tanyardsmith22 Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Hello everyone greetings from south eastern Kentucky! I'm new to smithing, I've spent the last 6 months collecting my anvils and vises and the other tools. . I've managed to get a 400+ pound unmarked anvil a 180 pound Mousehole and a 210 pound unmarked anvil. Three leg vises, 4",4 1/2" and a 4 3/4", I have a rivet forge and a large champion shop forge that isn't usable right now. I used coal mined right here in my county. I have my "shop" so to say set up in my barn. I make a point to forge everyday. I usually make 3 or 4 small hearts out of round stock. I have made a whole lot of these hearts and I have soaked them in vinegar to help remove the scale that I couldn't get off while the metal was at a orange heat. The vinegar ate all the scale Up and left a nice bright shine. My question is what do I use to keep that shiny finish on them? I would post a picture of My work but I don't know how! Any advice is greatly Appreciated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caintuckrifle Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 One of the best things you can do is put beeswax on them when they are just a tad warm, just take the cake of wax rub it all over and buff of the excess with a rag. Another idea worth passing along is this: when the piece is warm say around 4-500 degrees (no longer red) brush it down with a brass bristled brush and seal with wax. The brush will leave a small amount of brass on the surface giving it a gold color that looks neat. I use this technique on leaves and it works good. If the brass does not stick your piece is not hot enough, also you can use paraffin as well- the wax also protects against rust. Hope this helps- Caintuck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matto Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Spray them with poly or a clear coat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanyardsmith22 Posted April 25, 2014 Author Share Posted April 25, 2014 Thank you very much! All advice is helpful, I will be trying the brass brush and the wax Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caintuckrifle Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 You will have to post a picture of them hearts when your done... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Welcome aboard, glad to have you. Any time the steel is at heat it will oxidize more quickly so brushing at orange heat is exposing fresh steel to oxygen. This is a good temperature to remove scale but it's also where scale forms fast. I like Treewax to finish work, it's carnuba and the same stuff they use to armor bowling alleys. It flows very well at moderate temperature, say in the 200f range cools hard as can be so buff it while still hotter than a cup of coffee/tea. It doesn't yellow with age. I like it but that' me. Johnson's paste wax is good too but not carnuba so it requires more frequent maintenance. To post pictures click on the "More Reply Options" button at the bottom right of the text window. Below the text window that opens click "Choose Files" browse your saved files, select the one you want to post, click "Open" it will appear below the text window click "Add to Post." Done deal . . . I hope, it's changed since last time I uploaded a pic. If one of a fat guy swinging a hammer appears then that's how it's done. <grin> Fingers crossed. Frosty The Lucky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quick60 Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Welcome to the board. Sounds like you are off to a good start. I suggest you do a google search for blacksmith guild newsletters. LOTS of helpful information there. You can also scroll all the way to the bottom of the forums and see the section dedicated to the guilds. There may be one fairly close to you you can join. I post the Tidewater Blacksmith guild newsletters there you can check those out as well. I was just on the other side of Covington Va. this week and will be going back periodically, is that close to you? Good luck and post some pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanyardsmith22 Posted April 25, 2014 Author Share Posted April 25, 2014 Thanks everyone for the suggestions, it's greatly appreciated! Here are the pictures of my little hearts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 Pretty decent crop of hearts you've grown there. <grin> Frosty The Lucky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanyardsmith22 Posted April 26, 2014 Author Share Posted April 26, 2014 Thanks very much Frosty! I enjoy making them, I really enjoy forge welding and these seem to be great practice. Now if I can figure out how to make a rail road spike tomahawk! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 28, 2014 Share Posted April 28, 2014 now figure out how to put screw holes in them and make a set of stocking hangers for a wooden mantel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anvil Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 most important! if you use vinegar on the iron, neutralize it with baking soda. otherwise even the weak acid will cause rust under any other finish you apply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanyardsmith22 Posted May 1, 2014 Author Share Posted May 1, 2014 Thanks anvil! I didn't have any clue! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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