How do i do this?

[bluebobtail]

Hi all, i'm after making a wide tined digging forl out of stainless steel with a longer than usual shaft, and with three tines rather than four.

The type of tines like the one on the link below.
Any ideas on how i can do this? And what type or thickness stainless
Thanks in advance

http://www.harrodhorticultural.com/HarrodSite/product/GGT-471.htm

 

[chunkolini]

That's not a digging fork.
It's a potater fork, at least round here. (Herefordshire)
Maybe a length of bar up the back of them tines to stop them bending when you 'dig' with it. Ninety quid for a fork!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Get a old one for a tenner from a boot sale.
Chunko'.

 

[outofthefire]

Not easily and I dont know where you can buy the steel but I would use either 440 b or c. 440c has the most carbon and if its heat treated properly will have the highest strength, hardness and wear resistance. But 440b will have a bit more give and a bit higher corrosion resistance. 440c is best for knives that need to hold a keen edge 440b is more often used in machetes that have to absorb impact forces.

I'd cut it out, leave a tang to fit up the shaft and weld a length of pipe to keep the shaft from splitting. Heat treating it properly at home would be a pig as well. There's not much i'd shy away from making in metal, but this I wouldn't even think about trying. I just dont think I could make it strong enough to do the job. I'd forge one out of carbon steel but stainless is best heated with gas so you dont introduce impurities.

Good luck if you have a go, i'd be interested in seeing the results.

 

[bluebobtail]

It sounds like a lot of hard work. Especially to be able to do it at home. My garage isnt that well equipped.
Thanks for the advice

 

[outofthefire]

Had a think about this, what about buying a stainless spade and cutting the tines out of it, you dont have to worry about steel selection, hardening it or how to fasten it to the handle.

The only thing you'd have to watch is that you dont let it get too hot, use thin disks take material out of the surface, try to leave breaking through till the very last bit and quench it regularly

 

[bluebobtail]

That is a good idea thanks, it will be a lot easier to do than try and make one from scratch.
ill give it a go and see how i get on

Thanks

 

[astro_al]

And then what? It'll just bend where you weld them on to something else.

Al.

 

[pidgeon chit welder]

Hi all, i'm after making a wide tined digging forl out of stainless steel with a longer than usual shaft, and with three tines rather than four.

The type of tines like the one on the link below.
Any ideas on how i can do this? And what type or thickness stainless
Thanks in advance

http://www.harrodhorticultural.com/HarrodSite/product/GGT-471.htm

bobtail,

Are you hoping to use the fork to dig lug or rag worms... if not what sort of thing are you hoping to use it for . .. there may be better alternatives.

 

[outofthefire]

And then what? It'll just bend where you weld them on to something else.

Al.

I dont really understand, there's no need to weld anything.

 

[Hitch]

But a spade is only about 3/4mm thick? Fork tines, about 10/12mm?

 

[outofthefire]

I think the wide tine forks in the link are thinner, its worth a look round the garden centre.

 

[astro_al]

Apologies - I had read the previous comment too fast!

Al.

 

[Drains]

That Harrod catalogue has a three pronged fork in by the same manufacturer as the OP link, but almost 20quid cheaper.

Don't mess up a good spade - as Hitch says, it'll be too thin. You could always widen a 4-tiner with bar welded on the front of the tines. Don't seem to be many three-tiners about.