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Horseshoe Nails Forged and Headed from Iron Rod
Horseshoe nails hold the shoe through the hard outer wall of the hoof. They are shaped to bend outward as they are driven, so the point comes out through the wall, where it is cut off and clinched over. A shoe complete with its nails was found in a fifth-century grave. Draw a flat tapering shank, bevel the point on one side, and head it.
The picture: horseshoe nails in three sizes.
Intermediate
Half a day
Instructions
1
1
Draw the shank
Draw the shank
Heat the end of the rod and draw a flat, tapering shank about 45 mm long, thinner toward the point.
Materials for this step:
Wrought Iron Rod2 mTools needed:
Blacksmith Forge
Anvil
Cross Peen Hammer
Blacksmith Tongs
Welding Gloves
Safety Glasses2
2
Bevel the point
Bevel the point
Forge a short bevel on one face of the point only. Mark that face: it goes toward the inside of the hoof, so the nail turns outward.
Tools needed:
AnvilCross Peen HammerBlacksmith TongsWelding GlovesSafety Glasses3
3
Cut and head
Cut and head
Nick the rod on the hardy a little above the shank, drop the shank into the header, snap it off and hammer the stub into a tapered, wedge-shaped head that will sit in the nail hole of the shoe.
Tools needed:
Blacksmith Forge
Hot Cut Hardy
Nail HeaderCross Peen HammerBlacksmith TongsWelding GlovesSafety Glasses4
4
Finish
Finish
Let them cool in air so the iron stays soft enough to clinch. File off any burr and check each one is straight.
Tools needed:
Metal File5
5
Nails for a set
Nails for a set
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Materials
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