Glenn

Bill Gichner's Memorial Hammer-in January 13-14, 2007. The event is sponsored by MASA at Dave Hutchinson's farm (11006 Lewiston Rd, Cordova, MD). It's on the Eastern Shore in MD about 40-50 miles east of DC. Featured demonstrators this year are Andy Dohner and Zach Noble (Tooling up to make Tools is their theme). BGOP web site for additional information

Jim my condolences to you and your family. Your on the prayer list.

In researching my earlier comment for the forum, I was told Bouton does not make the 5907 in a shade #5. They do have two styles of a more contemporary design with a shade #5 glass though.

Valentin I see no reason for you not being able to access the chat, and will have to look into the problem. Thanks for alerting me. Glenn

Blueprint BP0394 Side Draft Forge Search the site and enter BP0394

Look at Blueprint BP0129 and BP0368

I like the idea. Can you take photos so we can see it?

The take two and make one is a much overlooked solution. And they don't have to be the same size, you can mix and match to make what you need.

I know of blacksmiths that have used the "pipe" from inside hot or cold water tanks that no longer work as water tanks. As Bruce says, it doesn't have to be round, just safe to use.

I just spoke with a safety glasses mfg and they suggested a #3 IR lens for light cutting and torch brazing, and a #5 lens for heavy cutting and gas welding. This is from the ANSI standard. Those lenses marked IR should provide full infrared protection. The shade of the lens is chosen for the lighting conditions at the work location, or for the work involved. As blacksmiths, we need to see to move about and may require a lighter shade than someone that is at a cutting table all day. They suggested the safety glasses AND full face protection (shield, hood, etc) if the job was such that the protection was needed. Safety glasses alone do not provide face protection. There are many different styles of IR safety glasses available, from the old round type goggle, to the wrap-a-round "sunglasses style" popular today, and many more styles to choose form. Each style may be made in several different shades. Usually a welding supply store will have several different choices in stock, or at least the 3 welding supply stores I visited had them. You can usually try them on for fit and see through them in order to choose the shade you need for your application. The safety glasses and full face shields are both inexpensive items to purchase. There are many folks that can relate stories as to why they should be worn. Bottom line is to use the glasses to protect your eyes. They don't work if they are in your pocket waiting for the "right" time to put them on.

Archie, I am certainly glad things worked out as they did. Take this as a lesson of life and take time to remember it well. To insure that there are no fires you leave the shop, shovel all the ash and coke into a 5 gallon metal bucket full of water. Don't forget the ash dump and put that material into the water also. When you leave you will know there is 2 inches of water covering the material, and very little chance of fire. It is then easy to later pour it onto a screen and wash the ash out, leaving just the "good stuff" and clinker. Pick out the clinker and put the rest off to the side to dry and be reused.

Victor what fuel do you have available in your area?

Blueprint BP0334 describes using a piece of RR track on end. This could easily be adapted and combined with the idea of Blueprint BP0336 if needed.

Canman, may I suggest that you do a little homework (research) into the design and construction of gates and then build a gate for use at a sidewalk or path to a garden. This will expose many problems in construction, and give you confidence to proceed. If you don't have a garden, lay it down flat and use it as a coffee table. (That idea courtesy of Ed Ash) Takes lots of photos during the construction so you can show the rest of us how you did it.

Farriers help me out here if I missed anything. Farriers are that blacksmithing specialty that requires being able to work with their head down, hold their work clamped between their own legs while using both hands do work, have the strength to stop a kick in progress (while the foot is being worked on) and support a 1500 pound animal as it shifts position. They don't just bend metal into a half circle and then nail it on to (in to) a large animals foot, but they should understand the structure of the animals foot, the way that foot will be used, and to apply the proper shoe in a proper manner. The shoe size differs with the size of the animal from small shoes for a miniature pony less than 3 feet tall at the shoulder, to a shoe the size of a dinner plate or larger for a draft horse. They should be able to diagnose a foot problem and make a corrective shoe that will fix the problem. Each shoe may be required to be custom made for each animal, and may be required to be custom made for each foot. Their equipment must be mobile and they are required to carry ALL the equipment and materials necessary to each job site. The equipment must be strong enough to survive a direct attack from any beast so inclined as to try to destroy it. They must be able to read the mood of an animal, and be quick and agile enough to get out of the way if that mood changes. The job site, well not always the cleanest of conditions, and they work by turning their head and placing their backside into a position to be bitten by the client they are trying to serve. They have my respect as a specialist !

Give us some idea of your blacksmithing experience and tool that you have available. Look at Blueprint BP0120 on this site.

Feukair look at BP0384. I keep my coal fines (dust) rather damp.

Mike, your a blacksmith with a specialty :)

RR track has 4 sides, use them all. As the train uses them for a fuller, turned over for a flat surface, on end for all the mass under the work. And oh yes, laid on its side as a swage.

Welding supply store. You can try them on and see what fits best to your face. They have many different styles and as Ten said some are made in different shades and designed for some welding applications. Just don't try arc welding in safety glasses as arc burn is not good on the face.

Alan my condolences to you and your family. You and the family are on the prayer list.

Use the "contact" from the opening page of the IForgeIron site to request specifics as to size and format, or send the information to me by email.

Garey, I would suggest something enclosed on 5 sides as you could surround it with coals for a more even heat. See BP0371

If you were going to purchase a new set of drill bits (so there would be a 'complete" set) what type would you purchase?

ASTM A66 Specifications ASTM A66-87 Tensile Strength 60,000 PSI Yield Point 0.5 Tensile Strength Elongation in 2 in. Min. 18% ASTM A1 This specification covers carbon steel tee rails of nominal weights of 60 lb/yd (29.8 kg/m) and over for use in railway track, including export and industrial applications. ASTM A2 A2-02 Standard Specification for Carbon Steel Girder Rails of Plain, Grooved, and Guard Types ASTM A3 This specification covers steel joint bars for connecting steel rails in mine, industrial, and standard railroad track. ASTM A759 This section covers carbon steel crane rails of special designs and nominal weights of 104, 105, 135, 171, and 175 lbs./yard for crane runway use. Reference www.google.com