Rick Barter

Wow. Thanks, Glenn. I guess I've been away from the forums for too long. :D

Off the original topic, but can you point me to a good resource to learn brazing (e.g. internet, books, etc.)? I have been thoroughly frustrated by the process so far.

Thanks,

rvb

Peyton,

I'm going up tonight and will be there all day tomorrow. I hope to see you and and Mike there. Also, I saw references to P-Tree. I met him a couple of years ago at Possum's hammer-in in Indiana. I look forward to seeing everyone.

Does anyone know if Billy Merritt will be up there?

If you all see me, introduce yourselves. I'll be the good-looking guy wearing the red Boston Red Sox cap. I drive a lifted blue Jeep with Yukon Cornelius hanging from the mirror.

Save me an anvil and some tools. I'm bringing my checkbook!

great info, y'all! thanks. i've been curious about this as well.

My condolences, Jr.

haha Thanks, man!

It's been a long time since I've posted or viewed the forum. It seems I've missed a lot of growth!

Anyways, I had to have surgery on my left shoulder (tong shoulder) to repair a torn rotator cuff. I tore it in 3 places and had what they call a bucket-handle tear. The technical name for it is a Type 3 S.L.A.P. tear. It seems that when I do something, I do it right because I tore the snot out of it.

So, after 10 months in pain, it's been repaired. And after 6 weeks in a sling, 4 weeks in physical therapy, and 4 weeks of light duty I'm BACK! I forged twice since Saturday and I feel great. I'm not 100% and still have to take it easy, but I'm back to feeding and minding the horses, smithing, mowing, riding my motorcycle, etc.

I wish I could say I did it doing something manly, but at least I did it in service of my wife!

I had forged her two nice "S" hooks and rubbed 'em with a brass wire brush so they looked purty. They looked so purty that she wanted to put two ginormous hanging baskets of flowers on them. Well, her and her sister were lifting from the bottom. My job was to seat the basket on the hooks. The first one went off without a hitch. The second one ... not so much. They lost balance with the basket as I was just putting it onto the hook (left arm fully extended) and I should have just let it go. But, I guess I was worried about their skulls because I tried to hold that puppy up by myself. Needless to say... Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiippppppppppppp!

Oh well. If nothing else, maybe it was chivalrous.

I hope to be participating much more in forging and typing in this forum! :)

All,

Awhile back I posted a message asking for your prayers and thoughts for my Aunt who was diagnosed with colon cancer.

I am happy to report that she is doing well. I want to thank you for your prayers and thoughts. And now I'll let her tell it in her own words from an email she sent out today:

-------

Yes, I'm writing again but only with awesome news!! I went to the oncologist today expecting to hear about when I would start the next round of chemo (which I was told was going to happen). He was so excited about the results from the surgery and said "NO CHEMO AT THIS TIME"-"There is nothing to treat at this time"!!! This is also the doctor that told me to expect that when I had the surgery that they would find something in there!! Can you feel my excitement!! I am so blessed!! If you know anyone that doesn't believe in the power of prayer please have them call me!!

So, now it's a CAT scan in a couple of months!! Compared to chemo, that is awesome!

I am just praising God and thanking him for all of you. You have no idea what you have done for me thru God!!!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!

Love, Pam

Ron, every time I watch those videos I become quite inspired. I'm still recovering from rotator cuff surgery (6 weeks ago) so I've been watching videos and thinking about what kind of stuff to make.

I'm getting quite antsy! Glad you liked the videos.

IronFist,

I think your gasser will be plenty hot enough to evaporate a little moisture from the flux, don't you?

I have seen EZ - weld used, but in all I've seen and read one thing is clear: If the pieces aren't clean and at the right temperature, it don't matter what you use, you won't be able to weld 'em.

Right on, Torin. Any moisture that's in the borax boils off quick enough in the old coal fire. :)

i agree with woody. 20 mule team borax is fine stuff for use as flux.

The best scarf demonstration I've ever seen (I haven't seen many, though) is by Lucian Avery.

He makes it look easy.

