Rick Barter

Thanks! What's this business about 'your response is too short'? If I have only a little to say, why am I made to type more, Glenn?!

Thanks for the reply. I don't necessarily just want to hunt or fish. Heck, I'll just take pictures for all I care. I just want to learn how to be competant outdoors and, quite frankly, I think it's important to learn how to be self-sufficient. That means knowing how to start a fire, knowing how to hunt and dress and cook game, knowing how to live outdoors. I guess I should have been in the boy scouts or gone into the military or something, but I just never did. You mention 'moutain men' type organizations. What do you mean? It sounds like what I'm describing alright; Jerimiah Johnson and all that. Interesting to see the differences between the movie and the 'real' Johnson. I just read the book Crow Killer. Interesting. I also saw a book at the store _How to sxxx in the Woods_. I may pick that up. Looks entertaining and fun. rvb

yeah. computers kind of become your life for some reason. it's definitely not a 9 to 5 job. after that and mowing 10 acres and doing the honey do's it doesn't leave much time for forging. but, i try to keep improving and make time for it. it's just so dang fun! rvb

Doh! I must be stupid. Of course it's Domestic Goddess. Although, I don't think she'd get upset. She seemed more concerned about me putting it in the oven. ;)

What's DG?

I know some of you must hunt and spend times outdoors. I have never hunted. I've fished some, but not in a LONG time. One of my grandfathers grew up in Maine and fished quite a bit. I think he hunted some too. My other grandfather definitely hunted, but I don't ever remember him doing so while I was alive. I always hoped that I would get the chance to have them show me some things, but it was not to be. They both passed away before I was old enough to ask to do those things. Now that I live in Kentucky a bunch of people hunt and fish and I've been thinking that I definitely should learn to be self-sufficient in the outdoors. However, I have no clue how to get started. In this day and age, how does one go about learning these skills with no one around to teach them? rvb

Hmmm. Thanks for the ideas y'all. Now you've got me thinking...how about vinegar?

I call mine The Barn because that's where I do it. I wish I did this professionally and then I'd probably call it The Shop or The Forge. Maybe someday if I can get out of the computer programming racquet and actually get enough time to forge more than one item in a month, I'll actually be able to call myself a professional smith. rvb

Ok. Here's one for y'all. I have a very expensive pen I got as a gift. It is a much prized pen. I always have it handy. It is gold and stainless braided line (like from fuel lines). It seems to be all metal inside and out. I've had it for about 6 years and one of the ink refill cartridges leaked inside the top of the pen. It clicks to pop the ball point out and then another click to retract it. Well, the ink leaked all up in the top and now it has barely any movement. It no longer clicks, but slides into place as if through mud. It also does not retract on its own. It's all gummed up. I tried pipe cleaners, but to no avail. I was thinking of popping it in the oven to vaporize the ink, but I'm not sure if this is feasible. So, does anyone have any ideas for restoring this to working order without destroying the pen??? Your help is very much appreciated. rvb

I don't understand. I thought that the Samuel Yellin shop had closed its doors and given all the tools to George Dixon with the caveat of sharing the techniques with others. Is it still in operation? rvb

Welcome back! I, too, have other things demanding my attention and don't get to forge as much as I like. Happy forging! rvb

Woody, can you tell us what the number of this blueprint is? I've been looking by subject and by author, but found nothing under Respiratory Protection or Woody. rvb

JR, What's a Blackjack anvil? That sounds like one I'd like to see! Also, where do y'all find all these anvils?! Jeez, I have a harbor freight Anvil Shaped Object (ASO) and am in need of something else. I guess I can wait for the Quad State which I WILL go to this year come Hell or high water!

I like the addition to your signature, Glenn. :)

Ahhhh! I actually found what I was reading: Cut Roof Opening: Cut an opening in the roof directly above the opening below, and at least 4 inches larger than the chimney

Thanks, Stryder. One question, though. I'm struggling with figuring out how big the opening will be and how it needs to be done. I was figuring on asking the stove shop and having installation instructions with the pipe. However, more opinions are always preferred to less. rvb

Well, I've got a 4:12 pitch on the barn roof. I've got a source for the stovepipe and will be ordering what I need as soon as I determine WHERE in the barn I'm going to put the forge and how much pipe I'll need. There are two possible places I've identified. I'm trying to "see" what it would be like at either place. My only problem is how big the hole will have to be for 12" I.D. class A triple lined stovepipe. I'll have to check with the stove company to see what the O.D. is. As it is, the cross pieces (that run perpendicular to the trusses) have 19.5" between them. I don't know if this will be enough for 12" I.D. No real question here I guess. Just rambling to y'all. rvb

Not rambling. GREAT INFORMATION! I'm a newbie to cutting holes in roofs and want to do this right the first time! With regards to copperfield.com...they only sell to folks in the industry it seems. I'll search as HenryVIII said. I reckon that if I go to a building supply or home center place they can guide me, no? What would I be looking for in ways of support kits and flashing? Any special terms there I should search for? Thanks to all that help. This forum is the best! rvb

All: Very HOT ( pun intended ) topic it seems. I, too, have to get my chimney set up in my barn. My goal is to do it before winter. I have some questions: I have a metal roofing on my barn, but it has humps in it. How do I know to get the right flashing/kit/whatever for it? Also, because of said metal roof, what is the best way to cut through it and the batting on the underside of it? Thanks, rvb

If you could post a few examples, that would be great!

Thanks for the replies, everyone! It helps. Keep 'em coming. I love to hear about what other people are doing. HWooldridge: you mention that you look up stuff in books. How do I find books for certain periods (e.g., german, french, english ironwork or period stuff like gothic, french gothic, baroque, etc.)? Ten Hammers and Mr Smith: do you start off noting the stock you're beginning with and how far back you'll start a taper? Stuff like that?

I wonder how everyone decides what they want to make and how you design or plan it. I find myself doodling a lot of scrolls and s hook shapes, but nothing comes together into a nice design. It seems I either lack imagination or am unaware of what I want to make. If I did happen upon and idea of what I wanted to make, I'm not sure how to go about drawing it and setting to work making it real. Can anyone help this imagination starved smith? rvb

Bill, You don't have problems with it moving around on you? Can you share what stock it's made from? rvb

I'll echo what others here have said. I use 20 Mule Team Borax that I can get at the grocery store. I've welded some basket twists and some other things and it's worked fine.

I met someone a few months ago that has a decent anvil that's been sitting in his workshop for 5 years untouched. I didn't notice any markings on it and it appears to be about 150 or 200 pounds. It's a much nicer anvil than my harbor freight Anvil Shaped Object (ASO) and he told me to make him an offer he couldn't refuse. In a situation like this, how do you decide what's a fair offer? I don't want to insult him by making a stupid offer, but I also don't want to make an offer that is too high. Any help from you folks would be appreciated. Thanks, rvb