Problem Solving

Hi guys i am endeavouring to make my version of the rusty/dusty/krusty power hammer and i am asking you how do i straighten the leaf spring? the sprig is in 5 separate sections at the moment due to cleaning off all the scale rust. their clean and ready to be straightened. any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. thanks.

Would anyone know what kind of steel are Tine Harrows made,Thanks in advance

Ok, I have just found a description of what my lump of sea recovered iron chain does when heating to red heat and attempting forging, it crumbles, and yes at the visible grain lines, called I believe red short in metalsmithing terms, high sulphur bearing metal. As to where this sulphur came from, could it be in the metal as it was forged, or did it come later by being immersed in estuary mud for a hundred years or two, I don't know. Though I can use the metal like this for another purpose, that of wonderfully organic looking jewellery, I would like to know, is there a process that can be applied to increase the plastic properties of the metal and reduce the crumbling at…

Hi I am interested to find out about a PSA - Pressure Swing Absorption ---Oxygen Generator the ones for Generateing Oxygen for use in a small engineering shops ----gas welding of panil steel mostly for oxy-acetelyne welding all thow having enouth for Oxy propane cutting--- Would be a good thing to have ---I am interested in the cost of a P.S.A to do that type of work ---IF any one knows the Prices of these things that would be neet ---- Thank you for you time----

seen the suggestions about using pallet strapping for practicing pattern welding with and i was wondering if i need to clean off the blued finish before stacking ?

I am trying to make a goblet out of heavy wall black pipe. what can I use to coat the inside? I have been told to use copper. Will that corrode if used for drinking?

I have a piece of 1/4 inch hot rolled mild steel rod. I tried to cut 1/4-20 threads with a die. The die just rotates around on the rod and will not start to cut. I have cut many female threads over the years with no problems, but this is the first time I have tried to thread a rod. What am I doing wrong? thanks...bart

Hello, New here - just building my first forge, brake drum, hair dryer, etc. Have acquired part of a truck tow hitch, "L" shaped weighs about 33-35# for beginners anvil - found a pick at a yard sale for $2.50 for a bick ... also had aout 20 nail stakes (concrete forming stakes) follow me home - round, flat and sqaure. Anyone have any experiance using these? Also found a piece of steel plate cut to be the in concrete base for street lights ... about 18 x 18" with the center flame cut out for wires and holes cut at corners for the mounting bolts. Does cut with hacksaw ... slow, but it does cut. Would really like to know about the stakes though ... thought they would…

Im a newb to forge work and have been using charcoal in a home made forge, running well enough for my present needs. I went to the local coal yard and the chap their sold me some breeze. I got it home and after many atempts at getting the coke to light I have had to give up. I basically used firelighters, loads of them under a stack of coke, whilst some of the coke went a little grey, it didnt even seem to glow. Any suggestions, does this coke even burn or is it used to just hold heat? Any help appreciated! Thanks

I'm not sure if this is the right forum for this, but I'm trying to brainstorm ideas for my old water heater. The tank itself was leaking water, so it will no longer serve its original purpose. What else can I do with it. Anyone have any ideas or projects they have created from old water heaters? I know I could just dump it, but it seems like there has to be something useful I can do with it. Ideas?

hey I'm making a a knife for a very dear friend, and i wanted to make something special, my idea was to make a knife and scrimshaw their first name on one side and their last name on the other but because of how important this person is to me i wanted to make something thats intimately connected to me. I was wondering if it would be possible to scrimshaw with blood. Before i get any freaked out replies, I am a christian, but i practice a form of druidism that teaches an interconnectedness with nature, and emphasizes the importance of blood bonds.

ok i am making my first rotisserie and i cant figure out the traditional way to make adjustable prongs that hold the meat i am tryn to do it without having to use a welding machine. i want it to be period accurate so if any of yall can help me i would appreciate it Sterling

I need to fab a transition from 4"OD to 2.25"OD for the air supply on my new forge. Problem is I seem to be forgetting many of the tricks I have learned along the way. I have built many transitions in the past but I'll be xxxxxx if I can remember how. I know I need the circumference of each piece and lay out with dividers on a perpendicular, but thats about it. Old age sucks....new metal beater....old millwright

