Welcome, Guest. Please Login
SLINGING.ORG
 
Home Help Search Login


Pages: 1 2 
Send Topic Print
Metal spear heads? (Read 12400 times)
Sons of benjamin
Descens
***
Offline



Posts: 190
Gender: male
Metal spear heads?
Aug 20th, 2011 at 11:33pm
 
How can I make a good metal spear head?  I want one that is relatively blade shaped, not just a tip.  I have an idea that involves bending sheet metal, heating it, and then hammering it into one piece, but I want to know if there is anything easier.
Back to top
 

Judges 20:16 "Out of all this people there were seven hundred chosen men left handed.  Every one of these was a slinger of stones to a hairbreadth and would not miss."
 
IP Logged
 
Knaight
Interfector Viris Spurii
*****
Offline


Slinging Tennis Balls!

Posts: 1237
Colorado
Gender: male
Re: Metal spear heads?
Reply #1 - Aug 21st, 2011 at 12:33am
 
Sons of benjamin wrote on Aug 20th, 2011 at 11:33pm:
How can I make a good metal spear head?  I want one that is relatively blade shaped, not just a tip.  I have an idea that involves bending sheet metal, heating it, and then hammering it into one piece, but I want to know if there is anything easier.

The easiest way to get one is to buy one, otherwise work will be involved. Bending sheet metal could work, but it won't work well, as there is a reason spear heads were forged and hammered. I'd start with something stronger and used for heavier work already, such as  the blade of a spade, or if available a knife of some sort. Sharpen, attach (weld and forge as needed), and call it a day.
Back to top
 
 
IP Logged
 
greencheapsk8
Descens
***
Offline


Just in it for the fire!

Posts: 235
Taranaki, New Zealand
Gender: male
Re: Metal spear heads?
Reply #2 - Aug 21st, 2011 at 3:06am
 
Ideally, you would have a large casting furnace, a forge and an arc welder.
I'm assuming you don't!

Get a rod, ram that into the arrow shaft.
Cut a slot in the rod.
Glue/weld/attach a piece of 2mm sheet steel, cut/filed/forged to your desired shape.

And done Smiley
Not exactly refined craftmanship, but you will get the look you want!
Back to top
 

Rivers of silver, that is my dream.&&Glowing, twisting, snaking, flowing.&&Cooling and burning, shrinking and melting.&&
 
IP Logged
 
Mauro Fiorentini
Forum Moderation
*****
Offline


Forge your future with
the hammer of your mind!

Posts: 3442
Ancona, Italy.
Gender: male
Re: Metal spear heads?
Reply #3 - Aug 21st, 2011 at 7:23am
 
As greencheapsk8 said, a forge is needed for making spear heads.
I don't have made one yet, but I've made a javelin head, and I did it wrongly, because I heated and hammered a flat bar of iron.
For a spear head, I'd use a bigger ingot, and proceed as follows:

Heat one end, then hammer it to flatten and stretch it.
Heat the other end, to lenghten it and stretch its sides, thus making the point and the blades still mantaining a central rib.
Heat the first end, to bend it and make its sides touch each other.
Put a steel round ingot inside, then heat the cylinder until you can weld its sides toghether, and with the rib of the blade (this is optional, you can just hammer these parts until they are flattened, and if you fix the spear heads with rivets to its pole, this will prevent the cylinder to split).
Heat the whole thing and then temper it.
Once tempered, when the iron is cold, hammer the cylinder to make it aligned with the spear head, and then polish and sharpen it.

The whole work may last from a couple of hour, to a maximum of even a couple of days, depending on the forge, on your experience and on the dimension of the object.
It's a funny thing to make, but I suggest you to buy one, if you don't want to get involved in blacksmithing  Smiley
I'm going to make a spear head too, but only after I've done a war hammer and a short sword, the first for fantasy purpose, and the second for my archaeological experimentations.
Greetings,
Mauro.
Back to top
 

Like! Smiley https://www.facebook.com/Arte-Picena-238289793027749/timeline/
Greetings,
Mauro.

