Glenn

The Anvilfire demos #79 shows how to make a celtic type cross.

test test test

I used linseed oil on hammers and anvils to try to keep things from rusting. Linseed oil (boiled) forms an amber coating like paint when it drys in about 3 days. When the anvil is used again, the hot metal "burns" it off the working face of the anvil. ATF (automatic transmission fluid) is easier to apply, seems to creep into all the hard to get to places and seems to protect against the rust as well as the linseed oil. A quick wipe with a cloth is all that is needed before the anvil is put back into use. There does not seem to be any problems such as smoke or transfer to the metal when the hot metal hits the anvil face. Any rags that have been used for the application of either material should be disposed of properly as they can generate heat and self ignite. Always err on the side of safety.

IForgeIron has a wikipedia of blacksmithing and metalworking as part of the site. Any member can add to the resource. Usually it is better to make the addition of more information below the existing post. Original material please, as YOU are a blacksmith and should be able to define the term in your own words. Besides, we understand blacksmith to blacksmith much better than some high tech explanation that we need to look words to figure out what is being said.

The IForgeIron Lessons in Metalworking > Blacksmithing has the first 10 or so lessons posted. The course outline has another 25 or more lessons that we will post as time allows. Taking a blacksmithing course via internet is not the same as taking a course in person, and I would be interested in your comments as to what should be taught. That lesson would be considered for the Lessons program.

Go to the opening page of IForgeIron.com > Getting Started, and follow the information trail. It will answer a lot of your questions, and provide answers to questions you have not ask yet. But always feel free to ask questions in the forum. Nothing like getting specific answers to a specific question. Welcome to IForgeIron.

Go to IForgeIron.com > Getting Started > GS0003 Blacksmithing Groups > United Kingdom for a list of groups there. BABA is the local UK group and the education page has "Training and Courses" that are available. You may wish to check the events page to see if there is something there. There are several cities listed and you will have to choose which is within driving distance for you.

You can find a squirrel cage fan in many places, whole house forced air furnaces, machines that need cooled, copy machines, automobile heaters, fire place blowers, laundry dryers, etc. You can find bladed fans in refrigerator evaporators, and machinery. Visit a HVAC heating and cooling business as they replace a lot of blowers. The air movers are out there, and are being thrown away. You can purchase new blowers from blacksmithing supply, farrier supply stores, and places such as Graingers and others industrial supply dealers

buffalo... with a little sauce

There is a "hot pack" called hot hands for keeping the fingers warm. It consists of iron powder and some other stuff so when mixed it produced heat for 8 hours or so. They came out with one last year called tostie toes for the feet. Check with your sporting goods or hunting store.

Blacksmithing is suppose to be fun. Welcome to IForgeIron.

A ton of coal is roughly a pallet in size a little over 4 feet deep. A ton of coal will fill 5 each 55 gallon drums, or about 400 pounds to the drum. Weather is not a concern as the coal is shipped by river barge and rail road car uncovered, and stored uncovered at the loading facility and at the power plants. They even sprinkle water on the outside of the ring of green coal on a forge to keep the fire small and under control. If you were to put it on the ground, put roofing tin, heavy tarp, or some other type barrier between the coal and the ground so when you get down toward the last of the coal you do not have it mixed with dirt.

The IForgeIron Blueprints should get you started BP0097 Brazing Tongs BP1004 Woop Tongs BP0303 Swivle Link Universal Tongs BP0080 Tongs 02 BP0228 Tong Rack BP0083 Tongs 03 BP0098 Tongs 100 BP0099 Tongs 200 BP0219 Pincher Tongs BP0015 Tong Rivets BP0079 Tongs 01 BP0314 RR Spike Tongs BP1006 Tong Clips

Go to the IForgeIron.com opening page and click on "Getting Started". Follow the information trail. It will answer a lot of questions, and provide you answers to questions you don't even have yet. (grin). If you need assistance, or have specific questions, the forum is the place. The forum archives is located at the bottom of the forum page, click there, click a subject, click a thread and read the entire discussion in one place. There may be multiple pages of threads so look for those also. Welcome to IForgeIron

Colleen Any chance of a blueprint showing us how you made the basket?

