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Wonky Digging Fork Tines

Has anyone mastered the art of straightening out a splayed digging fork tine so it goes back in line with the other 3 ? , There's always one tine that seems to get pushed out of line . 

No amount of force or bashing it with a sledge hammer seems to work , Sometimes the splayed tine just snaps straight off . 

Frustrated that its happened to my favourite vintage heavy duty Bulldog fork , Perhaps it's due to fatigue in the steel over time and not worth the effort but any tips or suggestions would be much  appreciated they dont make them like they used to and would like to extend my forks life . 

Thanks .

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  • If it's a vintage one and you really want to keep it, take it to a local blacksmith and get them to straighten it. Tools definitely aren't made like they were in the 'olden days' and are worth repairing.

    Personally, I'd try levering the bent tine using a long pry bar, using the other tines to lever against. Carbon steel, which yours probably is, is more malleable than stainless, stainless would be difficult to bend back and may just snap.

    • PRO

      Thanks Sean yes i have snapped a few off over the years including breaking someone elses family heirloon fork . 

      Had mine for a while a bargain picked up in a junk shop i feel it will be worth getting repaired by a blacksmith , I think it will involve heat and an anvil a great idea thanks .

  • PRO

    We bend ours back using toeh towbar on a van...

    • PRO

      Thanks Nick , Do you put the tine through the gap on tow bar and bend it back having the weight of the vehicle to stabalise it ? great if it works .

      I have tried clamping tine in an old solid bench vice and twisting but it resulted in the work bench moving which is heavy and solid but against a truck would be unlikely to move this .

       

  • PRO

    Give it some heat! get it cherry red and ease back into place  using a bit of copper pipe over the tine and then quench it in some used engine oil that way it won't go brittle and break.

  • As Dave says, I imagine it would need heating up prior to bending back 

    • PRO

      I agree mjc A great suggestion Dave I do suspect heat will be needed , I will give the task to a Blacksmith i dont have a heat source other than a small taymar gas torch the heat will probabably keep dispersing , Hopefully a blacksmith will be able to take the rivet out of the shaft to seperate the fork if necessary and re rivet . 

  • I use a length of metal pipe, put the tine inside and ease back into position. 

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