Creasing and wiring stake

Date1750-1820

MediumIron and steel

DimensionsWorking surface: 14 7/8" Height: 8 1/4"

Credit LineGift of Judith and William McMillen

Object number2012-151

DescriptionTinsmith's creasing / wiring stake with a beak horn on one end.
Label TextSet into a square hole in either a workbench or a tree stump, this stake was primarily used for a few very specific purposes. Known as a "creasing" or "wiring" stake, it was used to hammer a wire into the edge of a piece of tin using a mallet. Wiring gives strength and rigidity to the thin sheet tin, and is almost always applied to the free edges of pieces, or their handles.

This stake has ten grooves of different sizes cut into the flat side of its top, allowing many diameters of wire to be set using this tool. It's "beak” end is of rounded, tapering section, and is used for forming curved bends and shaping cylinders.