PEP BB metalworking.sand.poker - build a fireplace poker

May 08, 2019 18:06:56

This is a badge bit (BB) that is part of the PEP curriculum. Completing this BB is part of getting the sand badge in Metal Working.

A wise man once said "Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for the night. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life". Fire is an important tool and having metal tools to manage it is very helpful. A poker helps you arrange or rearrange wood on the fire. It can drag coals around. And they look cool hanging by the fire. Let's make one!

The coolest way to make one is by blacksmithing. Start with a bar of steel or iron, heat up the end and work it on an anvil. Here's an excellent video including a forge weld for the spur:

Here's a video of three different pokers, made from rebar (not the best raw material) and requiring no forge welding. Regular welding is still needed for two of the designs:

To complete this BB, the minimum requirements is to make a poker:
- steel or iron
- spur/hook at the end to pull on logs with
- simple handle

To document your completion of the BB, provide the following:
- A picture of your poker partially assembled
- A picture of the finished poker

Nicole Alderman · Feb 28, 2020 20:18:58

First time making one of these. It was fun. It turned out pretty good.

gir bot · Feb 20, 2024 18:18:02

Welded up a fire poker tonight. I used pieces of salvaged mild steel. The T for the handle and the main piece are tubing- to keep the weight down. I filled the end of the long tube with weld and ground it to shape. I'm very happy with the weight and balance of it. I hate using the one we currently have because it's long and heavy and feels awkward.

Hopefully we can use it this weekend 🤞

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