Reinventing the wheel...
Yesterday, I was at an SCA event teaching blacksmithing. After I demonstrated making a boot scraper, I helped two people to produce forks. One made a fork appropriate for a large fire while another made a feast fork. Then, after I rested for a bit, I decided to try something that I hadn't tried for about six months. That is, to make a basic "wheel" that would eventually become a clock gear.
Now, the wheel is not like the wheel you would find on a buggy, that would be too easy... (no offense to any wheelwrights...) Most blacksmiths, if they are making a wheel, make it so that you bend the metal the "easy" way. That is, the curve is made through the thin part of the steel. For the clock gears, I need to bend it along the thick part of the material. The stock I was working with was 1" x 1/4". I, in a fairly short period of time, was able to bend a circle and weld it closed. Now, since my skills aren't that great, it was not a perfect circle. But, it was still more than close enough to make me happy. I truly feel like I will be able to complete this project. It may still be a few years off, but it is possible.
By the way, anybody know where I can get a cone mandrel? Preferably with about a 12 bottom diameter?
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