Mauro Fiorentini - 339-525
 
IP Logged
 
bigkahuna
past-moderator
****
Offline



Posts: 3894
Delaware, USA
Gender: male
Re: Metal spear heads?
Reply #4 - Aug 21st, 2011 at 7:45am
 
You could make a long javalin type spear by taking a long steel rod and heating the end and bang out a spear point not unlike those used by the Maasi in Africa.
Back to top
 

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.
John Walker  
IP Logged
 
Bikewer
Interfector Viris Spurii
*****
Offline


I love Slinging.org!

Posts: 1627
St. Louis, Mo
Gender: male
Re: Metal spear heads?
Reply #5 - Aug 21st, 2011 at 1:54pm
 
Another effective if not elegant method is to use an existing blade, something like a typical double-edged throwing knife:

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ6JOb_DkrMuz3sB3bdhLdVEp4dyFWsl2RGJvh3W...

You cut an appropriate slot in your spear shaft to accept the hilt, then use rivets to hold it in place.
The whole thing can then be wire-wrapped for additional strength.
Back to top
 
 
IP Logged
 
fattybones
Descens
***
Offline


That's not hail!

Posts: 144
Halifax NS
Gender: male
Re: Metal spear heads?
Reply #6 - Aug 22nd, 2011 at 9:49pm
 
http://slinging.org/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1312401074  Today, I am the weaver. Connecting threads with links.  You could hammer flat, cut, and then sharpen a piece of cutlery without a forge.  Or gardening equipment.  Or make an Aztec style head out of razorblades like a macahuital (a little scary this).
Back to top
 

Chivalry!  It's not the law, it's just a good idea.
 
IP Logged
 
Kjev
Senior Member
****
Offline


Limits exist only in your
mind

Posts: 299
Re: Metal spear heads?
Reply #7 - Sep 2nd, 2011 at 5:46pm
 
If you have access to a forge, or at least someone with a blowtorch, hammer, and anvil,  you can use rebar. There would be two methods of shaping the bar once it's heated.
Method One:
  • Taper one end to a point.
  • Beat the whole thing flat.
  • Beat edges onto the spearhead.
  • Wrap the butt end into a cone shape (like the butt end of a bodkin-style arrowhead)
  • Drill a hole through the one end to pin it to the shaft.


Method Two:
  • Follow steps 1-2 of Method One.
  • Shape the tail end like you would for an arrowhead.
  • Notch your shaft to fit the spearhead like you would for an arrowhead. Mane your notch perpendicular to the grain of the shaft. This will help prevent the shaft from splitting.
  • Lash and glue it into place. Especially wrap behind the notch in the shaft to prevent it from splitting further.
Back to top
 

K'Jev  Cool
"Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter"--Yoda

https://www.facebook.com/StormsForge
WWW stormsforge  
IP Logged
 
Thunder Chief
Funditor
****
Offline


Don't Panic!

Posts: 838
Re: Metal spear heads?
Reply #8 - Sep 2nd, 2011 at 7:25pm
 
That'd have to be some heavy duty re-bar.  I'm not so sure the second method would be strong enough for anything serious.  Maybe if you found a pipe with an inside diameter the same as your shaft and slotted it over the slit and pinned it, accomplishing essentailly the same thing as the lashing but on a much stronger scale.  I hope that makes some semblance of sense.
Back to top
 

We Few, We Happy Few, We Band of Slingers!

Longbowmen draw to the ear!
 
IP Logged
 
Kjev
Senior Member
****
Offline


Limits exist only in your
mind

Posts: 299
Re: Metal spear heads?
Reply #9 - Sep 2nd, 2011 at 11:33pm
 
1/2 inch rebar works well. You don't get a very broad head, but you can make long ones, which will give you deep penetration. I'll see if I can get a picture of mine tomorrow and post it.

