Nail Header
Demonstration by Ralph Douglass .
April 19, 2000
Jock-D :
01:37:40
Folks tonight we have a NEW demonstrator. Ralph Douglass is doing a nail header and nail demo tonight.
Ralph :
01:39:32
Well suppose I should get started.
Ralph :
01:40:02
I will try to show how I make a nail heading tool and also how I make nails….
Ralph :
01:40:57
this is a drawing of the finished tool. Any questions!? π ha! ha!
Ralph :
01:42:13
I start with a piece of mild steel that is 6″ X 2″ X 5/8″
Ralph :
01:43:25
Two inches from one end fuller the edges. I go about 3/8 in deep and use a fuller that is made fron 3/8 round rod.
Ralph :
01:44:34
Now the only hard part is to draw teh bar down till it is a comfy fit to the hand. Mine ended up about 10 in long
Ralph :
01:45:13
if you have a pwr hammer no problem, but I did it with a 2.5 lb hammer
Ralph :
01:46:33
Β Now I punch a hole, or you can drill it. Use either a 35/64 or a 9/16 drill. I will explain why in a min
Ralph :
01:46:59
Now we are done with this piece for now.
Ralph :
01:47:07
Ralph :
01:47:45
Take a number 8 HC bolt A #/4 one
Ralph :
01:48:26
Cut the stud off till you only have about 9/16 left
Ralph :
01:48:48
BTW it helps if you have anealled this bolt first!
Ralph :
01:49:47
Find the center of the bolt. I scribe lines so they intersect. Then drill a 3/16 hole thru it
Ralph :
01:50:23
Find the center of the bolt. I scribe lines so they intersect. Then drill a 3/16 hole thru it
Ralph :
01:51:31
now flip th ebolt over and drill a 7/16 hole from the bottom. But DO NOT go all teh way thru. Stop about 1/8 fronm the edge
Ralph :
01:51:44
Now the fun stuff!
Ralph :
01:52:54
Get it nice and hot. Yellow works for me. Then use a square punch of the size nail you want… And punch the round hole to make it square
Ralph :
01:53:55
I do this over the pritchle hole. Or you can use a punch block and do it on the face
Ralph :
01:55:00
Β Now file the top to a nice dome shape. But keep some of teh flats on teh bolt as you will need them later.
Ralph :
01:56:35
Now we take the handle and tap it to take teh bolt insert. If your bolt was 5/8 11 then used the 35/64 drill if it was 5/8 18 then use the 9/16
Ralph :
01:57:34
Or you can also do what I did on my first one. Use a bolt to cut the threads in teh handle while it was at a yellow heat. Either way works
Ralph :
01:58:18
Now screw it into the handle and you have a nail header that you can change insertys on for different sized nails.
Ralph :
01:58:57
Now a quick demo on nails
Ralph :
01:59:41
Start with some 1/4 stock
Ralph :
01:59:55
I use square
Ralph :
02:01:00
Make a shoulder on teh bar. On two sides. How much well depends on size nail. For a 2-3 inch nail I use about 1″
Ralph :
02:01:10
Ralph :
02:01:28
Remember two sides for shoulder
Ralph :
02:01:44
Ralph :
02:02:18
Β Draw til the nail will fit in teh header
Ralph :
02:02:38
Ralph :
02:03:32
Cut almost thru using a C/O hardy. About the same thickness as the stock is what I use to gauge where to cut
Ralph :
02:03:45
Ralph :
02:04:43
Now twist off in the header and then hit straight down a good blow. Then a quick 3 or 4 all around and you should get a nice ‘rose’ patter nail.
Ralph :
02:04:56
Questions?
Ralph :
02:05:32
Β BTW in teh 1840 a pro nail smith could do about 100 an hour for 10 hours a day!
Bill :
02:05:42
when did you point the nail??
Ralph :
02:05:58
Also do not head the nail if it is not red.
Ralph :
02:06:17
Β Bill the point accurs during the drawing out
BenThar :
02:06:25
I like using a bolt for an interchangable set, good idea
Aaron :
02:06:26
Any particular reason you made the hole from the back larger? If it fits into the smaller top hole I wouldn’t expect it to get stuck.
Jock-D :
02:06:40
Β Do you harden the “bolt”?
P-F :
02:06:47
Good demo Ralph, thanks,,,,hOW DO YOU GET THR HEAD CENTERED?
Ralph :
02:07:16
Oh yes I forgot. I do heat treat the insert. Take it to cherry and oil quench. Shine it up and draw to a blue temper
Ralph :
02:07:59
If the bottom hole is not bigger the na\ils get stuck most of the time… Not sure why tho
bbb :
02:08:16
two sides paralell, two sides tapered?
Jock-D :
02:08:23
Β Inserts look like a good small lathe project π
Ralph :
02:08:54
Pete, you mean in the handle? It just takes a bit of care. I also scribe an X on teh header to find the center of teh Pad
Tom-Stovall :
02:08:57
Β Ralph, in your opening statement, you said, “start with 2″ x 5/8″, but your drawing shows 2 1/2″ x 5/8”. Which is correct?
BenThar :
02:09:11
A small lathe would knock those out in a flash π
Ralph :
02:09:18
The nail will be more or less square
Ntech :
02:09:29
What is the selling price of the finished nail?
Ralph :
02:09:59
Typo was supposed to be 2″ X 6″ X 1/2″
Joe-Rolfe0 :
02:10:31
Could you explain what kind of bolt that was again?
Ralph :
02:10:58
BUt I do not have a lathe! π Have not sold nails. But nail rings go for about 5 or 6 dollars, unbless it is a pretty young lady… π
P-F :
02:11:02
Β no, I meant, seeing as it is only necked on one side, why does the nail head come out centered on the nail shaft?
Ralph :
02:11:34
I use #8 High Carbon bolts either 5/8 or 3/4 size
Bill :
02:12:01
I get $1.. each
Ralph :
02:12:32
It sometimes is not centered. But as you draw it out you can centerit or as you head it you can hit off center to move it over.
SmithinScout :
02:12:35
Β that was nice ralph, i wondered how they got the head on there π
Ralph :
02:13:25
as we did in the navy use firm pressur with the palm of your hand! π
Bill :
02:13:49
how maney heats do You take to make a nail Ralph???
Ralph :
02:15:18
Bill now you are putting me on teh spot! π if I have not made nails in a while I use two, But eventually I can do a nail a min for a while. But then I am exhausted