Steve Shimanek
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Everything posted by Steve Shimanek
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My wife is jealous:)
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I have reached out via the "Contact Us" feature which seems to be the only way to reach him; I was also advised by the mod who removed my URL to read the Terms Of Service.....after a long search, under which title nothing was found, I located the site guidelines. Apparently it is ok to share websites (unless it is your own) except it is ok to have your own URL in the signature line (which i do not)....perhaps it is my brain damage, but that is a bit confusing to me.
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Well apparently I have stepped in it again, 2 strikes against me, maybe this will be my 3rd and i am out. My intention was only to share my site for feedback and contact; never anticipated any financial incentive on a blacksmith site to "advertise". My main purpose is for artistic therapy to deal with my issues as a disabled US Army veteran; thanks for the PTSD spike over this. Sorry to rock such a tippy boat.
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Nice bee score, I would like to have hives here, but just have wild ones around here. I did have a swarm of yellowjackets that have been trying to set up housekeeping in my shop, so i have been at war with them.
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went live 1 July 2019; it will be a work in progress as i learn to use the Squarespace features I used to make the website. I have put some biographical info and photos with a couple of short videos on the site; comments welcome. Advertisement removed
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Hello Son of Ander, I am sure there must be a smithing group near you that can help you get started. Welcome.
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Broad Ax Repair?
Steve Shimanek replied to gmbobnick's topic in Axes, Hatchets, Hawks, Choppers, etc
I think I would use that as a model to replicate a new one and keep the original as is. -
I like goats; unfortunately there are none in this island, the locals ate all the ones the Navy brought in long ago. The next island over is a separate country, and due to USDA regs we can't import from there. Hopefully after some things get settled i can get a few; I have lots of weeds for them to eat.
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I did some research once, if i remember it was saying that PT cable is about .70 carbon; I found some in a scrap yard and made a knife out of some. It was a 7 strand cable, and it was harder to forge weld it together than the crane cable with many smaller strands, so i didn't mess with any more of it. It can be done though.
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Converting an inverted hydraulic press into a light-duty forging press
Steve Shimanek replied to JHCC's topic in Presses
Looking good, what are the dies going to be made from? -
What did you do in the shop today?
Steve Shimanek replied to Mark Ling's topic in Blacksmithing, General Discussion
Very nice, what material did you use? -
Broken Back Anvil
Steve Shimanek replied to Drongo96's topic in Repairing and Modification to Anvils
An anvil is a great tool to have; knowing how to use it is even better. The horn is good for bending and rounding; the step is good for getting 90 degrees bends started and other things (some smiths use it for cutting); the edges along the top can be ground to various radii and forged against to produce shapes, and the top for general forging. Have fun! -
Pretty sure Valley Forge is the right call; my mentor uses those as he knows the owner. The burner tube is a good identification aspect.
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Broken Back Anvil
Steve Shimanek replied to Drongo96's topic in Repairing and Modification to Anvils
I do not think so; you would be removing good hardened steel from the face, and a flat top is not really needed along the whole face. Most forging is done near the step behind the horn, as that is typically the place with the most mass. A slight dip may even be useful to help straighten pieces. -
Broken Back Anvil
Steve Shimanek replied to Drongo96's topic in Repairing and Modification to Anvils
I second the motion to use it as is; if it fell off it must not have been needed,haha. Get a swage block, ASO, etc for your hardy tools. Welcome to IFI. -
CDCO Machinery is another decent supplier I have ordered from, in addition to Enco/MSC. I recommend investing in quick change tool holders, it is a more rigid set up and saves time when doing multiple operations.
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My mentor's Bull and Phoenix hammers have the warning labels "Danger, Engage Brain Before Use"
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I am not a farrier, but my blacksmithing mentor is, and he had me make some shoes to learn something of the principals. For a seemingly simple object, a horseshoe is more complex than it would seem. I was really pleased when he nailed one of mine on the horse we were working on with just a few cursory taps on the anvil. There are a lot of projects that can be done with old horseshoes, like hooks, brackets, bookends, hoof cleaners, and more.
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Very nice!
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Exactly Frosty, if I tried and failed in the repair i would have had to make a new one anyway. As only the sacond chisel I have done, I have learned a few things by this evolution; O1 is hard stuff and doesn't yield easily. (Glenn has explained my social gaff as having failed to anticipate some theoretical parent's embarrassment in having to explain to a child what my phrase meant. I can live with learning new ways of social engagement.) Thank you for acknowledging my service; I was not an Army Ranger, I only spent 11 days trying to be one The jump did me in.......
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Sure is, that's why I put on my xxxxxxxxxxxxx and welded it instead of hammering out a new one......as a disabled vet I need to make all my efforts count.
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I guess it happened....first time in a good while i had the TIG attached to the welder. Tacked it up, then preheated with a MAPP torch, and finished welding it, then put it in the vermiculite bucket to slow cool. I didn't need to reheat treat the working portion, since it didn't get hot enough to change the temper. It even withstood the accidental drop test.
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If I start over, the same thing could happen; plus all the labor i already put into it will be lost. or, I can see if my recent repair of my gas solenoid worked on the TIG unit, weld on a handle, and use the chisel to finish the shirasaya for the sword I am polishing......option B works for me. Scrap pile is pretty big already
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So maybe TIG weld on a mild steel handle after preheat, stick it in the forge, then into some vermiculite for a slow cool, then reharden the chisel tip?
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I forged out a bent handle chisel from O1 stock, but had cracks at the point where the handle met the chisel body, which I gas welded with ER70s rod. The cracking continued to be a problem, but I thought i had it whipped until I was trying to rivet the end of the tang on the handle, and the whole handle fell off. i want to save the work I did; any advice on welding on a tang? I have gas, stick, and TIG equipment available.