Patent ID: 7571631
Filing Date: 2009-08-11
Classification: B21F,B21K

Abstract:
1. A method of producing a woodworker's holdfast from a predetermined length of mild steel rod, the holdfast having a flattened end portion formed at a predetermined working angle, the end portion being joined to a straight portion by an intermediate curved portion, the method comprising the steps of: a. forming the flattened end portion having a contact face that is tangential to an adjacent surface of the rod from which it is formed; b. providing an automated wire forming machine with a plurality of fixed and moving rod-contacting surfaces for engaging unflattened portions of the rod; c. advancing the rod into the wire forming machine; d. actuating the wire forming machine to bring a first portion of the rod that is proximate the flattened end portion and opposite the contact face against a fixed pin tooling member and applying a first forming force to the side of the rod on which the contact face is formed to thereby form an offset angle; e. contacting a second portion of the rod that is intermediate the flattened end and an opposite free end with a curved tooling member and applying a linear crook-forming force to the free end of the rod to thereby form a crook in an intermediate portion of the rod, said crook-forming force being sufficient to form a temporary working angle in the holdfast, that is less than the predetermined working angle; f. reducing the forming forces and moving the tooling members from contact with the holdfast, whereby the forming forces on the crook portion are released and the holdfast relaxes to the predetermined working angle.