forming stake pattern

Hans loaned me some old (and giant) forming stake patterns a week or two ago. I believe that he said they came out of the Bucyrus Copper Kettle Works in Bucyrus, Ohio. He was able to secure several tools and patterns from this company when he was organizing the Pettingell Machine Company which he now owns. Bucyrus Copper Kettle Works is still one of the last companies in the country that still makes hammered copper vessels and they have been in business since 1874. 

These forming stake patterns are unique in that the top plate of each pattern is removable. I believe that this would aid in casting several different forming stakes with different compound curvature. I have already 3D modeled one of the stakes and I have created a separate top section that I can create different top curvatures from. I am looking forward to casting a few of these this year.

tammasini english wheel

I've been looking at some metal shaping equipment lately. I have been wanting to purchase a Pullmax machine as there has been one for sale locally for a while, and I'd like to invest in one for forming sheetmetal panels. This led me down a path at looking at Metalshaping equipment. 

These beautiful cast iron english wheels above made by Peter Tommasini are imported to just down the road from me and are simply gorgeous. They import a few at a time based on orders from small groups of folks. I would really appreciate a machine like this. It's just tough to invest in things like this since I don't use them all the time.

My internet quest led me to the person who imports the wheels and used to work in NASCAR. He has built a formidable shop. He has taken classes with Fay Butler and has built and had some machines built. His power hammer build is of particular interest to me. It looks like he models everything in Solidworks prior to building. He also has an english wheel build, planishing wheel build, and power shrinker build. 

 

shaper

I was able to get a new gear for my Delta (Ammco) Shaper a few weeks ago. The old gear had been damaged long ago before my Dad repaired it with jb weld or something similar. We just always made sure to not put the stoke in the position where it might put load on the repaired teeth. Once I took ownership, I ran the shaper a bit and even had a student make a set of knife handles with the a checker pattern. The repair ended up cracking and I had stripped the shaper down for a gear replacement right before I left Milwaukee. I was finally able to get to the repair and now have the shaper up and running again. It feels good to be making progress on these things. I was hoping this move would allow the time to make things like this happen.