Randy478

Kevin, the shaker box has rennasance(spelling?)wax coating on it. really like that stuff. Added another pic of the shaker box that shows the color better.

JME1149, The whole rose, leaves and stems are all copper and all the coloring was done with a torch and then sprayed with clear coat paint. I will keep in mind serating the edges of the leaves on the next one I do. Thanks for the compliments. Randy

Haven't posted anything in a long while. I took a copper class this past weekend with Robert Taylor through our blacksmith guild ( Ocmulgee Blacksmith Guild). Turned out really well for never working copper before. Tell me what you think good or bad. Randy

seems tig is the way to go. i do tig weld, carbon, stainless and aluminum. but havent tried my hand at bronze. i dont have a tig set up anyway. i will suggest he try to find someone who works in restoration of that type of statue. Thanks for the help everyone, Randy

thanks for the replies. probably not in my capabilities to repair. the antler broke off about 8 to 10 inches from the end, not at the base. it is hollow and the thickness is between 1/8 to 3/16 inch. kinda oval in shape about an 1" by 1 1/2". its a fairly large statue. May leave it alone. Thanks, Randy

I know this is not blacksmithing but maybe somebody can help me with some brazzing info. I stopped by an antique store looking for any blacksmithing tools and stuff and the owner asked me about repairing a bronze statue of an elk. apparently someone pushed it over and broke off the end of the antler/horn and he wants to get it welded back on. I dont have access to a welder but can get oxy/act torch set. I need to know what kind of filler rod would be used on bronze. I have brazed exaust mainfolds and rear end housings anything different from that I would need to know? Thanks for any help, Randy

Whats the going rate for a used post vise in the 4 to 6 inch size range. need to save some pennies to get me one. Randy

Thanks John those are cool too. I like the first set best, just don't know if my skill level is up enough to make the trees. Randy

Thanks for the responses. J W Benett I like your design. I will give it a try and maybe add a twist to it. Thanksgiving weekend is 4 days for me and I will be workong at the forge alot. I will post pics of what I get made. Thanks, Randy.

Anybody got any ideas for christmas stocking hangers? Pictures would be great. I need to make 4 for my daughters fireplace mantel. Something decorative, but simple. All help is appreciated. Thanks, Randy

i buy mine from sidney lee in macon. last i bought was a little over 19.00 for a 50lb bag with tax. you should look in to joining the ocmulgee blacksmith guild or south georgia blacksmith guild out of savannah. i have been in the OBG for 2 years now. great group of guys and alot of knowledge in both guilds. let me know if you want any info for joining. Randy

Good job Steven, looks like you learned alot. Randy

Nice, simple and effective. The scroll looks really good. Randy

Nice plant hanger Steve, scroll looks good. I like it. Randy

wooginator,
Go online to youtube and type in, how to start a forge fire, and you will get several videos of how it's done. Helped me out alot, and if you use newspaper ball don't use the colored glossy pages, use just the black and white pages in full sheets, never had much luck with any of the advertisement pages staying lit long enough to start my coal or coke.hope this helps. Randy

That's cool, I like it! Randy

Well i did find mosquito larvae in my slack tub. I just added some dish washing detergent and it's been a week or so and no larvae or skeeters hanging around the slack tub. Seems to work so far. Randy

Considering I'm in Georgia, I don't think I can make it, but your shop looks awsome to say the least. I would love to have a shop in that setting. Randy

Well summer is coming here in the south and my question is for anyone who has an outdoor forge set up, have you had problems with mosquitos laying eggs in your quinch tank? Didn't know if it would be ok to use the cakes you put in standing water to kill the eggs or if the iron in the water from quinching steel would keep them out or not. Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks, Randy

Yes, as soon as I make a bending fork, did a toilet paper holder yesterday and hope to try something else later today. Randy

Here are the pictures of the heart hanger I made yesterday. Randy

Nice tutorial Dave, gave it a try last night and turned out pretty good for a first. Going to try the second version next. I'll post a pic later on today
Randy

I really like your setup. I'm currently under the oak tree which is a fair weather smithy. Do you have any problems with smoke and does your chimney pull a good draft? Thanks for posting the pics. The more ideas I get the better off I am.

Mark<><

Marksnagel,
My original plan was to go out the top with about 12' of 8" duct and put a top on it. That set up was me being to impatient to fire up the forge and see how it was going to work under the awning. It smokes for about 20 minutes when first fired up but as soon as the fire sets and is ready to work in it draws just fine and there's no smoke under the awning. I am probably gonna leave it like it is with the exception of a proper strap instead of rope holding the pipe up and add a short piece of pipe cut back on an angle and screen it so the critters won't nest in it considering I'm backed up against the woods. Randy

Looks like the set up I want to eventually make for my projects. Right now I have mine in my garage , an upgrade from out side with no covering and a tarp covering my forge between firings.

coalfired,
Its nice to have somewhere to work and you're not out in the sun. I started in a 10 x 12 building with a 2 brick gas forge, could only do small items. I had a friend build the awning off the side and I added the pre-made privacy fence panels for the walls. Stays cool and keeps the sun off my head. I have sun directly on the build from morning to night. these are before, during and after pictures. Randy

here's mine, finally! Randy

Ive been doin bladesmithing for the past 4 years or so but i've never found anyone near me that did anything like that so everything i know was either learned from a boo or self taught. Im past the point of really needing a teacher but i would still like to meet other smiths in the area to learn from/with. If anyone around here is interested you can either reply on here or send me an e-mail at grrtttanner@yahoo.com

irontanner,
you can go online and check out southgablacksmiths.ning.com. they are a guild that branched off from our middle georgia ocmulgee blacksmith guild. great group of people. Randy / OBG