Tips Page

Bottle Opener

By: Mike Linn

Start with 3/4" x 3/16th " or 3/4" x 1/4" flat stock about 12" long (3/16th feels better but 1/4"
will work fine). You dont need that much length but it offers a convenient handle.

Heat about 2" of material, and about 3/4" from the end, using a 1/4" or so fuller, fuller in
about 3/8th"

With the "blob" hanging off the far edge of the anvil, forge a taper back about 3" or so

Next forge the "blob" into a penny.

You do this by Placing the bottom corner of
the blob on the face of the anvil, with the rest
of the stock below the level of the face, and
strike down on the opposite corner. Repeat for
the other corner until you have an octagon.
Then to finish up, you rotate the "handle" up
and down whilte striking. Repeat until the
desired shape is attained.

Next spread the penny to about the size of a half dollar. Work the material
from the center out, leaving the edges as thick as possible.

Punch a hole in the center of the "penny" like this

Now using a cone, bick or horn of your anvil, enlarge the hole.

Drive the hole intothe face of the anvil and flatten it out.

Use a tear dropped or round
punch/peen to pull a small tab
of material out of the center of
the neck area.

Cut off the handle about 4
inches from the necked down
area. Set about 1/2 inch of
material on the face of the anvil
and forge out a rat-tail

Curl the tip as shown, then hold
the rat-tail section off the far
edge of the anvil. While keeping
the part where the tail joins the
main piece, away from the edge
of the anvil, knock the rat tail
over.

Complete the scroll and
decorate the handle as you see
fit. I like to use star drills for
punches.

© 2000 Alabama Forge Council