Stash

Don't sweat the fan thing. I am currently using a recycled 115 cfm bathroom exhaust fan in my forge. I used a 4" plastic plumbing 'Y' with a blast gate ( basically a sliding door) that I use as a dump valve. Then it steps down thru flex aluminum duct into my 2" tuyere. Works great. Steve

Wow. Very nice. Steve

My wife's b'day is "Talk like a pirate day". I once greeted her with " Aaaarrrh happy birthday, saucy wench". Just once. Steve

Good on you, Thomas. Are you all signed up on medicare? Steve

Mount it high on something tall and strong, hang a really really big plant from it. Steve

The bloomery smelt regarding iron is a reduction process, removing the oxygen from an ore- Fe2O3 or Fe3O4 typically. It uses the combustion products CO and CO2 to scavenge the O2 from your ore , in this very simplified description. You are not reducing the ore to generate an iron bloom, you are melting an iron alloy that already exists, no matter how small you grind or powder your alloy. The result is generally not referred to as a bloom. You are hung up on a term that does not apply in this case. We basically want to use correct terms for the various processes encountered on this forum to alleviate any confusion or misconceptions, hence the previous attempts at correction. Steve

Hey JPeG- I'm another of those ferrous/lignum guys. This time of year I make kindling in the wood shop. When it warms up enough, I make scrap metal in my forge. As much as possible, I try to fit those 2 in with my gardening thing where I find different ways of killing plants. It's a good life. I am currently working on a live edge walnut coffee table and I will forge a steel trestle (maybe?) style base for it. The metalwork is theoretical at this point- I need to play with some joinery mock- ups and work on material proportions/scale. Welcome aboard. Steve

Those dividers look pretty cool. I'll start looking out for a pair. I got my layout by dividing 360 degrees by 5 (or whatever I need) and lay that angle out with a protractor. Close enough for my needs. Once I got that all figgered out, I scribed it onto a sheet metal circle I cut out. I drilled a small center hole, saw cut on the lines with my bandsaw almost to the center and now have a pattern for making future flowers. Lay the pattern on the new blank, center punch the hole and use a scribe in the saw cuts, and bingo there it is. I paint and mark the pattern so I don't make something with it. Steve

Another factor is condition. The edges look pretty good, but it looks like there may be a fair amount of pitting in the top. If it's just surface rust, it is no big deal. You can clean it off with a wire wheel. DO NOT USE A GRINDER ON THE FACE OF THE ANVIL. EVER. Sorry- didn't mead to yell. Just don't. Steve

Good deal on a great looking hunka iron. Make sure you wear your ear protection- that baby is going to sing. Steve

My FIL was a JAG for the Army Air Corps during WW2. Started as a defense att'y, became a prosecutor, and ended up running a POW camp for German aviators. He came home with some interesting souvenirs, including my MIL. He got a big kick from being called 'Col. Klink'. Steve

You use the term 'mistake' based on what the other kids on the block are doing. I look at as a design decision that looks perfectly fine to me. Don't compare the work to what everyone else has- look at the work as it is. To my eye, the shorter examples look kind of stubby, the longer length seems a bit more elegant. Just sayin'. Steve

If you go to the social security site, you can find all the info you need. Plug in your state and do your research. It is all there. Was a great help when I was looking. You can sign up up to 3 months before your b'day. Steve

Did you look at King Architectural Metal? That's the kind of stuff they tend to have. Steve

Looks good, Mike. You should be happy. I expect mom is, too. Steve

Heat it as evenly as you can till it is non- magnetic then let it cool in the air. If you have a bucket of ashes or vermiculite bury it in there. It will cool slower- couple hours to overnite. Once its cool to the touch it's done. Steve

That sounds about right. Side note to my story- at the same time I was involved at the theater, I started seeing a cute girl who also lived there, doing acting, front- of- house duties ( ticket sales etc) and commissary ( feeding hungry actors and techies). Fast forward to now, we've been married 39 years and have 2 kids and 3 grandkids. Life is good. Steve Steve

I can't answer for ductile, but I would just suggest a lump hammer made from a lump of mild steel- A36 or whatever. It is cheap, easily punched and drifted, and softer than any of your chisels or punches. How much softer do you need? Keep it simple. Steve

John- back in the day, Wharton Esherick bought a barrel of hammer handles at an auction. At the same time, he was doing work for Hedgerow Theater, outside of Media, PA., building sets and stuff. They asked him for some cheap seating and there was born the chairs like the one you posted. Many years later, in the late 70's, I spent time at the theater, doing photography, lighting and set building. I ended living at the Hedgerow House up hill from the theater, where the full time actors and techies lived. In my bedroom were 2 of the chairs, one with the original flat belt woven web seat, and I wove a rope seat on the other frame I had. When I moved out, 'tradition' said I could take a chair with me, but I felt it belonged where it started. At that point there were about 7 chairs remaining on the property. They are now selling over $10k. I have no regrets. The Esherick museum is very near where I live and it is almost like a religious pilgrimage to go there regularly. Thanks for the photo you posted. Brought back some good memories. Steve

I needed something with which to ring in the new year, so I let this follow me home. Thanks again, Todd (Torin) and thanks for your help loading. Looks like my 250# Fisher is going into retirement. Steve

Co2 extinguishers are great for doing a quick chill on a 6 pack. At least that's what I've been told. Steve

No worries, Todd. I'm used to high- stepping and dodging things. Plus my tetanus shots are up to date. Steve

Welcome back. I'm in the same general area as you, just south of Allentown, in Quakertown. I don't have any idea of pricing, but I'm possibly interested. The local ABANA affiliate is PABA (Pa Artist-Blacksmith Assoc.). If you go to their website (www.pabasite.org) there is a link to their facebook page. That should get you started. Steve

Back at ya George and everyone else. Merry CHRISTMAS! Steve

I was running around today doing my Christmas present delivery thing and one of my buddies gave me this buss bar (he’s a retired commercial electrician). It is 1/4 x 4” by over 6 1/2’ long. He is clearing out his shop and said he would rather give it to me to make something than to just cash it in. It’s funny- I gave him the copper dish I made from a previous raw materials gift from him. I will have to make something nice. I already owe him breakfast. Steve