jayco

I try to avoid forging in the afternoons if possible.Here, in july and august it gets pretty uncomfortable between noon and six p.m. So, I try to plan forging sessions for morning or evening. In that noon to 6 p.m. timeslot, I might be working in the garden,sharpening tools, putting away tools, trying to figure out how to make something,....... I might be on the computer catching up with IFI......... Or I might be taking a nap!

When I was a kid, my mom used to order 100 mixed chicks from a hatchery, early in the spring. She kept most of the pullets for 'layers', but the roosters.........we ate them We would wind up with 50 or 60 chickens to kill and put in the freezer. It was my job to do the killing. I used a hatchet over a stump or 'hack block' to separate the chicken from it's head. Holding it's feet with the other hand. Funny thing is, a chicken can still get away from you........without it's head......if you're not careful. Of course, the novelty of that wears off after the first couple of chickens.......... Mom used to scald them, to loosen up the feathers, before plucking. It stunk up the kitchen something awful.......It's been 40 years, but I can still remember that smell.........like it was yesterday. No wonder we always waited a couple of days before we had fried chicken!

I know of a guy who had to relocate to a new job. He sold his nice house to one of my cousins.He had an iron pot, an old wagon wheel, and a little farrier's anvil on the porch. Part of 'the rustic look'.........He placed no particular value on these things...........and just left them! There's no moral here, but my cousin has a free anvil! Funny things happen when money gets tight. An old man I once knew(speaking of the 1930's depression) said... "Stuff was cheap!.........But nobody had any money!"

Frosty, that's an interesting looking machine! Third pic? Yeah, I see it. I really like that idea of turning the dies to a 45 deg. angle to the post.....let's you easily use the tool both across and length ways of the dies. Great! Be sure and post more pics as you make more dies and begin to use the machine! I haven't seen anything like your fullering tool before, You must now come up with a cool name for it! James

Bernard,welcome to Iforgeiron! You're right,there's a lot of information on metal working here.......and lots of friendly folks too. Join in, and enjoy!

Jimbob, my post vise does something similar. The tab on the nut and the slot in the post are both worn. When the nut gets out of proper position( which it does once in a while), the jaws either won't go totally together or close mismatched like yours. Hope you come up with an easy fix........I'd like to fix mine too!

A neighbor wanted the barnyard cleaned up, and I got this pair of old iron farm machinery wheels given to me. My wife 'confiscated' them before they were even unloaded from the pickup, and placed them near the back steps. So does this count as "It followed ME home?".........I wonder........ The cat is not new, and has been here for some time.....pay him no mind.........

Buffalo, welcome to IFI Yes, there is a singular satisfaction in creating something from start to finish. That's why I like blacksmithing. Bruce, I have to agree with you.......I've wondered for some time if the 'fast track' doesn't lead over a cliff! I'm 52, maybe it's just an 'age thing'......... Anyway, welcome to the wonderful world of blacksmithing, Buffalo........ENJOY!

Civilwarblacksmith, that's kinda what I was thinking. My grandson wants me to ride HIS bike, and the seat just kills me. So what about making a COMFORTABLE seat........a real cargo rack.......Maybe add shocks! Bikes today are designed for kids and racing........why not make 'em for the adult population as well!

As far as horses making a comeback as source of transportation, I think the U.S. is ill equipped to make that change any time soon. Not enough folks who know how to handle a riding horse or a team and wagon........no place to hitch 'em when you get to town........no livery stables like once existed here. But here's a thought........I remember my dad (he was in England during the 'Blitz' during WW2.) telling of how EVERYONE rode bycicles over there. Of course it was wartime and there were fuel shortages , I'm sure, but he said riding a bike was the preferred way to get around. If one were near a college town or some other bike friendly place, it would be a good time to establish a 'bike shop. I think a lot more folks will be using them.........just a thought. James

When my son started his lawncare service, he made some small signs with scrap plywood and stencils. He put them on telephone poles and such within a 25 mile radius of our home. Just 15 or 20, if I recall. People started calling, saying....."I saw your sign".................. Also, around here we have 'flyers' or 'circulars'.........little trade publications you can put classified ads in for free.........those work too. A lot of times, it's just a matter of 'getting your name out there where folks can see it'. James Flannery

This is the kind of clothesline that is typical around here. Just two 'T's made from 1&1/2 in. pipe. I didn't make these, but rather , I found them in a scrap pile.......free for the hauling. By the way, a lot of us decorate the back yard with cows..:)

Some times, if the clinker is not too large, you can turn the clinker breaker, if your forge is so equipped, and get the clinker to fall out the bottom. Larger clinkers are more difficult of course. You might insert a small poker with a hook on the end ,grab the clinker and pull it out sideways without disturbing the fire much. You can also use a 'slice'........think flat shovel or spatula,,,,,,use it to lift up the fire with one hand, while you use the poker to hook the clinker. It's easier than it sounds......

DaveM, those back yard clothes lines are pretty common around here. With the high cost of electricity, I suspect they will get more use. I've been wondering, myself, as to just where the high cost of energy is leading us as far as lifestyle is concerned. I'm terrible at prediictions........a couple years ago, when the price of heating oil/gas went up significantly, I predicted more folks would be using wood or coal for heat........and that they might want more fireplace tools than usual. Well, it didn't happen,.......at least not yet, but who's to say how it will be this winter? If folks can't travel as much and have to stay at home more, will they want more nice hand-forged items around their homes/ farms? Things that represent real solid value in a rapidly changing economy, perhaps. With recent food scares and high prices at the grocer's, more folks around here are growing gardens.........there may be a need for good quality gardening tools. I was shocked to realize that a new good quality pitch fork from the farm store now costs $60 ! Every thing is changing!

I like both designs. I need to make one just for family 'cookouts'. The fact that the cooking grate disassembles into a bundle of rods is neat. One could easily pack it in the trunk of a car.

IronRoseFarms.........yeah I do miss once in a while. I usually don't miss a piece of 1 in. flat stock with a 2 lb. hammer or anything like that, but if I'm drawing out a little tab on something and using only the edge of the hammer face or only half the pein on a cross pein, i can make a 'clean miss' ! Also, I could use more practice time! James

Great! A simple, yet effective way to latch a gate! I'll have to file the idea away for later use. Thanks for posting this........ James

Welcome to Iforgeiron, Thunderstrike! This is a large site with lots of information........on the front page menu you can click on 'Getting Started' and just follow the links. Hmmm......."Three miles past nothing" Ky.....I think I've been there! Nope, just kidding I live 'out in the country' too. Welcome aboard!

gobinu, others may know better than me, but I don't think I would want a cut-off hardy to be really hard. At least not like an axe or wood chisel. Too much risk of breakage and flying shrapnel. If the stock is a chisel, it's probably pretty good steel as is. I've made some from axle steel and leaf spring also. I didn't hard-quench those, but left them more or less normalized. They hold their edge pretty well. They have to be redressed from time to time, but no big deal. You could always make it and try it in a normalized state.......if it's too soft.........then you can harden it. Hope this helps!

I've never tried this, but I wonder how one of the heavy duty carts they use at Lowes and similar stores would work as a way to mount an anvil on wheels? Some have a 'braking' device built in as well which would come in handy. Might be a design worth looking at.........wonder what they do with the ones with bad or broken wheels? James

That's the 'Indestructo Steel Ball' that Wiley Coyote made famous in the cartoon!

I think there should be a BP on.......this........?