I've also seen one hammered out of a railroad spike. You want to find the hard steel spikes (they have an "H" on the head) for the best quality.
Back to top
 

K'Jev  Cool
"Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter"--Yoda

https://www.facebook.com/StormsForge
WWW stormsforge  
IP Logged
 
jlasud
Interfector Viris Spurii
*****
Offline


Programming stones

Posts: 2358
Transilvania
Gender: male
Re: Metal spear heads?
Reply #10 - Nov 26th, 2011 at 4:49am
 
Here's one i'm currently working on.This will be cast in bronze and in the picture you can see the ceramic core and the beeswax positive on it.The beeswax has been reused so that's why it's so dark in color.
This form will be covered with clay mixed with a lot of sand in it and left to dry,then fired and when the wax is out of the form and the mould is pre heated,the molten bronze can be poured in it.
I plan to make a two part mould around it so i might get to use it more than once.
Originally i wanted to make a lost wax mould,but then thought that i should try to make it two parts.
Back to top
 

Respect existance or expect resistance!
 
IP Logged
 
Mauro Fiorentini
Forum Moderation
*****
Offline


Forge your future with
the hammer of your mind!

Posts: 3442
Ancona, Italy.
Gender: male
Re: Metal spear heads?
Reply #11 - Nov 26th, 2011 at 6:09am
 
That look REALLY good jlasud!
Add wax lines to grant the emission of gas during wax melting and bronze casting  Wink
I have not well understood your speech about two parts mould: if it is a lost wax project, how are you supposed to use again these moulds?
It's a great work indeed!!
Greetings,
Mauro.
Back to top
 

Like! Smiley https://www.facebook.com/Arte-Picena-238289793027749/timeline/
Greetings,
Mauro.

Mauro Fiorentini - 339-525
 
IP Logged
 
jlasud
Interfector Viris Spurii
*****
Offline


Programming stones

Posts: 2358
Transilvania
Gender: male
Re: Metal spear heads?
Reply #12 - Nov 26th, 2011 at 1:03pm
 
Mauro,i was thinking on using the object on the photo to make the two negative impressions in clay blocks.After that,i could take the wax of,and put the ceramic core in it's place between the two halfs. This way it would be a 3 part mould,and after casting,i could take it apart(hopefully) and maybe reuse it.With lost wax casting as you know,it would have to be broken to pieces.But as i'm a bit against destroying my own creation,i thought of making it more lasting.

Also the process you wrote about,when you hammer a soft metal in the grooves of another harder metal is something i'm interested in,and thought about it before.So in case you guys do some photos,i would be glad to see them.
Back to top
 

Respect existance or expect resistance!
 
IP Logged
 
greencheapsk8
Descens
***
Offline


Just in it for the fire!

Posts: 235
Taranaki, New Zealand
Gender: male
Re: Metal spear heads?
Reply #13 - Nov 27th, 2011 at 4:43am
 
You could make a flexible silicon mold perhaps?
Pour the wax in, bend the rubber stuff, take it out, pour another lot of wax, etc etc.

just something to think about Cool
Back to top
 

Rivers of silver, that is my dream.&&Glowing, twisting, snaking, flowing.&&Cooling and burning, shrinking and melting.&&
 
IP Logged
 
Mauro Fiorentini
Forum Moderation
*****
Offline


Forge your future with
the hammer of your mind!

Posts: 3442
Ancona, Italy.
Gender: male
Re: Metal spear heads?
Reply #14 - Nov 27th, 2011 at 3:46pm
 
Jlasud, you're going to have a PM about your spear head  Smiley

About that decoration, we MANAGED TO MAKE IT!
It's amazing, we never tried it out, and in just the 2nd attempt, we made it!
My friend's gf made a lot of picture and a video of us working, so they're on the way in a week or some more  Wink
There's just ONE other person in the whole Region who has been able to do that kind of decoration!
(hey, we didn't do nothing aestethic, just a simple attempt to get an idea about the technique, so don't expect a work of art  Grin )
Greetings,
Mauro.
Back to top
 

Like! Smiley https://www.facebook.com/Arte-Picena-238289793027749/timeline/
Greetings,
Mauro.

Mauro Fiorentini - 339-525
 
IP Logged
 
Pages: 1 2 
Send Topic Print
(Moderators: Rat Man, David Morningstar, Curious Aardvark, Chris, Bill Skinner, Mauro Fiorentini, Masiakasaurus)