Forging a scorpion from a lag bolt

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 - http://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)

Comments

[jlund]

Can I use the torch attachment on my cutting torch

[oldanvilyoungsmith]

Yeah. But those torches waste a lot of energy for work on something like this. If you can, order some kaowool (google it, it's a high temp insulating fiberous material) and use it to line the inside of a large coffe can. Run the torch in through a hole in the side, and run it on low, that should waste less energy, and get things hotter. 

Here is a simple tutorial about a forge like I described http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/topic/36358

Stephen

[jlund]

My grandpa dosnt use the cutting torch he just let's me play with it sometimes
So the efficiency dosnt really matter that much. And what do you use for an anvil I'm just gonna make one from the 1/2 inch steel plates he has that I cut up to make shapes and stuff

[oldanvilyoungsmith]

I have two anvils. One is an old small 40-50 LB anvil. The face is all scarred, but I got it for free. The other one is a 53 LB round chunk of mild steel. Because the actual anvil is all scarred, but the good steel makes it better for forging, I use the real anvil as the forgin anvil, and the round one for finish forging.

Stephen

[pfred2]

My anvil was all beat up so I milled it.

http://i.imgur.com/W9BUl.jpg

Then I polished the horn with a grinder.

http://i.imgur.com/sbIwS.jpg

It really isn't that hard to do. Someday when I'm really bored I'll eventually clean up the whole thing. It is boring, but not hard.

[jlund]

Are the claws broken off ? They look like it

[everyday im shuffling, except fridays, i got to get down on friday]

i dont think it had claws

[oldanvilyoungsmith]

broken off of what?

[BuildIt6000]

Where did you get your anvil?

[oldanvilyoungsmith]

I told my local ag agent I was looking for an anvil. And when he was at a farm, he noticed one laying by the barn unused. He asked the farmer if a young beginning blacksmith he knew could use it, and I was given it on the condition that I couldn't ever sell it for scrap. Basically a permenant loan.

[BuildIt6000]

Thanks, I only asked because anvils aren't exactly cost effective for someone who isn't a fulltime smith.

[ARJOON]

my diy induction heater may be useful there

[kube60]

Good project. Just thought it should be mentioned, please don't use galvanized bolts. It doesn't take much zinc in your lungs to make you very sick or even kill you. It wasn't that long ago that we lost one of our best.

[oldanvilyoungsmith]

Thank you, I thought I had mentioned that, but I forgot. Will add note.

Stephen

[lbrewer42]

It's great to see someone of your age pursuing a great hobby like this. Thanks for sharing - this is great!

[mikeasaurus]

You should link-back to your J-hook in the last step of this project, since you mention it.

Also, this scorpion would make a sweet coat hook, just like a J-hook! I'd love to have a few of these crawling up my wall, waiting to hold my hat or coat!

[splazem]

+1

[oldanvilyoungsmith]

You bring up an interesting point, I haven't done it yet, but I intend to figure out a way to make liitle guys like these, but make em so they can be used as wall hooks. Thanks for reminding me, I'll try to figure that out when I'm forging this saturday.

[Kiteman]

How about drilling right through the eyes?

A pair of dome-headed screws holding it to the wall would also make decent eyes.

[oldanvilyoungsmith]

That could work. I just got some more lag bolts today, and I'm gonna mess with it next time I forge.

[RedneckEngineer]

Cool idea! If you used a orange/brown type of paint it would look like a differant type of scorpion. Will be interesting to see what other type of critters you can make with bolts.

[CadaverIncc]

definitely one of my next projects. great 'ible.