Ted T

Tecnovist,
I am pleased that you made it back!!
So try this; Tie a rope to your computer, and then tie the other end of the rope to the I Forge Iron web site so we don’t loose you again.
Be safe!
Old Rusty Ted

Thank You Thomas,
Your suggestion just adds to the slowly mounting vista of great ideas that help me, and I hope other blacksmiths and metal craftsman who visit our site at here at IFI.
People like You, Sam, Jacob, to name just the last few who contributed to this post, makes this a fun and a productive place to visit!
Be safe!
Old Rusty Ted

Pascalou,
Not only is that a clever idea, but I can see that you are a craftsman of high quality.
Very nice indeed!
Be safe!
Old Rusty Ted

Thank you Jacob
Point well taken!
Another precaution I am taking while Tig welding is as follows;
I have a small air pump that I am going to set up outside of my welding room. It will be located in an area that does not have contaminated air. I will hook up a small hose (fish tank type) from the pump, through the wall and down to my welding helmet.
I learned this trick from a man who also has lung problems. It made it possable for him to start welding again with out having air problems.
Thanks again for the suggestion.
Be safe!
Old Rusty Ted

Due to being a blacksmith, I have been approached many times over the last 50 plus years about joining up with different groups of people who want to be self sufficient.
For some reason people relate to a blacksmith when considering how to live a life style of fundamental living practices.
In my life time, I have found out that getting along with people groups is equated to how well you all can equally split up the pie. I found that some people say they just want their piece of pie, others say aw-shucks, I don’t want any pie. But in the end they all want the whole pie!
I found out that splitting the pie is not as simple as it should be. I never became a full fledged member of any group. But they seem to make me an honorary member.
I did do some bartering with different folks and visited with some of the groups at their
meetings.
Just this last week I was asked to join with a group of self sustaining folks.
I think it is a great idea until the pie has to be cut.
It seems as though peoples needs and wants create expectations many times more that what their input is to the pie! But, over time I found out that they all want “all of the pie”. There is only so much pie to go around.
I have known people who tried unsuccessfully to deliver their own children with an undesirable end result of the child dying from infection. I could go on and on about catastrophic events that should have and could have been avoided had people not tried do things they were not qualified to do.
I believe to be self sustaining with or with out a group of people is by degree only, and for only a certain amount of time. And it will last until key players get upset about the pie distribution, or the government finds something that indicates to the government that is not getting its piece of your pie.
I feel that Thomas Powers entry pretty well describe some of the issues accurately. Hopefully his experience should give someone who is considering this practice a heads up on some issues to overcome in order to be successful.
Be safe!
Old Rusty Ted

Thank You Frosty;
You and many other knowledgeable smiths such as your self make this web site the user friendly and a resourceful information center of blacksmithing that it is.
You hit right on the issue of a draft problem being the generator of my thinking.
In the past I have had problems with chimneys not drawing as well as I would have liked them to perform.
At this time I am building and installing a new chimney for my forge station.
Due to having reactive lung disease, I want to build in everything the will help me reduce products of combustion from getting into my air-space.
I just want to make sure I have all the whistles and bells built in my forge, just in case!
Thanks again.
Old Rusty Ted

Thomas Powers,
Thank You for the information about air flow and why it would be better to restrict the amount of air coming in to the blower as apposed to damming it down stream.
I never gave a second thought about the stress that it would put on the blower by damming the air flow with a downstream air-gate.
You gave me an idea that I will most likely try in some forum or fashion.
I know that there is nothing that I have ever done, tried, or made, that someone else has not already tried or achieved. So if I seem off-base with this idea, please feel free to correct my thinking.
This is only my thoughts. I wonder if it would be an advantage to construct a "Y" type coupling located down stream from the blower with an air-gate control in each tip of the “Y”.
One leg would be dedicated to the forge fire (a), and one leg would be dedicated to a flow pipe (, that would be connected to the chimney so as to promote airflow up the chimney when the ( air gate is opened.
It seems as though you would have the control to lesson the back pressure on the blower motor and at the same time promote a more efficient air flow up the chimney when you did not need as much air for the forge fire.
I guess I am thinking more about in the mornings when I would like a little boost to get my chimney to flow.
This is just my thought Kids, don’t try this at home with out the assistance of an adult supervisor who knows what they are doing. Because I don’t always know what I am doing (just ask my wife, doctor, E R room records, accountant, and my kids)!
Be safe!
Old Rusty Ted

I stopped for a yard sale at the home of an old blacksmith I knew who had just died a few weeks before.
His wife was having financial problems and needed money, so she was having a “garage sale” to sale all of his tools.
She was selling tools ranging from $3.00 to $10.00 that was well worth up to $100.00 to $400 dollars and more.
The range and types of tools being sold were from very old,old blacksmith tools on up through modern tools such as an electric drill press, post vices, hand drills, swedge blocks, coal forge,

Mike-hr,
I got the visual: "an old yellow forklift sitting in front of a shop".
Although Mike, I see it sitting outside of My Shop instead. As long as we are visualizing, I may as well see pin stripes and my name printed on the side also.
Sorry Sam! He he he
Good for you Mike!
Be safe!
Old Rusty Ted.

