Iron Clad

This all seems like a lot of fuss to me. I clean out my fire pot after every use, but I shovel everything to the side of the firepot resting on the forge. Before I build the next fire I pick out the clinker and everything else goes back into the firepot. Never had a problem and I weld a lot. I built my forge about 10 years ago using a Centaur forge fire pot and it's holding up well.

Mr. Powers, thanks for that. I needed a good laugh today. Actually, I have a good vocabulary and poor spelling. But then again....how do you know I wasn't trying to explain that perhaps I was going to have my wife lift it up on the post?? LOL!! (I'm glad my wife isn't reading this!)

I have a copy of both these films. I like the part when a bunch of men were swinging the sledge hammers in unison to rivet the anchor. I have done this before with a five man team. It was hard for me to get started. Your timing has to be just right.

Sometimes it's fun to build something just to say you did. There is a large bear trap hanging on the wall at the Ft. Vancouver blacksmith shop.

Will do CHY... I didn't know Dean has welded wrought iron before. He must have got his hands on some of that Swedish wrought iron. Seems I remember something about that in the past.

Thanks KeyKeeper for the AD. 500 LBS!!!! WOW!!!! No wonder why my son and I had trouble lifting it out of my truck. I really didn't know it was that heavy. We had to lift it twice and carry it about 10 Ft. We still have to lift it again in prep. for installation. Well the wrought iron hook I made is 1.5 inches in diameter. It should hold the weight. I will wench it up very carefully though! Can't wait to try it out. It's in great condition.

At the latest NWBA conference I bought a champion model 203 post drill. I don't know how heavy it is, but I know it's too heavy for my son and I to lift and attach to a post. This drill is large! Anyway, I decided to make a large hook or welded loop with a flattened tang to bolt far up on the post. On this hook I will attach a pulley to lift the post drill into place. I didn't have any steal round stock large enough but I found in my scrap pile a 1.5" diameter wrought iron bar. I scarfed the end and bent the loop and proceeded with the weld. I believe the weld went well. I have never forged real wrought iron before. It did seem to move a little faster than steel. My question is, when forge welding wrought iron, should I take a higher heat than steel? When welding this bar, I took a very bright yellow to white heat. Afterwards I inspected the weld and couldn't find any problems, however I don't know if I did any damage to the internal structure.

Interesting concept to have a challenge, I like the thought of it.

Sometimes we are our worst critics, however that pushes me to be a better smith. Nothing is ever perfect though.

Where did she learn how to become such a great artist? Iron Clad

Hey Grant, I was looking at your wifes art scene's at the conference.....they were very nice! Iron Clad

I use them. I now have 4 post drills. I just bought the fourth one. It's a Champion model 203. It probably weighs 250 or more pounds. This drill is in great shape and in working condition. I do have a modern electric drill press but I really like the old stuff...It's fun.

Well, I wasn't able to attend the Japheth Howard demo because I was involved in other things. I hear it was good though. I watched the Mark Aspery and Darrel Nelson demo though. Both were excellent as usual. CHYANCARREK, it sounds like you and I were at Fort Vancouver at the same time. I usually smithed on Sunday. What days were you there? I wonder if we know each other? Anyway, the name of my forge at home is Iron Clad Forge. My other blacksmith shop's name I will hold back until I get it completed and ready to open. (I'm undecided on the name!) LOL.

Hello...New to this Forum even though I have been blacksmithing for many years. My wife and I just got home from the NWBA fall conference. Mark Aspery was one of the demonstrators at this conference. Wow! Did I learn alot. Anyway, I learned how to blacksmith at Ft Vancouver National Historical Site a few years ago. Now, I have a blacksmith shop at home and another elsewhere in another town.