As website Rural Blackmith notes, a flatter is a somewhat difficult tool to make. This is because there's a big difference in size between the face of the tool and the body.

The starting size was a bar 1.25 inches in diameter. That was upset while hot until it reached 2.25 inches in diameter. That requires the difficult and repetitive work of upsetting.

The body of the flatter then needs shaping. The hammer hole is hot punched through the body.

The tool is hot filed to get closer to the finished shape. After it has cooled it can be filed to the finished shize and shape.

Have you ever made a flatter? Was it difficult to make? What do you think of the method outlined here? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Article Source: Rural Blacksmith