Rounding A Barrel Tang For A Penny

[Daniel Coats]

I had what I thought was moment of brilliance at 5:30 this morning in my shop. Why not clamp a penny to the square end of a new barrel tang to use as a guide and simply file around the edge to get the round shape!

Sounded good but what I didn't take into consideration was the width of the tang was drastically narrower than the penny. The result was not much of a rounded tang at all and I still had to file the radius by hand using my usual eyeball for a guide. Now I think you have to admit the picture looks like it would work, it should have worked, maybe drink the coffee first next time! 



At least I got my money's worth..sigh 

[45-110]

Whats wrong with using a drafting circle template, and a scribe line over sharpie ink?

[Birddog6]

Maybe you just needed a smaller penny ? a Half-cent ?   

[Daniel Coats]

Whats wrong with using a drafting circle template, and a scribe line over sharpie ink?

Honestly never thought of that thank you! Next stop Walmart!!

[45-110]

Daniel pick up an ellipse/oval template also and you will be all set!

[tunadawg]

Or, maybe some washers in a smaller size.

[smylee grouch]

Well I guess I won't give you my two cents worth.😄

[Ian Pratt]

Is this a long tang? If so and the end is close to where screw hole will be, you could predrill the hole and drop a screw or bolt in then use the head as a guide or scribe around it. Or eyeball it which is what I usually do.

[Daniel Coats]

Yeah long tail Soddy in a piece of curly ash. I eyeballed it and I'm happy with the results.

[bobw]

A radius gage set is really handy for things like this.
Bob

[Hank*in*WV]

That template is nice, but it's astronomically more expensive than that penny.

[Birddog6]

Whats wrong with using a drafting circle template, and a scribe line over sharpie ink?

Honestly never thought of that thank you! Next stop Walmart!!

Actually, they make 4-5 dif ones & S's & etc.  I use them when laying out a rifle. I want good clean lines when I work on a one.

[45-110]

A radius gage set is really handy for things like this.
Bob

Yes it is and a well stocked tool box should have a set, but there are times you need a flexible template on curved or compound surfaces.

[Scota4570]

I own a full set of drafting templates and tools from an estate.  I have the board and T-square  and various triangles too.  I'd be lost with out them.  IT takes up a full drawer. 

At very least the circle I'd have and various ellipse templates.  The ellipses come in various degrees.  That translates from long and thin to short and fat ellipses.  Templates are cheap.  I have some nice compasses sets that get a lot of use for layouts too. 

If I am making a scratch build I make a detailed exact size drawing of what I intend to make.  It is done just like a draftsman would do.  It seems obsessive.

But, by building it on paper and in my head first, I avoid most of the problems that might have been overlooked if I jumped right in.  The picture can be glued to the stock blank and used as a guide. 

[Dutch]

As an old designer myself, I can’t hardly think without a pencil in my hand and I can’t seem to start a project of any kind without drawing it out (roughly first).  Case in point I was having trouble with a tang design scratching on the tang so I drew a template and cut it out to use as a guide.

PS
5:30???!!!!!