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Pecan in Shell | |
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This pecan in shell is forged using two separate parts. The most difficult aspect of making it is how to hold it. One solution is to weld a shaft onto the nut through the shell, then grind off the shaft to finish. To make the pecan nut, forge a football type shape, with one end more rounded. This can be done with a pipe fuller. An average size for the nut is 1 3/8" long x 3/4" wide. So 3/4" black pipe works well. The shell (see Pecan Shell Pattern) is snipped out of 22 gauge sheet steel. After drilling the hole indicated on the pattern, place it onto a round stock shaft. Then place the rounded end of the nut onto the shell and shaft. Tack weld the pieces together from below. Hold the shaft in a vise and heat the nut, then the shell with a torch. Using smooth, needle nosed pliers, pull the shell over the nut, trying to square the sections into equal quarters. A small cross peen hammer works well to flatten the heated shell onto the nut. Pinch the shell edges together. Snip off the excess sheet steel. File or grind the excess shell to smooth. After finishing, hack saw off the shaft and grind or file the rounded end smooth. By slowly heating the shell, a brown color may be added by carefully finishing with beeswax. |
