We started off the day assembling this fullering jig. Fullering is a technique that involves making indentations in hot metal. This small jig was created by Bill in order to fuller lighter gauge material and softer metals. It is a few pieces of angle that are gas welded to some flat stock pieces that extend on either end of the tool. The jig fits into a vice as pictured and the jaws have a rounded side and a side with hard corners. If you take a close look you can see each side of the tool. I forged the handle for the tool.
Here is a side view.
I snapped a few photos of the propane forge we have been using. This contraption is a sheet metal forge. It was built by a local welder by the name of Loren. It belongs to a smith by the name of Travis Conn. This one burner forge is very effective and the big wheel pictured in the center of the forge opens and closes the jaws.
I really enjoy using this forge and wanted to include an image of it burning hot. You can keep the jaws quite narrow and pinch your work in with the adjustment wheel.
At lunch Bill was talking about an old school cooking utensil called a trammel. I had never heard of it, so he encouraged that we make one upon our return to the smithy. It is basically a hook for hanging a cooking pot, but it is adjustable so you can lower it and raise it on the fire. This project was special for me because Bill demonstrated the process for forging the piece and then handed me the stock and let me work on my own. It did not come out perfect, and punching the series of holes was difficult to keep uniform, especially as the punch has a tendency to warp, mushroom at the tip and bend, but after a bit of work, a rough piece emerged from the forge. Willie seems to be enamored with it at least. I'm going to put together a tripod and my roommate has promised to slow cook us some stew. The proposition of trading seems immeasurable once my forge is complete.
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