Fat Pete,
I am glad you got home safe and had a good time.
Be safe!
Old Rusty Ted

Joe H,
Welcome to I Forge Iron!
I have nothing more to add about hammering techniques. I believe you have been given very good advice already.
Let the hamer be the hammer, you lift and aim the hammer. One of you must be in charge..... (just kidding). I hope you enjoy your adventure into the blacksmithing craft!
Be safe!
Old Rusty Ted

Sam
The continuous effort and energy that you have invested toward becoming a blacksmith and fabricator is finely paying off at this point.
Don

RainsFire
Old memories with a new idea is a good thing.
Thank You
Be Safe!
Old Rusty Ted

IRon_FOrgerI22
Thomas Powers brings up a very critical point: Where do you live?
Men and woman like Thomas Powers and my self would be glad to help someone like yourself get started. The problem is not knowing your location. If we knew, we may be able to help you our selves or refer you to a blacksmith or an orginization.
Be Safe!
Old Rusty Ted

IRon_FOrgerI22
First off, Welcome to I FORGE IRON.
I was about 12 years old when I got interested in blacksmithing.
Information about blacksmithing was scarce and hard to find at that time.
I started out on a ranch where I was allowed to be an observer and a shop jockey while in the blacksmith shop area.
I cleaned up and sometime handed or held something for the blacksmith.
For the first 21 years my shop at home was out side with just tarps covering my tools, vice, forge, and anvil.
As I look back at it at this time, I realized how valuable that observation time was for me. It allowed me to see the basic concepts of blacksmithing being used over and over again in different applications, and a greater view of how the blacksmith shop was set-up and functioned.
I am 67 years old now. But the same overview of the blacksmith shop and practices used at that time are still my blueprints of how I visualize the blacksmithing process to this day.
I feel the blacksmiths that have made suggestions to you to this point are all very good.
Glenn’s input: I would suggest that you invest the time and energy into studying what Glenn has suggested, and visit the chat room and the Blueprint Presentation held on Tuesday nights.
Candidquality’s suggestion about using clay to start with is an excellent idea. I still use it. You can learn a lot from using it.
Candidquality also gave you a good warning about safety. Please take note of what he said.
Fat Pete suggested that you find somebody that would help you, with several suggestions such as the boy Scouts.
Going along with Fat Pete suggests, I would suggest that you ask you mother, father, or guardian to support you in your interests and assist you in finding a blacksmith or an organization that you could visit.
It is up to you to study, observe and take the actions necessary when they present themselves to you.
And it all takes time and effort.
Be safe!
Old Rusty Ted

Blacksmiths and supporters of the blacksmithing trade,
I am really excited about the hammer in, but I won’t be there in person. I will have to enjoy the photo's and the after report that will be found on the web site and in the news letter.
It is just simply exciting to know that so many people are going to have the privilege to be in attendance at an event that is formatted in such a fashion that I hope heaven will be like it. But then again there may be a problem with me trying to be in attendance.
When I was young and had pretty good health and would be able to travel, nothing like this was ever available in my part of the country. Those who are able to attend or support the Blacksmith Guild of Virginia should know you are very fortunate.
I am aware of a couple of blacksmith organizations who started out with good intents but wound up commercializing the events and in my opinion exploited people who were trying to be involved with the blacksmithing trade. Over time, only the blacksmiths with enough high end money could comfortably attend.
An estimated example: If this hammer-in was being held by one of the blacksmith organizations I am speaking of, it would most likely cost you (each) about $300.00 Plus $10.00 per bowel of stew. I could go into more detail but that would be superfluous.
I can see very clearly that the Blacksmith Guild of Virginia is what it says it is:
"Dedicated to the preservation of the blacksmith tradition."
But I know the basic costs are still present. Just the time put in by the Guild staff members alone must be overwhelming. The use of the facilities and the additional costs no doubt mount.
So, I would suggest that we who benefit from the Blacksmith Guild of Virginia be as supportive as possible in every way.
Be safe!
Old Rusty Ted

