Duke of Nada

That's my kind of "Heavy Metal".

Forgive me if this is dumb, but shouldn't it the kinetic energy stored in the hammer from the swing to anvil mass rather than hammer mass to anvil mass. A 2.2lbs hammer moving 15 mph ( i guessed at speed) gives 16.59ft/lbs or 200 inch/lbs. If the other equation covered that than disregard.

My dad's hands crack form severe Psoriatic arthritis. After many doctor visits trying creams and what not the doctor told dad that if it was him he'd just use superglue. Dad has ever since then with no problems.

No cutting torch, but I'm working on getting one and a welder.

I know, been looking at them and thinking that it's going to be allot of work. Don't know what I'll do yet, but getting a power hammer is a long way off for me.

Thanks for the replies, Looks like I'm going to make a few Kukri styled knifes.

Thanks kyboy, I'll need to head that way when my pile gets low.

I scored some dump truck leaf springs, and was wondering if anyone could tell me what kind of metal might they be. I was thinking about making a few knives from them if I can get them cut up small enough.

That isn't the actual coal. Just looks like what I'm getting after sifting. The stuff I'm sifting out is fine dust. I'll try burning the dust and all and see what happens. I figured the dust would trun straight to ash and not coke up. Ky-boy were you getting you coal.

I was always told what ever you are doing when the new year rolls in is what you'll be doing all year long. Wonder if the wife will let me spend New Years in the shop.

I don't really know. It looks like this after all the fine stuff is gone, and it's dry.

I have been given two pickup truck loads of coal. The bad thing is that it's the crud left over from a tractor trailer load and has a lot of fine crap that has to be sifted out, but its free and I have a lot more time than money right now.

I did some calling around and it looks like coal is going for around $450 to $500 a ton. Eight years ago my father in-law was selling it for $90 a ton. That is a heck of an increase. Is the prices I got about right?

I punched a small hole in the leaf and tacked it to the wall in my shop. It is currently holding the first pair of tongs that I made(they aren't functional).

Thanks, this seems to be the most addicting hobby I've tried. I've tried airbrushing and flint napping, but they just frustrated me. Working at the forge even if things don't go as planed its still relaxing.

I know it's far form perfect, but I'm happy with my first one. Tomorrow I'm going to do as many as possible before my family get together. Thinking that if I make enough that looks decent I might try riveting them to a short length of flat stock that is fished tailed on each end.

Well I caused a fire today. Luckily I had the water hose near by. If it had gotten another 6 inches I would have been in trouble. There was a big brush pile that was on the edge of the woods and it would have taken more that my water hose to stop it than.

The good news is that I forge welded my first cable. I had it sparking a few times but not to bad and it seems aright. Later I'm going to forge it into a knife. The cable is used in concrete beams. My dad gets it a work were they put somewhere around 18 the entire length of the beams and stretch them to 30 or 80 thousand psi. I worked there at one time but forgot what the psi is but it is some were in that range. When they cut the beams lose it gives them a camber/arch. I heated up a peace to what I think was right(probably not though). Than quenched in water and taped with a hammer. It shattered and sounded like glass so it should be good for knives I hope.

I'm using a old Kerby vacuum for my forge. I just put in a t in the pipe and a valve to control how much goes to the fire. If I need to expand the size of my forge there is no worry weather my vacuum can supply enough blast. Just get you an old vacuum and hook up the hose to were the bag is suppose to go.

Wow, I had the same experience this weekend. I snapped a couple photos with my cell phone. Is this similar to the one you found? It was priced $35.

Yes, it looks identical. Well I don't remember the hole in the back, but that doesn't mean it wasn't there. When I found it was hollow my interest dropped and I quit inspecting it at that point.

Mainely,Bob, when my son wants to watch I make him put on some swimming goggles. I know there not safety rated, but I make him stay at an safe distance and the goggles are just a precautionary measure. My son is 3 1/2 and doesn't need up close yet.

While looking through a flea market earlier today I seen what looked like a nice 80ish pound anvil for 40 bucks. Ran over to grab it up and got surprised by how light it was. I flipped it over to see a large void. It couldn't have weighed more than 25-30 pounds. Needles to say I was disappointed even when they offered to knock off 5 dollars. Is hollow anvils a common thing? Should have I bought it anyway? All I have now is a bit of railroad track.

Wish I could catch a press sneaking around my place.

That knife is amazing, having a hard time taking my eyes off of the pic.

I hadn't thought about keeping the cold out. Might tack up some tarps around the walls leaving the corner were the forge is open. Edge9001, does your shop get hot with the forge going in the summer.

The wife hasn't stapled the honey do list to me yet, but she put the rough velcro on one and stuck it to my beard. By the time I woke up it was fully in-bedded and almost caused me to cut my beard. When she came in and seen me with a scratch awl trying to pick out the rats nest she caused I thought she would hit the floor laughing.

Thanks, The new blade has some bad hammer marks that I don't think can be sanded and ground out with out making the blade to thin. I hammered out the curve of the lawnmower blade at night in the dark and didn't see which way the hammer was facing. There is now a lantern hanging in my area. I'm thinking about taking it back to the forge and using the corner of the peen on the hammer making a bunch of puck marks and letting it go at that. I would also sand and remove the grinding marks and polish it leaving just the puck marks. Would this look alright or come out looking like country fried crap. All comments are welcome.

I may have came off sounding a bit young. I talk about ma and pa a lot because they live 30' away. The only trouble I get into anymore is ignoring the wife's honey-do list she leaves laying around.

I can't complain to much, it was built with donated supplies. Dad was so good about it he didn't even chew me out when he seen his wood and tin gone.