swedefiddle

John Little actually did Forge with the Sun and Mirrors for heat source. I believe he was working with Dalhousie University in Halifax.

If you can't find the video, look up John Little, West Dover Nova Scotia, Canada

Neil

Good Morning,

You can choose to learn!! Always safety first, excuses last!!

Neil

Good Morning Kelly,

You are in Ontario Artist Blacksmiths Association (OABA), country. The members are VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE!! Check out their web-site.

Welcome from the Left Coast.

Neil

Good Morning, Dave

Try connecting your ground to the piece of Metal that you are striking the Arc, on. The magnet is a poor conductor.

Welcome from the Left Coast

Neil

Good Morning,

Please buy it, I will pay for it when you let me know. I will donate it back to ABANA, to do as they see fit. A Sun Shade, a wall hanger, a flapping partition, whatever...

Neil Gustafson

Good Morning Bayard,

Welcome from the left Coast of Canada.

The short answer to your question, is Yes. I have built Forges with 9 bricks a few times. The burner can enter from the side, bottom or from the back. This type of Forge is not the BEST Design, but it is very functional. it will take 15-20 minutes for the bricks to come up to good heat, Yes there will be a lot of Heat wasted. You will not be welding in a 9 brick Forge, but you will be Forging. The key is, do something and try it. Change it a little and try it again, continue until you are satisfied. Enjoy the Journey, keep track of your creations in a scribbler, what worked. What worked better, etc.....

Neil

Good Morning, Mothman

Stop by and pick up whatever you would like, Coil Spring (assorted Diameters), small and large Leaf Springs, c/v joint Drive-Axles, Sway Bar Links, Tie-Rods, Torsion Bars, etc.

I'm sure you can find a Spring Shop closer to you though. Don't put up road blocks for what is acceptable. Explosives are NOT ACCEPTABLE,  LOL.

Neil

Good Mourning "S"

Welcome from the Left Coast of a big Island called Norse Hamericca.

We have no idea of what you are trying to make work. I just received a couple 'Propane Injectors' from the UK. Connect the Propane or Natural Gas (not mine) as per which one you order and they work fantastic, right out of the box. Yes they are adjustable and are not expensive.

We cannot see into the grey matter between your ears. Whatever you are trying to make work. Keep trying combinations until you get it to work.

Neil

Good Morning Chad,

Oxy/Acetylene Brazing will give you the control you will need. Both sides that you want to Braze will need to be at a dull red heat, a gas welding tip of a sufficient size will be needed. Yes, if the cable is big enough, you might use the cutting tip for the pre-heat/Brazing. I just had an IDEA, (light bulb moment). Unravel some of the strands and open up the strands with a flat tipped Marlin Spike (with the flat tip you can pick through the strands, to open it up). Slip the branches in between the strands. Easy-Peeze.

Neil

Good Morning Brad,

Welcome from the Left Coast, hows the East Coast.

Working with someone is a wonderful way to figure out habits, good and bad. It's all "Larnin'". Mistakes are not a negative, you just figured out a way that doesn't work, YET! Soon you will show the world another way. Be proud of TRYING. There is no such thing as a re-Invention. It either is an Invention, or it is knot!!

Don't be shy to touch base with other people in your area. The information base is HUGE. Enjoy the journey, there is no Destination.

Neil

Good Morning,

I would suggest some wire to hold the aluminum jaws to the vise jaw. Save chasing the pieces on the floor.

Neil

Good Morning Dick,

You can drill a smallish couple of Primary holes and finish with a small 'Pull Saw', like pictured above.

Or, you can forge a slightly smaller copy of your Tang, using some medium carbon steel. Heat up your copy of the Tang and push it into the Handle when hot. This will burn the wood quite quickly and make a bunch of smoke. You will still need to finish shaping the hole with a 'Pull Saw', so your Tang fits snuggly. Make sure the Tang is not hardened, then you can drill it for a couple of pins.

Just add epoxy and cure. Patience is the best approach.

Neil

Good Morning Jeff,

I made a wood burning Forge, like the Wit....., using an old Bar-B-Que stand as the mode of transport. I don't bother with cooking the wood into Charcoal, seperately. I use the principle like using Coal to make Coke. It works well for small items.

