cavala

Im in Nashville give me a shout some time maybe you could give me a hand. I am moving to a new shop at the end of the month but feel free to Pm me
Marc

I use cold bluing solution sold by Jax chemicals, the iron steel nickel blackener works almost instantly. It works great on galvanized metal. I use a wax or a clear coat paint on plain steel not sure if you need it with galvanizing but might be a good idea so your finish doesn't rub off with time and handeling.
It's a little expensive and there is a hazardous handeling fee which is the same for a pint and multiple gallons so more is better.

I bought my women a locket and she has decided she prefers to were my hammer I had made. I
sure some Viking maiden will be happy for for yours, skoal

Congratulations on your new anvil, did you pay the $300 or get for less? and I have no idea what the "k" stands for

I did pay the 300 asking price, he did mention he had some hardies he wanted extra for but ended up just throwing them in.

When I lived in Denmark all the guys in the shop wore em. They're comfy and you can get steel toed ones which aren't as clunky as boots. I personally prefer taller boots for hot scale falling on my feet and the occasional pant leg catching on fire.

Well after being let down by the flea market this weekend looking for a second anvil for a helper. I found some anvils said to be PW in the worse shape ive seen for over 2 bucks a pound. I didnt even bother haggeling. Last night just for the heck of it went on craigslist and found an anvil that was listed 2 months ago for 500 bucks now for 300. I called him up and a three hour senic drive later (round trip) got his anvil for what I think is a good price anvil seems to be in good condition. By the markings 1 0 25, 137 lbs and sure enough my wifes scale has it dead on. I read aq little bit about possible ages of these old PW. It says England the words wrought iron are written in a circle. I cant find what the letter stamped near the bottom is to mean, mine has a "k". Are there any other markings that I can learn from, its not important just curious.
thanks Marc

You're on the wrong website.


Staff note: This person does not speak for I Forge Iron.

Here in Nashville if you call it a studio people might think your recording, j/k.
I've always considered myself a craftsman well fed and working at a shop, not an artist starving and depressed at a studio.
To me it seems a little pretentious calling my shop a studio it's really just a warehouse that I make things for people.

I don't think you're being aggresive enough with your hot saw. I've cut train rail with mine. You got to bare down on it. Also check the disc I've made the mistake of buying masonery discs or ones for aluminium before and they don't cut for xxxx on steel go figure huh.

WOW!! and I thought the $2.65 p/Lb I paid last year for scrap copper was high.....What I pught was a piece of 2"x2"sq, 2"rd x 4"lg, and a piece of 3/32" x 16" x 16", all for a total of $60.00. The place is in Dallas, TX. Sorry, I can't recall the name.

Wait a second you're right it was 2'x50' 16 oz. copper which comes in at 100 lbs at 9.86 a ft not sq ft, I didn't pay a grand for it my bad try 500 bucks. Now this is not scrap what I buy, I wish I could pay scrap prices. Just don't go to places like metal supermarkets and the likes or you'll pay 3 times more. I imagine 4 to 5 bucks a pound new is about average and half that for scrap.

I normally go to a roofing supply company for copper just bought a hundred pounds yesterday at $9.86 a pound. Wherever you find it, get enough prices always go up in the summer.

I've used glass several times just regular old tempered glass.
I just build an angle iron frame for the glass to slide into then shim so it won't rattle or drill and tap and use a set screw( just don't over tighten or POP)
good luck Marc

Get everything in writing from the landlord and contractor, including what happens when your lease is renewed. Also make sure that there is common water for the building, and not metered water per unit.

I've been in the one meter for several properties deal, and it doesn't work out nice.

Best of luck.

Phil

Well water is a paid utility from the landlord. I do think this place is good, a little smaller than where I'm at now but I currently share with another person so this will be all mine. A little exciting but also another reson I don't want to take on too much more a month ya know just in case.

