Forged Forks

[Crewdawg445]

Wanted to share a quick project that proves to be a very useful item and is so simple... a fork!

These forks are made from 1/8" round stock, any ridged wire will work as long as it's not coated.

Length will be determined by the maker, the two examples I have are 14" and 18" sections. You'll want to pre-bend your stock around a mandrel or whatever you decide to use to twist, makes life easier. Once you heat the stock it's secured in the vise and twisted until you feel resistance. Heat again until you achieve the twist you want, which it will take a few times to get right.

Shaping the forks is very easy, I used a large punch as a horn tightly placed in my vise. Heat the bottom of the fork up, and shape to your liking then file your points!

Overall, a quick project that's easily done and very useful around camp during dinner time! :hatsoff:

 

[Obi-Wan Cannoli]

very cool :hatsoff:

 

[omarick1948]

Heck, I can remember making one of these in the Boy Scouts! Thanks for bringing back those memories!

:thumbsup:

 

[Crewdawg445]

Your very welcome gents! Some of the easiest projects turn into much more.

 

[kullas]

I like these forks. About 8 months ago I forgot my fork at home and needed a fork for lunch. I went out in the shop took a 7018 welding rod and cleaned all the flux off and put it in the vice heated it up and twisted it up. Works well enough I leave it at work and have been using it ever since thanks for posting

 

[Grizzly Adams]

Very neat!

 

[Spikebuck]

I see one of them is shorter. That must be the salad fork? :wink: :grin:

 

[ohio ramrod]

This is one of those years when there will be a large supply of FREE mild steel available for projects like this one. The wire frames for all those "vote for" political signs are ideal for forge work.The metal class students at one of the schools where I teach clean up the road sides after the election is over and get a large supply. :idunno: :hmm: :idunno:

 

[hawkeye2]

I noticed you make them for lefties as well as righties. :grin: This style of fork is quite appropriate for a soldier's kit in the Rev War.

 

[Silky921]

I'd be willing to test drive a few from you old friend. Looks good.

 

[Crewdawg445]

Fingers crossed, sure thing!

 

[BillinOregon]

Dang, I need to light my forge.

 

[pondoro]

http://www.georgianindex.net/Toasting_fork/tfork.html

Toasting Fork

In Georgian times a toasting fork was an item in daily use. It was used to toast crumpets or bread in the fireplace for buttered toast or toasted cheese sandwiches. Travel toasting forks would have telescoping handles that could be shortened to make them less unwieldy to transport. They helped many a soldier or traveler to make stale bread more palatable. A toasting fork is mentioned in the Capel Letters. In Wives and Daughters, Molly Gibson and her father love to make toasted bread and cheese in the fireplace.

The German Pastor, Carl Philip Moritz, was delighted by the English invention, toast. "There is a way of roasting slices of buttered bread before the fire which is incomparable," he wrote."One slice after another is taken and held to the fire with a fork till the butter soaks through the whole pile of slices. This is called toast". --Moritz, Carl Philip. Journey of a German in England: Walking Tour of England in 1782

 

[coloradoclyde]

Dude! you're a force to be reckoned with... :thumbsup: :hatsoff:

Now make a spoon..... :grin:

 

[Crewdawg445]

Dude! you're a force to be reckoned with... :thumbsup: :hatsoff:

Now make a spoon..... :grin:

Spoons next! The forks were a hit at the winter rendezvous.

 

[MOwoodsman]

Dang it! Something new to try once I heal up.

 

[coloradoclyde]

You still owe me pictures..... :wink:

 

[Obi-Wan Cannoli]

Now make a spoon..... :grin:

I've been thinking this since he posted originally: how even cooler this fork would be if he went generous on the loop side and hammered that side into a spoon :shocked2:

 

[Crewdawg445]

I tweaked the above image with my phones editing deal. Sneak peak... :grin:

 

[Silky921]

I credit the photographer for perfect timing on that one. Assuming that is a Silky original. Ha.