Here's the link: Lucian Avery - Smithing - Video - Forge Welding

Ron,

With regards to 'how many hours should I get from 100 cubic ft of Acetylene', it depends. Usually you run out of Oxygen before you run out of Acetylene if the bottles are sized the same and you're doing a lot of cutting.

For OA welding on 1/8" and thinner metals I use 5 pounds of Oxygen and 5 pounds of Acetylene and a number 1 tip. I adjust the Acetylene flame so it's just starting to feather out at the end and add oxygen until I get a neutral flame. I haven't done too much cutting or welding lately, but my tanks are almost a year old and I haven't run out of either yet.

Of course now that I said that, I'll run out just as I start on something. ;)

Thanks, Leah. Is the base of the rubber boot metal or rubber as well? Do you know if the rubber is high-temp or what?

Leah, I have a question for you. I got the impression your roof was metal too. If so, what'd you use for flashing where the hole pokes through?

I've been away from the forge and the forums for a long time now. I've missed you all. Hopefully I'll be able to make more time to forge. Anyways...

I read this thread today (http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/f7/central-illinois-steel-supplier-2213/) and it got me thinking. I have gone to MetalSupermarkets the few times I've bought steel.

I'm running low and am about to embark on some gate making that will require me to put an order together. Does anyone know of a good steel supplier? MetalSupermarkets doesn't carry tool steel and are only open during business hours on weekdays and I just can't get there. I'd really like to find someone that could source my steel and (mild and tool steel) that was open on Saturdays.

I've looked for scrap yards, have called, and come up empty. It appears that all the yards do recycling here and only have mulched up metal.

Any ideas?

Don't be too hard on yourself, Archie. Everything ebbs and flows. If it's not fun, take a break and do something else. When you come back to it you'll be re-energized.

Interesting question, Archie. I would have to say that I have no idea what it's about. I do a lot of things that seem to make people ask 'why?'

I don't know where it comes from, but I love to work with my hands. My hands like to feel the different things. They like to be cold, hot, sore, bloody, greasy, etc.

I think I started this because my great grandfather and grandfather were welders/blacksmiths and I never really understood what that meant. I don't know much about my father's side of my family and I think getting involved with metal was a way to try and relate to them; albeit after they were gone.

Also, I just like the way it feels and makes me feel. You feel the hot fire, the cold steel, then the hot steel, the steam from the slack tub. I haven't made anything very imaginative, creative, or beautiful. I have made some useful things, but mostly I've concentrated on learning technique. I would like to make nice things, but I find that all that takes a back seat to just getting out there and experiencing it.

For too long now I've experienced life through something else (a book, movie, computer). I find that smithing makes me get out there and do it for myself. It spurs action. That's another reason: the action.

So, I guess for me it's about three things:
1.) The feeling
2.) The emotion
3.) The action

You might try the Miller web site. They have this calculator tool there.

http://millerwelds.com/education/calculators/stick_amperage_calculator.php

I hope this helps.

Interesting.

I've been unable to work at my forge for awhile now. Fall chores and work life constantly beckon. However, I was thinking about brass today and I have some questions.

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, yes? That being the case, is it dangerous to heat it? How is it forged properly and safely?

Please discuss. :)

TeachingTapes.net

Here's the full link: Blacksmithing Primer Art Productions

I have the Blacksmithing Primer DVDs and all the Blacksmith Journal DVDs. I like them all, but would recommend the Blacksmithing Primer for a beginner/intermediate. It taught me how to light my fire more efficiently and helped me to realize you don't have to hammer so darn fast. I liked how things were presented and discussed. I watch them quite frequently, actually.

I haven't forgotten nor will I. My wife was in the air that morning. She travels every week for her job (she's a big muckity muck) and since I don't watch much TV or listen to radio I didn't know what was happening until I got into work.

I walked by the TV to grab a cup of coffee and everyone was crowded around. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Then I heard how terrorists were hijacking planes and they didn't know how many airlines were affected.

Let me tell you it was the longest hour of my life trying to get in touch with my wife. Thankfully, she landed with no issues.

I like JRs 'arrange the meeting' idea. Pity we haven't found the no good SOB yet.

rvb