By Roy Bloom, CJF APF-I
Roy Bloom, CJF APF-I provided us with an opportunity to get some good step by step shots of him forging a plain stamped shoe using 5/16”x3/4” flat stock. Notice that Roy, right-handed, works with his struck tools in line with his center-right side and is not trying to cross-over the shoe. This allows much more controlled use of the tools and allows you to strike the center of the tool in a balanced position. You are likely to get better results in the shoe and also avoid damaging your tool with off balance impact. You can see Roy talking about tool maintenance and forging in videos we have posted on our YouTube channel.
Start your toe bend working on the face or horn, making your first blow just off center. 
Working with round side of hammer, establish first one side of bend then the other. 
Keep stock in line and flat as you put toe in.
You can eyeball it or use a Bloom t-square tool to mark your toe nail.
Working on face and at opposite edge of anvil, form your heels and heel check.
Turn branch over horn, striking the shoe just past the center of the horn to make the bend.
Use hammer to position forepunch to minimize heat build-up in tip. Establish your nail position and punch almost to finish depth.
Work branch to clean up frog eyes.
Forepunch to final depth, drift and pritchel.
After drifting and pritcheling, make your flatting run and any last adjustments to shape.
This article is from The Natural Angle Volume 16, Issue 3. For more Natural Angle articles and tips, click here.
