Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: stringstretcher on December 17, 2012, 04:53:33 pm

Title: Making trade point?
Post by: stringstretcher on December 17, 2012, 04:53:33 pm
If you were going to be making a lot of trade points, would you rather use a band saw to cut them out, get an abrasive cut off saw, or an angle grinder.  What would be the best route to take?
Title: Re: Making trade point?
Post by: osage outlaw on December 17, 2012, 05:05:16 pm
I got an angle grinder with the abrasive wheels to rough them out.  I like how well it works.  I haven't tried a bandsaw yet.
Title: Re: Making trade point?
Post by: _Jon_ on December 17, 2012, 06:07:08 pm
Metal band saw that Will has down in the shop area at Twin Oaks works better then anything I ever tried before.
Title: Re: Making trade point?
Post by: mullet on December 18, 2012, 12:23:43 am
I'd use a slow, metal band saw like the one Will has at Twinn Oaks. It cuts a lot better then my air cut-off saw and is a lot quieter.
Title: Re: Making trade point?
Post by: JW_Halverson on December 18, 2012, 12:50:36 am
I'd use a Scotchman Industries hydraulic metal shear.  Their littlest machine, the 45 ton,  would do it easy enough, it's rated to shear 3/8 by 6" bar stock!  Heck, their specialty tool shop would make a set of dies so that you could punch them outa sheetstock!  And if you still got money left over, they got a guy that used to work for them that could take their hydraulic ironworker and build an automated system to run it.  All you'd have to do is load the pallet of sheet steel on the machine and hit the ON button.  It would automatically feed and punch away while you drank coffee and polished your fingernails.  The ironworker would cost you around $12,000.  Jeff would build the one-off CNC automated system for about $75,000.

The saw is probably cheaper and more likely faster production than using cut off wheels on a dremel.  Plus it's less likely to overheat and ruin the tenper of the cutting edges. 

Title: Re: Making trade point?
Post by: _Jon_ on December 18, 2012, 02:26:15 am
I made about 4 dozen on the trade points so far using Will's saw.  Takes me about 2 minutes per blade to cut out and they look and work great.  I have my pattern down so the finished point weighs in at 160 grains after I put an edge on them Plus or minus a couple grains.  They work great.  The guys at Twin Oaks love them that have asked me for a few.
Title: Re: Making trade point?
Post by: stringstretcher on December 18, 2012, 06:51:29 am
I think I have a few of the ones you made Jon.  We traded last year at the classic?  JW, I want to make a few points, not go broke...lol