Part two of my blacksmithing series. How to forge a scorpion from a lag bolt.

these things are fairly quick to make (when you get used to them), look cute, and sell fairly well as you can price them for a fairly low price, and still get money for your time and supplies.

Have fun with it !

Part 1 in the series was forging a J hook - https://www.instructables.com/id/Forging-a-J-hook/
Part 3 will be forging an S hook

Step 1: What You Need.

You need -

   -basic forging supplies (forge, anvil, hammer, tongs, chisels, punches, etc.

   -lag bolt (I like 3/8"x3", but you can use what you want for different sized scorpions). If you use galvanized lag bolts, make sure you soak them in vinegar at least for a day. If you try to forge them without removing the galvanization with acid, the zinc fumes from the galvanization are POISONOUS!

    -spray paint or beeswax (for finishing. On this one I'll use paint, but I typically use the beeswax finish. Namely, melting beeswax over the warm metal)

Step 2: The Tail End

Heat it up, and begin flattening. flatten the tail end (the pointy side) first. After it's flattened, you need the bring the end to a point.

Step 3: Flatten

Go ahead and flatten the rest of the lag bolt now. When it's nice and flat, as well as evenly flat, make sure everything is nice and straight. As you can see in the photos, the head became askew some, but I fixed that by heating it, clamping the head in the vise, and driving the lower portion in the correct direction.

Step 4: Make the Claws

Split the flattened head partially down the middle. Then use the chisel to cut a groove down the middle of each little "wing" . If I confused you here, look at the pics.

Step 5: Embellishments

use a small punch to punch in the eyes. Then use a flat tipped round punch right at the end of the cut from splitting the claws, this will give almost a little beak look when you bend the claws.

Now you heat the head, and using pliers, twist them around so the groove is facing out. and bend them out a little until they look nice. take a little time and mess with them till they look good.

Step 6: Curl the Tail

using pliers or your anvils horn (I like to use the horn now that I've learned how to place my blows, but early on in teaching myself blacksmithing, I used pliers), curve the tail of the scorpion up and over. Try to give it a nice wicked curve. Once again, play with it a little till it looks good,

Step 7: Finishing

Now, your done. Wire brush it real good, and finish it in one of two ways. Either give it the beeswax finish I described in my J hook instructable, or do as I did on this one, and spray paint it a nice glossy black.