Well 50% more is alot of money.
I spoke with a contractor friend and he's got a toilet sitting around and said it would prolly take us one day to scab into the line. There is a bathroom on the other side of the wall so it's not like I'm need to build the aquaducts or anything.
I did get a text from the owner last night wanting to hash out the deal time for negotiation to begin.
My lease is up in two months so I have plenty of time to get things done and move. I can squeeze 25 hours a day in a crunch

Well I went to look at a new shop this morning. It's big and closer to home and cheap. They have two units available one with a bathroom and large office and one without the office and bathroom. The price for the office bath is 50% more. I could have a bathroom put in the other unit at my expense or they would do it if I sign a long term lease. It's not plumbed for water so I'm not sure what's worth it in the long run. I can sweat copper lines for water no problem but connecting to the sewer line Ive never done.
What do you guys think go the easy route with the bath. Try to put one in myself. Or sign a five year lease and have them do it.
Thanks Marc

Does anyone have a combo machine. How do you like it.
The one at northern tools does not come with a good manual for operation, it's very vague. I know people will say cheap chinese xxxx or whatever but I don't do enough sheet metal work to justify spending to much money. I bought it to make copper lanterns.
I guess any advice on operating and setup others have come up with that's not in the manual. I have never used a combo machine and have minimal experience using them as singal units. I don't have specific questions as of yet and I'm not even at the trouble shooting stage. I'd like to know limitations and drawbacks or problems people have encounterd and how they over came them.

Thanks Marc

First two are as I was 15 ish year ago (and would love to be again) last one is the grim reality of now, just before setting of for a solo trip from Manchester down to Stromboli ..... Google it!

That looks like me 5 years ago then some harpy stole my power (my long hair). Back when I was called metal Marc for another reason.
I don't miss the hair to much just all the good metal shows I had to go to.

Well, like Mark Twain said, "Man is the only animal that can cry,..............come to think of it, he's the only one that has reason to"!

Elephants cry, they are extremely depressive creatures moping around all day balling its really quite pathetic I cant even look at one.

Tomcellwheel good luck be prepared for one huge arm from hammering, swinging a 3 to 4 lb hammer all day is quite a workout.

Btw full of it 'bout the elephants.

Here is examples of the drawing technique and some french curves...

If your needing to draw srolls or spirals an easy way is to wrap a string around a piece of pipe several times tie a pencil on one end and unwind keeping the string tight. Varying the pipe size gives different spiral sizes( go figure huh). This with a combination of French curves and freehand drawing is simple. Now to match the metal to the drawing the fun part.

Im no PETA person not really evan a cat person but i was getting a little worried there for a minute. good times.

Not to change the thread or anything but I'm about to have my first child/daughter, what age did you all start bringing your children in the shop.
I would love for her to grow up in the trade,at least the design part of it.

Well I don't know about that but if your getting pinholes your work surface is not clean your tungsten is contamenated or your there is a problem with your shield gas.
I'd say work on welding correctly and you won't create more work for yourself, if you can't weld steel without voids then ss won't be much different.

My wife is pregnant and I'm sure many of you have gone through that. Well she wants me to wear my ring, something about she doesn't want to look unwed. I guess she thinks it may be trashy, I don't know, and I'm totaly cool with that. I did tell her that I shouldn't wear it at work for the dangers and just ruining the ring, well the later happened. I forgot to take it off one morning and had to do some welding and now you could all prolly know what happened, I have weld splater on my ring. So now I have little pin heads of steel starting to rust on it she's P.O.ed.
Has anyone else had this problem.
Should I try to file down the steel.
What do you guys who wear rings do to keep em safe.

You can also try black shoe polish works great. Apply it hot as mentioned with other oils and waxes.
For chemical darkening I like Jaxchemicals it can be a little pricey since they have a hazardous shipping fee which is the same for 1 pint or five gallons so plan ahead.
I use the steel darkener and its great instant black on clean prepped metal. It works on steel, bronze, copper,nickle and solder connections.

I researched what is in cold blueing chemicals it seems to be just Selenium dioxide and water. Its prolly a little more complicated than that.