JWCarlson

I am a computer and I am monitoring all of you, especially Sam. In my spare computation cycles I am also causing (like guns and pointed knives) all of the ills of the world.

- Computer

JW is that a charcoal fire? Looked like pretty big chunks of fuel for coal. Just curious.

This is only my second forge fire (my cousin and brother have never) and we didn't really know what we were doing. But we had fun... heated up some metal, pounded on it... Here's some pictures of the day. My brother is in the Packer's shirt and my cousin thinks he's funny wearing Viking garb around us since we're huge Packer fans. Was great besides the fact that they wouldn't quit constantly pumping the blower... I guess that's part of the fun!



















Thanks for lookin'!

The postman showed up, honking his horn all the way up the driveway. He wouldn't let me take it out of his truck (liability or something) so I had him drop it on the ground. I unpacked it in the middle of the driveway. Good packing job!
Phil

I'm just upset that you've got a way more negative rating than I do.

UnicornForge would have a fit knowing the rating system was being used in such a way.

That's very cool!

Where could I get some bone/antler to use for making handles and what not? I'm sure a lot of people hunt and get it that way, but I don't have a hunting license... or will to carve a dead animal (no offense to anyone, just not my thing)Any good and reliable sites that anyone knows would be perfect.
Thanks all.

My wife wants a gold wedding ring with a diamond in it. You think she'll notice if it's brass with a rhinestone? I don't want to spend the money.

Awesome!
Making your own anything and putting it to use is always gratifying!

I recently came into possession of about a dozen set tools, hotsets, several punches, set hammer, fuller and swages and had excitedly mentioned in passing to my 10 yr old that I'll have to start looking for a bunch of hammer handles at the flea market to be able to use all these tools at the forge.

Well, this wonderful little girl drags her mother to the hardware store, buys a half dozen hammer handles. Then, secretly in the front yard (the backyard is pretty much all mine), behind the garbage cans, paints and decorates them all and wraps them for under the tree.

I couldn't be more proud of my little darling, and it's nice to see that ONE of the women folk in the house is listening when I talk.

Thanks for the link CBrann.


Reading this very carefully the alarmist post is, in my opinion, a plea for contributions not a real issue. The rulling applies only to a very narrow design of "spring assisted" or gravity assisted opening knives, but which permits several other designs that are infact failsafe by mechanical design.

Part of me wishes there were wild hogs in Iowa. They'd make great practice and I've heard they aren't bad eating either!
I might have to track down someone with a flintlock and try it... it sounds like a blast. Moisture sensitivity is a big deal here, though.

Looks like you'll eat good for awhile.
What type muzzle loader do you use? I'm a muzzle loader fan myself, have a .75 cal British Brown Bess and a .62 cal northwest trade gun. Trade gun is cut down to 36 inches. Both are flintlocks.

Well, I had Thursday-Sunday off work and my brother had the same days off. Since I've moved 1 1/2 away from home we haven't got to hunt nearly as much... he gets lots of time in the tree bow hunting and harvested 5 deer this year with his bow. We spent Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings out on public land looking for whitetails. As is the game this time of year it's all about FOOD.

We found where they are eating. Saw over 40 on Thursday night including a nice buck but he was too far away and came out too late. Saw and had shots at deer every night ranging from 30 yards. I decided I would fill my tag with an adult doe if the opportunity presented itself tonight, we were holding out for a buck but the bucks are feeding in the wee hours of the morning. I took probably the biggest doe of my life (shot a 125 pound (field dressed) MONSTER with my bow a couple years ago). 125 yard shot that looked great. She took about three steps and hit the ground. I high fived my brother and handed off the gun saying "You wanna double?"
I knew he couldn't resist.

Had a doe at 175 yards but we waited and another adult got to 138. He smoked her. Turned out that my doe got back up and crawled through the brush or fleed in the comotion following the second shot. She went quite a ways but we found her. Nights have been in the negative double digits here the past few nights so it's been very cold for us but what a great time with my best friend!

Nick with his packed up on the sled.


Me with my doe.


Me on left, Nick on right.


Size comparison, mine up top. Both adults but the one of mine was quite a bit bigger.


Thanks for looking, hope everyone is having a great new year!

I just plan to spend more time at the forge.....Hopefully.

welder19

On a side note, I just got like 200 + pounds of coal for $25... I don't think it's that expensive. A bag of charcoal @ Walmart is usually $4+ for the big ones.

On a theoretical basis it would be pretty simple to calculate how much it cost per BTU for each fuel if you know how many BTUs your coal is rated for and LP should be easy to figure out. Then you can add in fuel costs for the coal and tank cost for the propane.

Sounds like you guys go through more work making your quench bucket usable than it would be just a bring out warmish water at the beginning of your day...

I wonder how many are around that have just had their stamp worn down to unreadable?

Good luck fetching a fine price for it if you end up selling it!

Oh!

Hedgeapple... now we're speaking the same language. It's pretty common up in this area as well. Iowa.

Out of student loan debt.
Purchase a house with 30+ acres of land.
Let the fun begin after that.
Well, that's my 8 year plan at least.

Pay the house/land off in 15 years or less.
Puts me right around 50 years old... kinda scary.

It looks identical to that. Needs to be cleaned up of course. I paid $125,,,I felt it was fair plus 6 tools at $5 each and 2 hammers at $7.50 each. Like I said, I know nothing of smithing but know I need all of this stuff so have been doing some shopping.

Does it look like this?



I used a piece of strap from a rachet tiedown, took some creative fastening and some duct tape but it held up well after I got it figured out.

If it's the one that comes up when you type "Henry Wright Anvil" into EBay I don't know if I'd buy it...
Says "Henry Wright Warranted BEST SCRAP"?!
Stamped 1 2 0 from what it looks like.

And looks like it needs some major repair to be functional.


If you haven't already check craigslist... and don't be afraid to drive 1 1/2! Or more.

Looks like he had to label it so he didn't forget what it was supposed to be. THAT'S bad. :D