Replies

1. 
   luvmuskoka | Jul 31, 2002 02:50am | #1

   If you want I can dig up some old catalogs with what I believe are 1/2" X 1/2"  i.d. spear points. They slip over the baluster or picket and fasten tight with a tiny allen screw.

   Ditch
1. 
   beau153 | Jul 31, 2002 02:57am | #2

   Thanks , but there are many push in types of castings that can be used. I want to flatten the end and form a spear.

2. 
   JerraldHayes | Jul 31, 2002 03:31am | #3

   I'll ask the guys down in the iron shop I work with tomorrow morning to be sure but the only hand tool I know of that will do that to a solid 1/2" X 1/2" piece of stock is a hammer and anvil with a oven to heat the stock. There are hydraulic presses that will do what you are talking about but they are hardly hand tools and they are pretty specialized and expensive too. We weld on tips all the time or by pre-manufactured stock with tips. I would think if there was a hand tool that did what you are describing that I would have seen it somewhere myself by now since I am always on keeping my eye out for new tooling. There might be something out there that will work on a piece of hollow stock aluminum but like I've inferred I never seen or heard of anything like that myself.

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   "Architecture is the

   handwriting of Man." - Bernard

   Maybeck.

1. 
   luvmuskoka | Jul 31, 2002 04:39am | #4

   I know...I saw Popeye do something like that to some jail bars.

   Ditch

2. 
   beau153 | Jul 31, 2002 11:01am | #5

   I am seeking a tool that works on square tubing, not solid bars.  Square tubing with a wall thickness of .062 or .065

3. 
   wflather | Jul 31, 2002 03:29pm | #6

   Here's one:

   http://www.vogeltool.com/html/body_press_forming.html

   OK, this is not a hand tool.......

   
   

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   Edited 7/31/2002 10:09:49 AM ET by WFLATHER

4. 
   deblacksmith | Aug 01, 2002 04:20am | #7

   I know of no hand tool to do this other than a hammer and anvil with heat from a forge.  Real quality wrought iron work is made of solid bar stock, not tubing.  (Do what you like or can afford, just a comment on quality.) 

   Most production blacksmith's would use a power hammer to do this type of work -- not something you get for a one off project.  Air powered power hammers start around $ 4000.  (The one picture on the web site below is a Nazel 2B worth about $ 20,000)

   For more information go to the ABANA web site.   http://www.abana.org/

   Artist Blacksmith Association of North America

   Take care and work safe,

   Dave Smucker, Rising Smoke Forge

1. 
   BossHog | Aug 01, 2002 05:40pm | #8

   Glad to see we have a blacksmith hanging around. My Sons and I are amateur blacksmiths, although we aren't at all good at it. But it's been a good experience for them.

   Never joined ABANA, but was in the Illinois Valley Blacksmith's Association for a while.

   No amount of planning will ever replace dumb luck.