Ice Czar, if it gets hot, turn it loose. You do not need to hold on to the metal while it is being heated. Tongs are usually long enough to keep you away from the heat while handling the metal. But you may be surprised how much heat and how far the heat travels up the metal. It can be controlled by simply putting a shield up to deflect the heat. This stops the hot air from blowing along the metal heating it up in gassers. In solid fuel forges, it blocks the flame from contacting the metal outside the fire ball in the forge. How far and how much heat travels up the metal depends on the size and shape of the forge. I have a forge that is 4 inches diameter and about as deep that will heat up a piece of 1/4 x 1-1/4 flat bar about 6 inches. You can easily hand hold a section only 18 inches long. The other forge is 13 inches diameter and with the same size and length stock, by the time you get to the same temperature on the hot end, you can not hold the "other" end by hand. Yep was a surprise to me too !! It did not take me long to look at a hot piece of steel (grin).

head. You ask for the first thing that pops into your head. Usually after missing the steel and hitting the anvil.

Go to IForgeIron.com and click on getting started. This will provide you with a lot of information and show you how to use the site. You may want to mark your calendar for the following events at Westpoint Show ground home to the Devon County Show. * January 12th a Forging Experience Taster course day That leaves just over a fortnight to catch up on your reading. (grin). * January 26th & 27th Various twists attend on either day or both, learn how to make decorative features for handles railings etc Go to IForgeIron.com > Blueprints > Blueprints 1000 BP1031 Step Twist BP1029 Twist 03 BP1028 Twists 02 BP1027 Twist 01 Study what is being done and how it is being done. Then purchace some modeling clay (art supply store, or children's toys) and take the clay home and practice. The clay will move the same way as metal moves and provides a way to practice blacksmithing technique without needing a fire. Welcome to Blacksmithing

Tell us where you live by go to the top of the forum page and click on User CP click on edit profile go to the bottom of the page and enter your location, and save.

Evfreek, your right, it was moved to welding section.

Post your location by Go to the top of the forum page, click on User CP click on edit profile go to the bottom of the page and enter your location and save.

We all have gotten out of time and hit the stinger before the hood went down. Results is arc flash or welding flash. Or some one near by is welding and you keep getting reflections from the white wall or hit with their arc. What do you do to keep from getting arc flash? What can you do to ease the red eye, flash symptoms, and or pain?

I work with photographic chemicals that attack the gold before it works on the silver in the photographic negs and paper. I don't wear rings for that reason. If the spouse says you must wear a ring to show your love and commitment, that is fine, but maybe at the cost of loosing a finger, or worse? If the relationship is strong, the ring will not make any difference. Where you sleep at night shows your love and commitment. The ring is just a symbol (remember the words way back when).

Most likely your wife would not let you bring it home (grin) And then complain that you did not come home any more. (bigger grin)

Go to IForgeIron.com > Lessons in metalworking > Blacksmithing > LB0010 Building a Fire BP0450 Clean Coal BP0384 Using Coal Fines Water is used on the outside edges of the unburned coal / coke / fuel to control the spread of the fire to the excess fuel on the forging table. You want all the heat possible in the fire pot so it can be transferred to the metal. BP0157 Watering Can 01 BP0160 Watering Can 02 BP0162 Watering Can 03 It would depend on the size, and shape of the fire pot and the shape of the forging table but a (small) bellows most times would not put out so much air as to need to water down the outside edge of a fire. The size of the fire is directly in proportion to the size of the work, small work = small fire, big work = big fire. Try things without the water and see what happens. Better yet, post photos of your set up and we can see what is going on and be more specific with the answers to your questions. Most blacksmiths prefer coal / coke about ping pong ball size to walnut size, but will use what ever size is available. Trying-it (on this forum) brought home lump coal in 55 gallon drums, You simply break the lumps into smaller pieces with a hammer. The smallest pieces and coal dust that remains is still good coal but needs something to hold it together. This is where the water comes into play. BP0384 Using Coal Fines.