cross

This cross was completed in 30
minutes. Chris leaves the
hammer and chisel marks in the
steel for that "Ol' Rugged
Cross" look. He also makes
grave crosses out of large square
stock, about 2 1/2 inch material.

Tips Page

Split Cross

From The Bituminous Bits

Vol. 4, No.4 Sept-Oct 1988

Clay Spencer - Editor

As Demonstrated by Chris Friedrich

Material - 1 inch square about 36 inches long.

Split one end for 4 1/2 inches, evenly working
from both sides with a hot cut and striker or
treadle hammer.

Rotate 90 degrees and make a 6 inch
long split starting 4 inches from the
same end ( 1/2 inch overlap of splits)

Forge back to square. At the
bottom of the 6 inch split, hot cut
the end of the split out to the
front edge with a large curved
chisel ( 1 1/2 inch diameter).
CUT FROM BOTH SIDES

Bend near overlap of
splits to open the bottom
of the 6 inch split.

With chisel in vise, start
opening split end.

Bend the 4 1/2" split ends down
90 degrees to become side
arms.

Bend the end of the 6" split up
180 degrees to become the top
of the cross.

Flatten the cross on the anvil
and straighten the arms for
the finished cross.

A smaller version of this technique is in the Gallery