mtforge

Mtforge, does using the di-acro unit to bend hot metal cause it any problems? I see these benders use grease packed needle bearings. Is hot forging scale and other crud an issue with them?

No problems. It's a close fit and the scale doesn't cause problems. Not much more scale than when bending cold. The mass of the bender doesn't heat up when bending hot. However the center and stop pins do so I keep a pair of pliers close by. I also modified the tubing clamp arm to work with the roller and can get some very nice, even and fast bends. I pull it back to start the bend then push the clamp in to make a consistent bend part to part.

Mark

I have a #2 Di-Acro. Couldn't get along without it. I have made hossfield knockoffs but nothing is better for me and my needs than a Di-Acro. Easy setup and parts go on and off fast. A #2 will bend up to 1/2" round cold. I also bend bigger stock hot.
Mark

I listen to talk radio or some fm stations depending on what's on or what I feeling like. I also have a small mp3 with my favorites. I use a small arm band radio and the small mp3 I put into a pocket. I use a earbud headset put in one ear. This let's me put on my ear muffs when needed(most of the time). I buy the cheap earbuds from Walmart for .99 because I go through a lot of them. Some of what I make I make a lot of 500 to 1000 tent stakes at a time so it's nice to listen to something.

Mark

I was able to subscribe when it first came out and have every issue so far. It's a great resource.

Mark

Gerald
If ABANA started a progressive training program with testing and certifying I might be tempted to look at it again. I want to learn and improve my skills as a blacksmith. They can keep the magazine.

Mark

I dropped out of ABANA about 15 years ago (when there were chapters). I didn't like paying an organization to tell me what to do. I haven't seen a reason to join back up. Because they exist isn't a good reason. It was a good idea in the '70's but the world seems to have passed them by. Of course it could be I have a bad attitude and am in a minority. I am after all just a backwoods country blacksmith.

Mark

My shop rate is a little different. I make at least $25 an hour for wholesale and $50 an hour for retail. The retail is to cover the expense of going to an event and such. Most of my business is geared toward reenacting. I have maybe 10% custom work. Half of the work at a show and a little back at the shop. The rest are items I want to make. Part of the challenge is to come up with a procedure to make an item within my rate. I record stock needed and steps to make it (even pictures of setups). If I need to adjust the item later I can without guessing.

When I'm out demonstrating I work rain or shine (or wind). I work under my fly (canopy) attached to my tent. I built a small side draft hood with fold out wind breaks. The stack goes up through a stove jack sewn into the fly. I started using this setup after talking to my local fire marshal. Indiana changed some festival laws that affected tents bigger than mine but I didn't want to have problems. When it gets windy I pull the wings to both sides of the firepot to keep the smaoole/flames going up the stack.

I buy my steel from a steel supplier in the local city. I have a car hauler and will pick up 1 to 3 ton at a time(depending on what I'm low on). I order it ahead of time, have them load the order with their crane then drive home and put it in my racks.

Right handed with horn to the right. I found early on(horn to the left)as I was making s hooks across the horn that they would get a twist and I would have to flatten them on the face. With the horn to the right the taper on the horn works for me. It also keeps the hardy hole by my tong hand.

What are the dimensions of your forge?
It varies. The top is 10" x 15" with the front opening 1 1/2" I mounted it on a scissors jack and can raise it up to accommodate larger pieces. I raise it up and put fire brick around the side and back then lower it onto the bricks.
How many burners do you use?
One, I built in a spot for a second but never needed it
What PSI do you forge at, and if you weld, what do you take it up to?
Depends what I working on. 2# to 30# I'm full time and when I'm making 1/2" tent stakes I put in 7 to 10 and turn the heat up.
What size and how long does a bottle of propane typically last you?
I use a 330 gal. tank. It lasts a year
How long does it take your forge to get up to temp?
When I'm working smaller stock it may take 3 min.
Is it naturally aspirated or blown?
Naturally aspirated I make the burners myself. But after reading about the blown burners gas useage I might try a blown one to see how it does

I favor v jaw bolt tongs for most of my work. I demonstrate a lot and like the way they hold onto the stock and have room for curves and odd shapes to come out the side. I'll go to box jaw when needed for large flat stock.

My shop isn't heated full time so it takes too long to heat up. So I heat me up instead. I have propane piped into the shop from an outside tank to a manifold to run the forges, propane/oxy torch and heaters. I've mounted a infrared heater on a stand and hook it to the manifold with propane hosed with propane rated quick disconnects. I dress warm and point the heater at me.

I have always worn ear protection in the factories where I worked so I could protect my hearing. In my shop I like to listen to a radio or cd so I use ear pods and ear muffs over them. I take the ear muffs off if I'm doing quiet work. I have two daughters that helped me out over their summer break from college and they also get ear muffs and other safety items as needed.

mtforge The name of my business is MT Forge. I worked in a factory or two as a welder and when tanks on welders or torches were empty people would write MT on them with their soapstone. Since my name is Mark Thomas my initials were all over the factory. So I came up with MT (empty) Forge for my blacksmith shop. At the shows I do it's fun to hear people come up trying to figure out if it's Mount or Mountain. It gives me a chance to talk to them which is one of the reasons I'm there.

I picked mine up from Blacksmith's Journal at a conference in Illinois. I highly recommend this book. It shows very clear high quality step by step pictures of techniques and projects. I have a lot of blacksmithing books already so it takes something special to get me to buy another one. The series of photographs on hammer swing was great to show my daughter what I was talking about instead of getting the blank stare trying to describe it. I'm waiting on the next book The Skills of a Blacksmith Volume 2 - Joinery and Leafwork.

And he has an excellent DVD set that shows him making the items. Very well made.

Yes I do the Feast. Two school days Thursday and Friday then the regular Sat. Sun. weekend.

Here's what I use at the shows.

I like to display items the way they will be used. Wall hooks hanging on a board with pegs, candlesticks sitting on a table, fire sets in the ground with trammels hanging on them etc. I think it helps the public visualize what can be done with them. I like to tag one of each item so the they can browse. It may be a hanging tag or one by the display. I have a database with all my products in it and print them out as needed on card stock with an 18th century style font. Then tear them out to give an uneven edge and hang them with twine. I have pictures of my setup at MT Forge

"slog it out at the craft fairs" ? I prefer to do that than have commissions. I've found there isn't one thing that always sells best but some of everything. I try to bring a variety. Items for camping, cooking, fireplace, hooks, candle sticks and the like. I always try to have something I'm working on. This draws a lot of people over to watch and they look at what I have and a lot of times buy what I just made. I also bring extra stock and take custom orders to make on the spot. It's a great way to expand your skill level and find out what the public wants. And a lot of times they want something a little longer or shorter or wider or something. Try to have a few quick demo items you can do when needed. Like a leaf, s-hook, heart hook or some such.

The water bellows is in the book Basic Blacksmithing by David Harries and Bernhard Heer published by ITDG Publishing. It's on page 107. I found making the rotary blower above it on the same page to be easier to make and a lot more portable.

I've got a few pictures at MT Forge

I'm always interested in seeing African blacksmiths. When I was over there last year this is how they worked. Where I was at they didn't have such a nice anvil. They used a small stump/spike anvil in a buried log or a small chunk of railroad track loose. I appreciate my shop. If all goes well I'll go back next year.

I built a 24 x 32 in '96 for my blacksmith shop. I used a recycled metal roof truss for the ridge so I have an open area at the hot end 16' up. This helps keep the heat off me during the summer. When I went full time 4 years ago I added a 24 x 24 extension as a warehouse. I can make product up during the winter and store it for the busy rendezvous season.
Mark