Jackpine Forge

Jackpine Forge Jackpine Forge specializes in the forging of quality tools, particularly in hand hammers for metalworkers and farriers.

Jackpine Forge was founded in 1998 and originally started as a hobby shop. Since 2000 the primary focus has been on forging tools for other metalworkers, specifically hammers. Head smith Nathan Robertson has forged over 3600 hammers in the years since and he now has tools in most of the 50 states, several Canadian provinces and overseas. He is constantly expanding his product line and also forges

sledges,tongs, tooling, set tools, and anything else he can think of for his customers shops. Nathan also teaches hammer making classes around the country and has had close to 1000 students.

04/01/2023

Drifting the previously punched hole (with the brand new drift from yesterday). Because the new drift is longer I can't use it in the Bradley with the same die space setting I used for punching. So I step over to the Kickass. Normally this would be in the same heat but because of messing around with the phone camera I took a fresh heat.

It also took a bit longer because the swage block next to the hammer is where I usually tap drifts loose, set tools, and keep the l**e. But I had the phone set there so I had to take a few steps to the swage block by the Bradley. It takes more force to drift these larger holes for this particular style of handle compared to the standard oval handles I use. I punch the same size slot for both. I used to punch a longer slot for the slab handles but wasn't happy with how they drifted. Switching to the regular punch and stretching the hole more gave me better results. Just one of those things you figure out by experimenting. One hard fast rule in my shop is there is no process that's set in stone.....I'm always tweaking how things are done even if it's something I've already made hundreds of times.

03/31/2023

Taking the repaired punch for a test drive. It never seems to be as smooth of a process when you have a camera recording it (probably the effort of not letting any of my bad habits or my constant profanity end up on video).

This was the second of three 3 lb Czech cross peens I punched. I've often found that a freshly dressed punch no matter how polished tends to stick a bit the first 5-6 holes no matter what you're using for punch l**e. It seems to need to "wear in" because after those initial holes a proper l**e makes the punch pop free easily. I'm using a industrial punch l**e in the video.

As far as dressing a punch if you can eliminate any grinder scratches that go across the punch rather than down the length you'll have a lot less trouble. It's amazing how even that little bit of texture can seize up. I like to polish them with a 2" Scotchbrite roloc disc in my right angle die grinder.

Since today was already kind of dedicated to tooling I finished up a new power hammer drift for when I make hammers that...
03/31/2023

Since today was already kind of dedicated to tooling I finished up a new power hammer drift for when I make hammers that take a short "slab" style handle. My old one has been tuned up and dressed so many times that it won't reach through larger blanks (sort of important since you tap the end of the drift on the bottom die to release it). It was the first one I made for those type of handles so the new one should last a long time. I had actually forged out the drift itself last summer and forgot I had it. Stumbled across it yesterday while looking for punch material.

I tend to like welded on handles on my power hammer punches and drifts. I do have some loose ones that I grip with tongs but for most work flat bar handles are my go to. This one is simply a piece of 3/16" x 1-1/4" mild with no forging done to it. I don't bother to make "pretty" handles most of the time either. You tend to grow out of that as your hand held tooling collection gets into triple digits. ;-)

Somebody is just hanging out after getting a post heat......it only took 26 days to get around to fixing the punch I got...
03/30/2023

Somebody is just hanging out after getting a post heat......it only took 26 days to get around to fixing the punch I got stuck and pooched back on March 4th. Between my road trip, snow removal, family stuff, and other various delays I'm lucky I fixed it this soon.

I'd reforged it to shape with a hand hammer the day I messed it up and today I trued it up at the grinder and welded the same handle back on. After post heat it'll get a second temper heat (it's H-13) of around 1000° and hang to cool again. Polish it up with a 2" scotchbrite pad in the angle die grinder and it'll be good to go again. Should be taking it for a test drive tonight or tomorrow. I do have two more punches being made right now because my backups are in pretty bad shape. I get attached to even simple power hammer tools sometimes and keep using them well after they should be retired.....doubt I'll ever change that habit.

If a picture is worth a thousand words this one is only using four........"No paying work today".Nothing out of the ord...
03/23/2023

If a picture is worth a thousand words this one is only using four........"No paying work today".

Nothing out of the ordinary, just a typical northern Minnesota winter storm but it does shorten my work week and ties up space in the shop because the blowers need thawing out afterwards (also leaves a wet mess). I won't be removing the blower from the lawn tractor until the end of April and the mower deck won't need to be put on until the end of May if it's a normal spring.

2 lb-10 oz Czech rounding hammer $100 US plus shipping
03/21/2023

2 lb-10 oz Czech rounding hammer $100 US plus shipping

2 lb Czech rounding hammer $100 US plus shipping
03/21/2023

2 lb Czech rounding hammer $100 US plus shipping

2.5 lb Czech cross peen $100 US plus shipping
03/21/2023

2.5 lb Czech cross peen $100 US plus shipping

2 lb Czech cross peen $100 US plus shipping
03/21/2023

2 lb Czech cross peen $100 US plus shipping

1 lb-14 oz Czech cross peen $90 US plus shipping
03/21/2023

1 lb-14 oz Czech cross peen $90 US plus shipping

1.5 lb Czech cross peen $90 US plus shipping
03/21/2023

1.5 lb Czech cross peen $90 US plus shipping

1 lb Czech cross peen $90 US plus shipping
03/21/2023

1 lb Czech cross peen $90 US plus shipping

Address

52765 Robertson Road
Max, MN
56659

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