herchammer

Well, I've spent my evening fabricating a side-draft hood for the forge in my little smithy. I got the idea from the one in Hofi's blueprints. I wouldn't say I copied it, because it's not in any way a fair reproduction of his. I did take the general design, and go from there. I don't yet have the knowledge to weld, or the tools, so I've built up an angle iron framework, and bolted it together. Tomorrow, I will attach the sheet metal to enclose the frame, and I'm hoping to get it installed by Saturday. I will then need to get the pipe for the smoke stack, and then it's "Katie bar the door"!!! I'll post pictures when I get it in place, and then of course of the finished product and first fire in my new (to me) digs! ;)

My history teacher would be proud! That was more than a few years ago, and I figured those brain cells for goners...LOL On a more relevant note, I would be interested to see what you come up with. Cheers

Civilian Conservation Corps??? Depression era initiative to employ men out of work. Anyone able to help me clarify? Am I close?

I see; the 781 is the AFTO series for aircraft maintenance documentation. That's why I asked. I thought perhaps it was a reference to a past career. Cheers!

hey there 781, curious about your user name. you Air Force by any chance?

KST1, I was wondering if that rasp was an older one, or manufactured within the last four or five years?

Was talking with my farrier today, while he trimmed the horses hooves, and asked him how long a rasp lasted him. He said he goes through one or two a week. I asked if I might have a few, and he said he'd bring a box full the next time he was by to trim the horse. He gave me two this afternoon. It's not big, but' it's a score!

here's my main anvil 220 lb Hay Budden

I've never done any blade work of any kind, but that is gorgeous! the texture that the teeth of the rasp creates, is the eye-catcher! Great work!

That looks like fun, but a bit of a haul for me. Maybe someday though. :)

Thanks dkunkler, I'll check that out!

Howdy Folks! Can you educate me on the location and nature of the Quad Sate event? :unsure:

This material seemed to work best between yellow and a medium orange. Water quench left it very hard. The natives (read 19 month old twins) have surrounded me and are chattering and giggling. They may be plotting my demise for the day, I'd better go play with them for a while. Please, keep the info coming, it's great.

I've got a couple of tynes out of an old horse-drawn hay rake, and I thought I'd use a piece or two for some hooks. I've been told that it's got a higher carbon content than your run o' the mill round stock you buy from the suppliers. I had a very tough time moving any of that metal; could I have been working it at too high a heat, and what should I be trying to use this stock for? I don't think shop hooks are the best use for material like this.

Lovin' the replies, you all have me curious about this Viking metal, I'm going to have to check it out. Well, out to find my way in the fire; talk with you fine folks later. B)

Jimmy,I can certainly identify with the forging time being theraputic. Just that short time this afternoon helped the stress of two very long weeks, start to melt away. Chyancarrec, I really like the idea of saving your shop cleanup for first thing. That seems to be the way I headed this afternoon. It allows my mind to switch from trying not to bend metal (I'm an aircraft maintainer, bent metal means no flyin') to heatin' and beatin'. Nakedanvil, no fair braggin :P

So, the boss let us go early today, (hurray!!) and I decided to slog, through the slush, to the shop. I moved a few items around, and decided I wanted to hammer out some square stock into strap, to secure that bouncing 200 lb HB of mine (I never thought 200 lbs would bounce like it does).I know it was a simple thing, and I was only hammering out the square stock because it's what I had to work with. I must have wandered around that shop for a half hour trying to figure out where to start first. So, all that being said; how do y'all start your time at the forge? I'm just interested to hear what traditions, habits, routines, and such you all have to "get your 'fire' lit". By the way, it was an enjoyable couple of hours at the anvil, and project accomplished! Have a great weekend!

I've got a 200# beauty sittin on a walnut stump, in the shop. I don't recall the serial number, and may have to wait for the spring thaw to walk to the shop. Just kiddin' it's not that bad. :rolleyes:

Dave, that is beautiful work! What comprises the blade itself? I really like the contrast in that pattern. Oh, and welcome to IFI (manners never have been my strong point):rolleyes:

So, what I'm taking from this thread, so far, is that I should just try a sample before I commit to a large quantity. Quite a lot of information, although, I'm not surprised. That's why I asked the question on this forum. As always, thank you all so much for sharing what you know.

I was wondering what the difference is between these two types of coal. I would assume, that coal used in power plant boilers, has more impurities than smithing coal. Anyone have any thoughts?

I enjoy both pipes and cigars; never touched a cigarette in my life. I have a few pipes that were my Grandad's and bought a nice Savanelli churchwarden a couple of years ago, I smoke it with a blend from our local purveyor. I enjoy most anything done by Don Pepin Garcia, particularly his Nestor Miranda series, and the Punch Rare Corojo is nice. If I'm out of the country, the Cohiba Siglo VI is my stick.

I spent Monday playin' hooky from my real job in order to get my sister's Christmas present done in time for our exchange tomorrow. Hooks for a coat rack were the target, and I think I managed. The learning curve part comes in when I tried to duplicate my first acceptable example. All in all a fun day of hammering.

Nice lookin' work, I'm anxious to get that much time at the forge. Thanks for the pics!

I'll try to post these pics. Now, what I figured you'd all laugh at, was the use of a plastic drier vent to deliver the air from the blower to the firepot. Then, there's the wooden frame for the forge, although, I actually got that idea from a post I saw on here. But I've fired it up three times now, and haven't burned the shop down yet. The big ogre in the apron is me. Thought I might add, that this is not the final location for the forge. It will actually be set up on the other side of the shop, where it will be drafted out the side wall, using the side-draft design that Hofi has shown in some of his posts.