Is this the thread you were looking for?

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=16959

[TTcustom]

How did you make the rivet domer? I can't visualize how to get a consistent curve on the tip.

Richard- I used a ball end mill in the tail stock on the metal lathe and for a #14 domer I used a 3/8" radius. For the #10 I use a 5/8" radius. I attached a picture of ball end mills. Hope this helps.

[jbird]

Great tools I like.

Josh