Blacksmith's Cross

This cross was the second project I was taught at FAAFEA.  The techniques used in this project are drawing, flattening and twisting.   Great project for starters.

Start with a piece of 1/4 square stock.

Heat your stock 2" - 2 1/2" down from the tip.

Draw out the stock to a point.

Put your stock over the edge  at the point you want to bend.  Hammer the stock down.  Once your stock is bent at 90 degrees flip your piece over and hammer it  flat.

Cut down the center.
   

With a chissel split open the cut.

Reheat and mount it in the vise as shown.

Reheat  and hammer the split into a T by placing stockover the edge as shown.

Once the T is formed you may want to smooth the saw marks out. This done by tapping on the top of the T while drapped over the edge of the anvil.
The next step is easy.  Take a pair of pliers and straighten the cross out.

Take the twisting wrench add a twist.

If you are working with a longer piece of stock, it's time to cut it off. 1 1/2" - 1 3/4" below the split will do.

Heat and add a spade end.

Reheat and put another twist in.  I did this twist by putting the spit end into the vise and twisting the tab bottom.

Almost done...  Reheat the end we started with and add a loop.  This will allow you to add a key chain loop.  Last step is to clean it up.  Wire brush to a nice shine.