Recreating a rectangular release button

[Dave B]

I wanted to share in part my making the release button for the restoration done by Ron Scott. He replaced the missing toe section and made the toe plate. I wanted to make the release button for the project. I used an old Iron spike don't know if it was wrought Iron or not but it has a grain to it so I suspect it is. It came from a 1880's Barn they took apart to reassemble in Japan or some such. It was back behind our property 20 yrs ago.
 I forged out a nail like shank then cut off the extra hunk above the neck wanting enough to make the button end. I worked it down forging out the tall bulk of the top into a low rectangle "T" headed nail. I was a little over sized but was able to bring it down to size with the hack saw and file. It took some fussing with to get the hole in the brass plate and the metal button to work once all the screws were tight. I cut off too much of the shaft and had to redraw the length to get it working right.

[rich pierce]

Nicely done. Thanks for showing how you did it.

[Kevin]

Dave,

The finished product looks good.

Kevin

[Dave B]

Thanks guys. Its been a couple years since I forged out something and my arm is out of shape with just that small amount doing that. There is something just so satisfying about taking a old piece of junk metal and making something functional. There at the end I was starting to pull out my hair when the last couple turns of the screws locked up the button to the place you couldn't push it in at all to release the catch. finally after a couple hours of playing around I got the tight spots loosened up with strategic filing. I am very interested in hearing from others about what theirs looked like.