Makoz,
That is a fine idea. I just happen to be looking for ways to use my shop space more effectively.
Please consider the concept stolen.
Thank You for sharing your project, that is what IFI is all about!
Be safe!
Old Rusty Ted

Linda,
Welcome to IFI.
I have read about you and know you are already in the blacksmithing mix up to your ears.
The blacksmithing community at large needs people like your self to continue to stand up and swing the bat when necessary to advance the knowledge of the blacksmithing craft.
I do have a question about your AKA name “MULE”. Although I am not a gentleman, I still will not ask! Your Grandfather must know something special about you.
I figure that anybody with a moniker “MULE”, has got to have some special qualities!
I am glad you jumped in!
PS. Some of my friends also call me Mr. “T”sometimes. But only when they want something!
Be safe!
Old Rusty Ted

Glenn,
Like Dale said: "Move Fast" ...... and also carry a can of flat black spray paint in your vehicle!!
Be safe!
Old Rusty Ted

Glenn,
I think you have brought up a subject that deserves some contemplation and input. I would sure like to hear some good Ideas about ways to get help when you need it.

I know that safety should come first, but I am talking about after the fact when equipment failure, common senses and safety practices have not been used or have failed!

During the last part of July and the whole month of August I worked on the inside of a building that was fabricated out of steel on two sides and the roof. I was enclosing the ends and building storage wracks for steel and wood.
It was just like working inside of a large tin can that was sitting in the sun. At times the tempters would reach 110 to 116 degrees inside. The higher up I worked nearer the roof area the hotter it got.

Then about three weeks ago while working inside of the tin can, I remember that I felt like I was dying and had to get to the house. The next thing that I could remember was how bad my neck, head and back hurt. I found my self laying out on my back on the rear side walk with my head on the step. I tried to get up but I could not. After some time (minutes) I was able to reach over and pound on the foot of screen door. And shortly after that I was able to get up and go inside my home.

My wife helped my lay down on the bed. I told her I must have passed out because it must be close to lunch time. I told her that I had just looked at my watch and it was 11:30 am.

She said no, that it was 3:30 P.M.! I had lost about 4 hours during the time that I was out in shop or laying on the sidewalk in the heat. I had not drank any water during that time.

I had a heat stroke.

Although I carry a cell phone and have a speaker system inside of one of my shops that is connected to the house, I could not have used either one. The next day when my wife came out to the shop with me, we found what I had been working on. I do not remember building the panel, but it fit perfectly. It just may be that I do better work when I am goofier than normal.

But I realize not all injuries or emergencies are like the one I described. I feel a person should set up more than one way to get help while in the work area.

Another example: An older fellow had been laying 4’ x 8’ ply wood panels on their sides up against the wall. Somehow he got stuck between the wall and the wood stack. That is where they found him, but two late.
I am looking forward to hear some suggestions.

Be safe!
Old Rusty Ted

Swedge!......... Swedge "sit"..... Swedge "Bring the beer".....Swedge "When I say NO! I mean no!
Or, something with a little more aggressive tones. "STRIKER"... That would be my suggestion!
Be safe!
Old Rusty Ted

Glenn, Thank You!
The calculators makes it as easy as falling off of a log.
I flagged the sites for easy access.
Be safe!
Old Rusty Ted

Dang that hurts just to hear about your eyes getting burnt!
Once a person has mastered the art of looking at the bright light for just a second, you will avoid it like having to going to the dentist for a root canal!
I agree with you when you said "Not something you want to take a refresher in".
It's my feeling that some good comes out of this miships because it is (indeed) a good reminder to me be more careful!
Thanks for the reminder!
Old Rusty Ted

i just want to say hi to every body out there
i,m new to the forge scene does anybody have a good advice:cool:

As a starting point, my advice is to spend a lot of time reviewing the information found here on IFI, noting the following suggestions.
I would suggest that you:
#1. Take advantage of the Chat room for direct communictions with other blacksmiths.
#2. Make use of the fourm to ask any questions you may have.
#3. Attend the "LIVE" Blueprint presentation found here at IFI on Tuesday nights.
#4. Study the blueprint section and the blacksmith training information.
#5. Find a blacksmith orginization near you and become active.
#6. Find a blacksmith near you and become a friend.
Oh, and don't forget to share information with the rest of us. We love photos!
Be safe!
Old Rusty Ted

Robert,
I have only one thing to say about your knife you constructed; "Outstanding".
Thank You for sharing the outcome of your craftsmanship.
Be Safe!
Old Rusty Ted