This is a 4.0" Chrome Steel spherical metal forming pipecap stake. It is a significantly higher grade sphere than our traditional high carbon steel spherical bearings. We reccomend these Chrome Steel stakes for cold working metals, hot working plate steel, and any other processes where heavy blows will be transfered to the spherical bearing.

*This Ball is a Grade 25 Chrome steel bearing [Rockwell C 60-67] The Chromium (Cr) has a tendency to increase hardness, toughness and wear resistance of steel making it the superior choice for metal forming and smithing*

This sphere stake is excellent for metal work and fabrication. Hot or cold forming can be done over this sphere and I can accomodate different lengths supporting rods for your specific needs. The 7.25" supporting rod is 5/8's in diameter and is a fairly good height to allow you to work inside of tight or recessed places without the work interferring with the base. This tool is great for sheet metal work, jewelry smithing, medieval armour reproduction and creation of SCA armour, blacksmithing, artwork and sculpture creation and general fabrication. The stake as a smooth finished buff to protect your work from abrasion.

These stakes are welded to 1.5" black iron pipe cap fittings and coated in high temp flat black paint. This pipecap implementation is a simplistic and extremely easy way to start smithing right away. This method does not require an expensive nor heavy anvil, nor an apropriate size hardy or pritchel hole common with most hardy tools. Simply screw any of the forming stakes we make onto a 1.5" piece of pipe nipple (or desired length of black iron pipe) and then onto your 1.5" pipe flange which you can bolt or screw down to any solid surface or work desk. If you already have a pipe setup that is smaller or larger than our standard 1.5" than not to worry, we can weld your hardy to another size cap. However we reccomend 1.5" pipe size as it quite strong and can easily take lots of abuse. These forming stakes screw down tightly creating a very strong and positive forming surface that transfers the blows directly down into mounted surface. We also make a whole host of other forming shapes. Feel free to contact us about special shapes or tools and their pricing.

Pipe flanges are easily bolted or lag-screwed down to solid work surfaces. If you want a mobile base you can mount your pipe flange onto any very heavy duty surface that can be rolled, picked up or moved around. Large heavy stumps are commonly used for this as well as as 2x4 or 4x4 wood boxes full of concrete. Whatever you devise allow enough weight so that the setup does not move nor jump during heavy hits. Others have even used plate weights in a mobile setup. Feel free to be creative. As long as it heavy enough to not move or jump while in use and is setup for the right height you'll do fine.

Example of a mobile base for pipecap hardys