Mark Wargo New2bs

Well, thanks to some guidance from the fine folks here I've gotten to a decent stage of progress on my first spear. This is my second attempt at a spear, but the first go failed before the object even looked like a spear. I was able to forge the socket out fairly well, although there is a twist in it. The spear has been rough ground with used 60 grit paper. My next step is to move up to 120, then get it ready for heat treat. The steel is 5160. Let me know what you think. Mark

I really like that. Looks great. Mark

nice looking. Much better than my second knife I'm working on. Mark

If I have my history correct, the founder of Fisher accidentally discovered the process of welding steel to cast iron in a factory fire. He founded the Fisher Norris Anvil company to create cast iron bodied anvils with steel faces solidly welded on. Mark

Very nice forge. I like the design as well as the fit and finish. Mark

Brian is teaching a two day class prior to the Mississippi Forge Council conference Memorial Day weekend. Might be some slots left. Mark

I got mine last week and that bad boy rocks. Only problem is that it heats metal so fast I have to work on my stamina. With my coal forge I had time to rest between hammering sessions LOL. Mark

Congrats! Nothing like smacking iron on a anvil that smacks back heheh. Enjoy. Mark

that is fantastic. Looks rustic and functional. Mark

Thanks guys. Archiphile, the tongs work pretty well. they tend to bind just a little bit when they are closed all the way, but otherwise move freely. I used them to forge a broken file into a knife blade yesterday and they worked like a champ. Mark

I have to agree. The snail and candle holder are great. My kids would love a snail too heheh. Mark

Ed, thank you very much for the tutorial. That is great info. Do you always start with 3/8 stock? Mark

Well, I've been forging and learning. Lots of trial and error. I've moved from blundering along creating random objects to attempting to replicate items with at least some symmetry. Here are a few things I've done. The tongs are my 3rd attempt at tongs. I got tired of flat stock flopping around on me. They are the first set that actually turned out in most respects as intended heheh. I'd like to give credit where credit is due: the candelabra was inspired by the excellent work of Spikeknife posted earlier last month. Mark

thanks for the info guys. If I had been thinking I would have picked up one to spark test. I will try to consult with the state enigineers. Thanks much. Mark

Thanks for the advice and information guys. I ultimately decided to purchase a Diamondback 2 burner blacksmith model. I ordered it at 11:31 PM last Wednesday and it arrived yesterday. I hooked it up with only one minor gas leak problem around the guage, which was easily resolved with teflon tape. I was up and running quickly. WOW does it heat nicely with no mess and I like being able to roughly adjust temperature by controlling PSI. Mark

The only thing I can say is...WOW. Mark

I have a 12" kukri machete from cold steel. It is 1050 steel. Cold Steel is assuredly not out of business. Mark

Does anyone know what type of iron/steel that Bridge Pins would be made of? I was at the local scrap yard and they had a stack of pins about 1.5 inches in diameter and maybe a foot and a half long. I asked the guy what they were and he said they were pins used in constructing bridges. He had no idea what type of steel they were. Mark

Thanks for the comments. I really appreciate the wealth of knowledge that folks share here. I'm in the research phase of this project and I won't commit to an outcome until I'm relatively sure that I have a solid plan that is within my capability given available resources. I'm certainly not dead set on using the piston. I was given access to a scrap pile and that was available. I don't have any intention of machining special dies for the hammer. My original thought was just to dress the end of the piston itself into what would amount to a large round hammer head with beveled edge. If it is round, then rotating slightly shouldn't matter should it? I originally went to the scrap pile to grab a square disc axle for the purpose, but I thought it was a bit small at about an inch and a 1/16th square. I don't want to build a huge monster hammer, just something as a project that will be functional for drawing out material and perhaps welding billets one day as my skills improve and needs change. Thank you guys for the info you are sharing. I like to learn from others so I don't have to do things the hard way every time heheh. Mark

I didn't measure it, but eyeballing it I would say it is about 3 inches in diameter and 2 feet long. I would think it would have to be fairly hard to withstand the pressure of a hydraulic cylinder day in and day out. I'm guessing it came off of either a backhoe or an excavator. Arftist, you mention that square or rectangular would work better on a rusty. My initial thought was to use a piece of iron pipe with an inside diameter just a tad larger than the piston as the guide and grease the piston directly. Mark

Thanks for the advice. I had intended to use the smaller propane tanks that you can purchase and trade in at Wal-mart/Grocery stores around here. My intent was to keep two on hand at all times so when one runs out, I can hook up the 2nd and keep forging and trade in the other at my convenience. Is that a bad plan? of course, if one freezes up, I've got the 2nd that I'm good to go on. Mark

wow, nice score indeed. Congrats on the new blower! Mark

I was curious if the hydrualic piston rod from a piece of farm equipment would work well as the ram/hammer for a rusty style power hammer. I'm given to understand that it is chrome covered cold rolled steel. Any thoughts on that? Mark

I'm far from an expert on knife making, but if you are working small stock into knife blades, you probably aren't using a big hammer or pounding away too hard so I would think the anvil will work well. I personally like the fisher because of the quietness factor. Sounds like you have a good friend. Even though he gave you the anvil, I'd check with him prior to selling it in any case. sometimes people give us things to see the joy of us using it. Just my thoughts. Mark

Thanks guys for all the input. I ultimately decided to purchase the Diamondback 2 burner blacksmith model. I appreciate the reminder about the dangers of CO. How is your forge working out for you? Mark