ertwdan

It's hard to beat the old brake drum forge with a bathroom fan for the blower to get you started. Check out the blueprints section, I think they still have the plans for on here on Iforgiron. I recently built one for a buddy of mine and it works great. Lump charcoal will get you going and a bag or 2 of the good stuff from Thak the Blacksmith in Floradale will get you really hooked. My best advice, check out the OABA meetings and yo will always find someone with a forge or parts to make one.

Looking good...I've had my welded firepot for almost 3 years.....they're great
I had mine plasma cut and I used 5/8"

Thanks... it could save me a pile of work (both building the hammer and 'smithing)

I'd be interested if the price is right

Thanks Hammered...

Always nice to see that I can own a sword but not a pistol-crossbow. Good old Canadian government...regulations for everything

OABA is definitely the best way to meet blacksmiths.also try visiting Robb Martin in Floradale (St. Jacobs area).

Ontario Artist Blacksmith Association - (OABA) Artisan Blacksmiths and Artistic Metalworkers of hand forged iron work in Ontario Canada. Wrought Iron gates, grills, railings, knives, original designs

Thak the Blacksmith &Armourer- Ontario, Canada

Here are their websites. You do not need to be a member to come out to an OABA Meeting. All those interested in smithing in Ontario are welcome.

I'm glad that you guys enjoyed the meeting.
Mick and Lloyd are some of the best presenters going.

Keep an eye on the website for upcoming meetings. I'm going to be editing the OABA Newsletter (The Iron Trillium) and if you have any ideas for how-to articles that you would like to see....let me know

I think that you should be OK as long as you're not drawing attention to it in the "wrong" way.

By the 'wrong" way....selling to kids under 19, holding up liquor stores, throwing at people tied to big circular targets...

Seriously though, there is no regulation about the fabrication and selling of knives and other edged items, just be careful of who you sell to.

The motto of beg forgiveness rather than ask permission is a good one if you don't want to go through the tax registration process.

Whatever you do....do not call City Hall....This will only end badly in a sea red tape.

I've been really lucky...the neighbours think my hobby is very cool and I've even had a few want to try it out.

Definitely beg forgiveness before asking permission......bar none there will be one neighbour that has had a bad day and will make you stop.

Always make the neighbours come over to satify their curiosity. Whatever you do do not tell them that you are selling anything....this will only invite inspectors, tax collectors and other folks that aren't there to help you.

That's my $0.02 worth

I tend to use charcoal to light the fire then bleed in the coal to prevent the start-up 'smokies' that could offend my neighbours.

Canuk....Darrell Markewitz (Wareham Forge) is up in your area and is a very talented and knowledgeable (and likes to talk).

Check him out at his website

I recommend attending any function that features Mick Smith. He's informative and entertaining. I haven't been to his place before but I think it's north of Fergus just off Hwy 6. Meeting date is Nov 8, 2008

Hopefully we'll see you there

I'm glad you like the proverb...It's good to agree with hammer-wielding types...

Holy Cow....we have our own space....I feel so special

Thanks for the space Glenn....

Hi OABA

My advice is to cut a large opening first and then use a seperate piece of metal for the opening. This way you can start with a bit smaller hole and work your way up to what works best. It's a little un-scientific.....but then again, so is blacksmithing.

Welcome from Ontario..

Be sure to look at www.ontarioblacksmith.ca

This is Abana Affiliate for Ontario and a really decent bunch of fellows to boot. They meet all over Southern Ont. every month and you can learn a ton from these guys. The President is in Hamilton and is a fantastic resource.

Welcome again....

Look up Enerpac on the internet. They build these systems for industry. They have a manifold splitter for these types of cylinders. Either that, or check with your friendly neighbourhood hydraulics company.

I had a kid working for me a few years ago that got a new MIG for his birthday. He watched way too much American Chopper and he spent the afternoon tacking a new floor into his pickup. He decided that the helmet wasn't needed. No flash, but talk about being a little red-faced...ha ha ha

Luckily he was smart enough to learn from this mistake.

I am not afraid to admit that I am ignorant of things I do not know. - Cicero

Any time that you bond Aluminium to steel you will have a corrosion problem unless you seperate them electrically. This is done in the marine industry when they attach an Aluminium cabin to a steel hull. The adhesive method will seperate the metals to prevent the galvanic reaction and keep things from rusting too quickly.

We certainly don't want to forget the Heavy Metal Genre

Judas Priest has a tune named "Between the Hammer and the Anvil"

It has the anvil in the background surrounded by one of the best metal vocalist ever...Rob Halford

There is also a celtic tune called the "the Merry Blacksmith" The version done by the Irish Descendents is a good one.

Check out Hofi's stainless chimney's. I use a variation of this with 28" of horizontal duct leading to 14' of vertical pipe. Draws like a supercharged Hoover. I ran it out of the building through a window opening.

pete46 is on the right trail

I use charcoal to start my fire then slowly bring in the coal. Make sure that you construct a good chimney (12 diameter or equivalent). The large size will draw in a lot of tramp air (read the solution to pollution is dilution)

my $0.02

Hephaestus,

If you live in Canada you can buy smithing coal through Home Hardware. Check out Thak the Blacksmith &Armourer and get in touch with Robb and Angie. They will help you get started. If you're looking for Borax, got to the laundry section of WalMart or Canadian tire. Check out Ontario Artist Blacksmith Association in their links section for additional resources.

I used 22ga 4 x 8 sheets to cover the floor and the first 48" of my walls. Best $100 I've spent. I also share the space with my woodworking equipment, but I try to move it outside and keep the metal work indoors where the noise won't bother the neighbours. Another method I used for a while was "quilting" a floor together with scraps from the sheet metal shop at work. Stitching these little pieces for my floor helped improve my tacking and sheet metal skills. I covered about 100 sq ft this way for the cost of some welding wire (maybe $1.00)

Gobbler,

What size of spring did you use on this hammer? Approximately how much did you preload the spring? I've seen on some other tire hammers that had an adjustment for the spring. Does anyone know if this is really helpful? Is an adjustment on the horizontal arms helpful?

I'm trying to determine how complex I should try and make the linkage for my hammer.

Sorry for the flurry of questions, but I'm almost ready to commence construction.