I need advice from the pros!

[Agent_H]

Yessir.I'm afraid Square_peg is absolutely right.The tool in that photo is more of a Punch,and was meant to drive something down before it(like a handle,yes).
A drift will have to be somewhat longer and tapered.
(a common min. taper is 1:7).

A makeshift drift would not be too hard to make.Most DB eyes are probably under 3/4" at the thickest.So 3/4" or maybe even 5/8" thick plate section(one can probably bum something like that at a steel yard,most chunks under one foot are nuisance and scrap).
A 7" angle-grinder + a bit of time would shape it fairly effortlessly to a necessary shape.
A bolster plate of needed curvature can be made out of even thinner plate,a right size hole carved in it,the plate shaped to proper radius,and mounted over the end-grain of a stump with again,a proper recess carved in it.

Jake, what if you forged appropriate drifts as a part-time?

 

[Agent_H]

"PoggIrons" - a must have for every shop

 

[jake pogg]

Well...I could,but not efficiently enough to make it a cheap product.
Seems like the last few years i've gravitated towards hand-work only..(and super lazy about forging drifts,forever trying to get by with the handful already made;a common small forge disease.
My power-hammer stands disassembled,and the power-abrasives dept.is very poor anymore...
It'd be a good product for someone more power-tool rich,if they wanted to make a habit of producing such.
(i believe a couple small sizes Kayne&sons carry are Cast,out of malleable,in China no doubt

 

[jake pogg]

Oh,hey,i actually Have a DB drift that i forged years ago...(and never did use).
It's a standard modern DB eye,and Mr Hall would be heartily welcome to it,except i'm afraid that the old E&S is quite a bit narrower...
I'm not home right now to measure it, am swinging a 19 oz Vaughan framing hammer on a roof 400 miles from home...(what happens to bad,lazy smiths)...but will be back inside two weeks.

 

[Square_peg]

That would be handy for driving out a wedge but not for drifting out an eye.

You just dashed my plans to use it for such a purpose.

Sorry, I meant to say it's good for driving the cut off haft out of an old axe eye. But just the same, it's not right straightening an eye.

 

[Curt Hal]

Oh,hey,i actually Have a DB drift that i forged years ago...(and never did use).
It's a standard modern DB eye,and Mr Hall would be heartily welcome to it,except i'm afraid that the old E&S is quite a bit narrower...
I'm not home right now to measure it, am swinging a 19 oz Vaughan framing hammer on a roof 400 miles from home...(what happens to bad,lazy smiths)...but will be back inside two weeks.

I’d sure be interested in it. Thanks.

 

[jake pogg]

Great.I'll be back inside two weeks,and stick it in the mail for you(pm your postal coordinates if you'll have a chance,sometime before that).
You'll have to do a bunch of grinding,but maybe less than starting from quadrangular stock.
I'll also look about for a cruiser drift that i made at the same time,it maybe a better fit...

 

[Curt Hal]

Trickiest hang to date! With the eye in the misshapen hourglass shape it was in, it took a lot of slow, thoughtful work to get this relatively well aligned with a good, tight fit. Considering I was about to throw it out, and then discovered, thanks to Yankee Josh and the rest of you, that it’s an Emerson Stevens Co, I’m proud of the end result. It would sure be nice to determine the date it was made.

 

[Yankee Josh]

Trickiest hang to date! With the eye in the misshapen hourglass shape it was in, it took a lot of slow, thoughtful work to get this relatively well aligned with a good, tight fit. Considering I was about to throw it out, and then discovered, thanks to Yankee Josh and the rest of you, that it’s an Emerson Stevens Co, I’m proud of the end result. It would sure be nice to determine the date it was made.
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Well done Curt! It's a good feeling huh! Those misshapen eyes are the toughest ones. They take patience and a ton of on and off. And on and off... Do you live near woods where you can fall a tree? I'll look forward to seeing some pics of you using it. Congrats man! Beautiful hang!