Neil

Good Morning Dan,

Congratulations on a Job Well Done. You will find that the little sway in the top table will work better to straighten something than a flat surface will.

Did you name it yet, 'My Dan Foster' Anvil?? LOL

Neil

Good Morning deBeer,

You haven't said where on this round rock, you are making a shadow. Please enter your locale in your avatar, then we don't have to ask again.

The very best Anvil, is the one you own. There is no such thing as a perfect Anvil, perfect at doing what? Any Anvil will do most jobs, some are noisier than others. Some like a Swedish Anvil, some like any of all the different brands that are made in Canada or the USA (eh). Some say that any of the European Anvils are the best. Forget about whether it is Painted or Pin Stripped, you can add Flames at any time (LOL).

Neil

Good Morning Mick,

You have room for your table cloth and fine silverware, for when you have your Lunch or Dinner. LOL

Neil

Good Morning Army,

Lay your end bricks on their side (you still can adjust them depending on the application). Lay another brick on it's side on top of the lower bricks, This will lower the chimney and retain a bunch of heat inside the firebox. Heat rises, don't let it escape with no benefit. You just need enough room at the bottom to get your work, in and out. Just another piece for your puzzle.

Neil

Good Morning 9436,

Welcome to our world from the left coast of Canada.

There is a saying for a Blacksmith;

Measure with a Yard Stick (Meter Stick), Cut it with an Axe, Heat it in a Campfire, Beat it with a Hammer until it fits perfectly!!

Nobody knows yet what are trying to do? You are trying to make an accurate hole in what? Trial and Error is the best way to find the answer. Are you trying to make a Ribbon Burner? It is not critical for the hole size.

Neil

Good Morning,

BROOKS, Made in England.

Welcome to this forum from the Left Coast of Vancouver Island. Enjoy perusing all the content.

Neil

Good Morning,

The first Flatter I had (I still have) is an offcut/drop of 1 1/2" plate, that looks like it has a handle like a Hair Brush. There is no 'Rule' for what counts as a Flatter. If you call it a Flatter, it is a Flatter. Regardless of how it is made. Do not wedge the Handle, let it be a little loose. This stops the vibration from transfering up the handle and bothering your Elbow. Take care of 'YOU', first!!

Neil

Good Morning,

Yes, sometimes Propane is right hand thread. I like to maintain the rule, in my business and in our Blacksmith Association Shop. Left is Fuel. No variable. I have many people coming in the Shops who are not knowledgeable. Left is Fuel. Anyone can make Fuel, right hand thread. That is 'THEIR' perogative.

Neil

Good Morning Mr. Lambert

Learning to make Tongs, generally means learning the Process. Starting on the near side of the Anvil for the start of the Jaw. 1/4 turn to the LEFT, on the far side of the Anvil, at a 30-45 degree angle to set the Hinge area. 1/4 turn LEFT, on the far side of the Anvil, 90 degrees to the Anvil, to start the REINS. To recap, Left,Left for Right Handed Person Tongs; Right, Right for Left Handed Person Tongs. The second biggest mistake when learning, is to make the set down at the back of the Jaw and the set down for the start of the reins too much set down. This makes the Tongs extremely weak.

I am not trying to criticize, I am trying to be helpful. Your Tongs in the picture can still be salvaged, carefully.

Neil

Good Morning,

I know a fellow who had so many Anvils, He used them in a fence!! He never welded to the face, always the sides.

Neil

Good Morning ihavea4,

ALL FUEL Fittings are left hand thread. You will see there is a small nick at the corners of the brass Hex, this denotes left hand thread!! This is so you don't connect Oxygen hose to Acetylene or Propane!! Your fitting supplier will/should have an adapter to go from left hand thread to pipe thread (not H--- D----).

Don't make it difficult, Fuel should always be left hand thread!!

Neil

Good Morning Lary,

You will find that the tip has to be very small and a fairly long taper. When you start to turn the tip, you have to start the curl at the edge of the Anvil and turn it facing up to make sure the tip is small and circular. Sometimes I hang it over the edge of the Anvil and tap back into the Anvil (use the edge of the Anvil to push the tip to rotate. Light taps horizontal, toward the side of the Anvil. Eventually you will get it nice, don't be in hurry.

Neil