Making ferules and sockets

[Protactical]

I'm working on some chisels that have small ferules just above the blades, on the handles. They are somewhat like the shape and size of a thimble. I want to forge these myself, and was thinking of turning a bar to the inside diameter, and hammering some metal tube over them.

What is the best way to do this. Should I start with maximum OD tube, and smush it down, or try to expand a thinner tube? Any general tips. I just have some propane torches, and a grinder. I have a well equipted wood shop, but no specialized metal working tools like forge, mill or lathe.

Here are pictures of similar chisels:

http://www.japanesetools.com/tools/tasai_chisels/pushchisels_images.html

The blades are of shouldered tang construction, and fit into the handles. What might in the picture look like a socket, is the combined effect of the blade and ferule. I'm making the thin chisels, and they are simpler still. They look just as though the blades were cut out of flat 1/8" stock, and inserted into the handles with the ferule. In fact they are forge welded hard and soft steel. Mine will just be O1 flat stock, and fine for the odd time I will use them.

Also, has anyone forged sockets, whether for spears, chisels, whatever. How is it done, is it a forge welding? I won't be trying it for a while myself, but I'd like to know.

 

[Alarion]

For what I've seen you just forge the "tang" flat and wide and then fold it on a mandrel to obtain the correct cone.
I forged myself a cone to act as a mandrel to forge ferrules for arrow heads. I've yet to experiment on how well it works, though!

 

[Reg ELLERY]

You will be able to do it with what you have. I used a flat sheet of steel a tapper punch made from a large bolt and some various sizes of pipe. I started with the point of the punch over the small pipe end. as the sides folded up I moved to bigger pipe and tapped out the wrinkles. It was a long frustrating process about 3 hours each but I ended up with thimbles.

I think if you started with a small pipe and streched the back with your tapper punch it would work. I have seen a mate forge the other way and make a spear end. Moral of the story is have a go I am sure you have the equipment to do it.

 

[Protactical]

Thanks guys.