I just got a Buffalo Electric Blower with motor control. It looks to be in fair shape. The motor works and blowes good air, made noise, I oiled it but as usual it leaked right out. It did stop some of the noise. there was packing in the oil holes. It was all dried up. Got most of it out I think. Do I need to put some back? My main problem is the wiring. Looks like something might be missing on the controller. I would post some pictures be can't get them to upload right now (new computer!!). Not sure about model number. It has F-27594 as the number. Would this be the model number? Dose anyone know where I might find some information. Thanks Billy

I have a new iMac. Can't get pictures to upload. Any ideas what I need to do. Thanks Billy

This came up while explaining how I made a flat induction coil. Thought I should post it here. Ya ever run into the need to make two 90 degree bends right next to each other? Like the first picture. There's just no way you're gonna get that second bend into the bender. Well, long time ago I had to figure that one out. After much head scratching I came up with this. Pretty easy once you know the trick. Actually there are many times where I find it easier to bend in one plane and then twist it into another plane. Got me out of trouble on more than one occasion. I've done this on work up to two inch diameter. Sometimes I see folks struggling to make a bend close to the e…

I just tried the mix of bee's wax, linseed oil, and turpentine and may have put to much bee's wax in the mix as I tried to keep it at equal parts of all three. I did apply the mix on hot to the touch metal but I just didn't like the feel after it dried. So I'm not sure if I did it right or not. Still looking for something else to try. Plus has anyone tried the gun browning or bluing you can get at gun shops to finish your work? I did try the browning as I had a bottle left over when I built a black power rifle from a kit. I used it on a old hammer I picked up at a flea market that was real beat up. After I buffed the hammer head down to get out all the scratches cleanin…

Hello all! Bought a Champion 400 blower ($60- Score!) and am trying to remove the fan shaft/worm gear to replace the ball bearings. They are mostly frozen in place. 1)Have the fan and fan shroud removed but cannot get the rear nut (at the crank end) off to access the bearings. Is it reverse thread? 2) There is a seal/cap of some sort at the fan end of the shaft as well. Does this tap out or is it threaded? Everything has been soaked daily with "liquid wrench". Everything turns and works ok I just know it could be better and want to make it last another 100 years.

Hi does anyone know were or if someone makes a oiler cup that will fit on the champion 400 blower?

We all start full of spit and vinegar, full steam ahead. Then we start to loose interest or have other things to do. In blacksmithing, how do you get started every day, get motivated, or decide what to do, IF you can convince yourself you really want to build a fire? Then later, how do you avoid burn out and avoid loosing interest in beating metal? If your in the middle of a large order, or production work, or a large job, how do you stay interested and excited enough to finish? How do you get started, again, today? How do you avoid getting burned out on blacksmithing?

Made some strap hinges the other day. I bought lag bolts and cut the heads off for pintels. I don't think I've read or heard about putting wood threads on something. How do you do it? Thank You Billy

Hello All, I made some of Damascus using 15n20 and 1084 in just a random pattern. from this I made a ring by doing stock removal. So now I am thinking the metal might tarnish and look crappy from the acids of the person wearing it. Any ideas on protecting the metal, or maybe better yet should I use a different combination of metals to start with. Cheers,

ok. questoins that you all are probably sick of seeing... sorry. i did as much reserch in the forms as i could but a few questsoins i just couldnt find answers to. yet at least. Forge: i built my first time forge. its a break rotor forge with a hair dryer as the blower. fuel is charcoal (yet to find a vendor that sells coal in cincinnati area) Anvil: well probably not the easyest things to get for cheap. i went to the scrap yard and missed getting a avnil for 25 cents a pund just by a few hours. someone beat me to it... so i had to get a substitute. i found a peace of track sistem for a overhead crane system. it fit the bill metal: im trying to work 1/2 inch rebar.…

Hi, I am currently working on the restoration of gates and railings for a church in Ireland. They were installed circa 1830 and have footings set in lead within a limestone capping. WE are currently trying to plan their removal. The railing sections have 6 footings per section and melting the lead would prove tricky at all these points simultaneously. We are considering cutting at the stone capping and removing the footings individually and re-welding the footings back on to the railing. any comments would be welcome also is their a les toxic alternative to lead out there for re-fitting??

A company wants a bid on 50 of these heavy duty gates. Anyone interested?