Adaptable SWAGE BLOCK

[Philip Davies]

This is a bench top swage block, consisting of four components, bolted together. It is formed of two plates, cut from a salvaged plate, one and one quarter inches thick. It has been many hours' work, carving it with hand tools (apart from the initial drilling', as a result of which I discovered, too late,that my drill press table is way out of true. Also, I used a disc sander at work to true the edges) . The legs provide a saddle and prevent it sliding about on the anvil. My anvil lost its bick in the remote past; I don't want to break the hardy hole as well. Now I can make some top stages to suit.
I began it four months ago and finished it yesterday. This has been my main hobby time project during this period. While resting my arms, though, I have been also making other stuff, some of which will be posted in due course, if I am spared.

[DIYer]

Thanks Philip Davies! We've added your Adaptable Swage Block to our Metalworking category,
as well as to your builder page: Philip Davies's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Adaptable Swage Block by Philip Davies

tags: swage block

[Seamus]

Well done!
I've been staring at a piece of A36, 12 inches square by 2 inches thick
for close to 10 years and wondering how to make a swage block of it...
Now I see at least part of the answer

[crabtree]

I love it. A lot of good work went into that part.
I am going to buy mine, but I think you did a great job. Thanks.

[kbalch]

Hi Seamus,

Welcome!

What are you planning to do with the swage block once it's done?

Ken

[Philip Davies]

Thank you very much. For professional use you are of course better off with a cast iron swage block. There are some excellent new ones available, and you can get stands which enable them to be easily turned. Made in Germany, I think.
The versatility of mine is that I could insert a plate between the 2 halves for eg collars and also it is lighter to move about.

[Philip Davies]

Thank you, Seamus, and may I say that your profile picture is a favourite one of mine. Have you seen the movie?

[Philip Davies]

Thanks again Seamus. I wanted to say why I chose to do it by hand but the reply has gone into the aether. I wanted to experience for myself the old way of doing things. It is salutary to think that I probably laid 50k hammer blows and in excess of 20k file strokes. I know no-one near with a plasma cutter, and I would not trust myself to cut accurately if I dared to ask for a loan of one. It is mild steel so only suitable for occasional use. But there are easier methods!

[Seamus]

Yes indeed, although the version I saw was not
complete. Missing a fair amount of footage in the middle
and at the end. What's neat to me about it is that it shows
a blacksmith working on Model T's. While it's fiction, I have to
assume it was at least partially based on what was going on
at the time, the transition from oats to oil...

[Philip Davies]

Seamus, I tried to add to the private message. Did you get it? Try again and I shall let you have my email