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I Forge Iron

ZIG

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Everything posted by ZIG

  1. Great Job, I was trying to think of something to hang on my fireplace that doesnt have a hearth. I think something like that would be just right. Thanks for sharing that. I wont tell how long it takes me to do it. What ? or Did you put anything on the metal ,like a sealer or finish . I cant tell looking on my PC. I use Bees wax mostly for inside projects. But again great job and cool design. That thing would sell very well on Ebay.
  2. Congrats on deciding to take on such a hobby. You will never run out of stuff to do or ideas. It is a craft that gives back more than you put in. The best thing is once you obtain a few tools you can do most anything you want, or will make or design another way to get the same results. Blacksmithing isnt like being a Carpenter , as far as tooling goes. A woodworker must buy so many different tools and it basically never stops thru out their career. Wood is actually alot harder to work and make things with much detail without always needing equipment you can't afford or dont have. Point being , You get a good hammer, vise, and anvil and a heat source and a grinder and you are off and running. You will have to buy a few things first, like a set of tongs probably , then after that make your own. For the price of a few pieces of flat and round stock you will be on your way. Like was said before, Tell everyone you see about your desire and itemize what you are lacking, Like I need a post vise, most folks are unaware of some of the ancient tooling we require. I was looking all over for a another anvil and after going everywhere , I stopped by my cousins house and when asked what I was out doing in there area, I found out her husband had a Peter Wright anvil just sitting in the shop, SO...... Always make a point to let everyone you see to be on the look out for you. Tell people at work , church, school, parties, everywhere you go. Go to every flea market you can and look for stuff too. Sorry for such a long post but , we have all been in your position before. So to answer the Book question, I was impressed with a few that comment on getting set-up and designing your work space and also the basic tooling you will need to get going. They both came highly recommended by ones here. The Blacksmith Craft , ( A Primer of Tools and Methods) Charles McRaven The Backyard Blacksmith ( Traditional Techniques for the Modern Blacksmith) By: Loreli Sims Both books are a great resource to have, they have sections on making your own tools ,heat treating charts, making punches, how to use material from junkyard like springs and bars to make tooling. I really liked them both and I believe if you look on this site and some others too, they have alot of reviews on them. I went to Amazon.com and you can get a preview of these books on there and they also had the best prices on them too. Again, we have all been there and I am like you , I like to know about the in's and out's and find out and read all I can on everything I do. I will say ,this site has been as good a resource for a Blacksmith , no matter what level a person is at. I have really gained alot of knowledge by reading all the good info on here , I still learn something everytime I log on Good Luck and sorry so long a post , keep us posted on you progress. You can help get Generation Next into the game .
  3. Thank you all for the replies up to date. All the flywheels are in good shape, the blower turns very well. Of course, it has alot of rust but nothing to worry about. The only thing that has any damage from being in the weather is that the tuyere is rather thin but still intact and the legs,( pipe) are in need of replacement. I have been a Boilermaker for almost 25 yrs , so any modification or repairs are not a problem. I can fabricate anything I want either at home or at work. I stopped and looked at it again today while no one was around and gave it a close look. The table wasnt quite as big as I said. but it was a rather large table to lay tools and have extra coal upon it. I turn the flywheels and they worked freely . This thing has been outside for many, many years but without any cracking or damage to the flywheels I feel it would be something to possibly hang on to , if only for an antique. As far as what it is worth, I understand the ( IF YOU THINK IT IS WORTH ) but I was just wondering what a forge of this sorts may have re-sold for in the past, or what yall may have seen in yall's travels, auctions. I am not new to the trade , only new to the this site. Which , along with all of your's many pictures of different kinda of forges , I have seen many types and design of factory built ones that I never ever had a chance to see. I thank yall for that . I appreciate everyones devotion to the craft and that is the reason I was so curious about this particular forge. I looked today to get a model number off the thing, but there wasn't anything other that Buffalo Forge , cast on the blower housing. So... I resort to the experts on this site. Because I wouldn't know where else to try to figure the age of this thing out. Need CSI I guess. LOL So......If anyone has any round about idea on what a forge of this design might be ( Basically) worth , please tell me. I am not worried about getting taken on a deal but would like some in-sight to what is possibly the average price range for an item of this age and design. Other than replacing the leather flat belt , I could fire it today and feel good about it doing the job. I wouldn't use this forge for my work , but believe I can get it for under $200. I was wondering about the age of this item , just for my own account of it. Because I feel when people come to my shop they would ask and I would kinda like to have some sense of how old it was. I am sorry for my vague description of this and asking so many questions to boot. I believe it is somewhere between 1875 to 1900's, I would like someone to elaborate on this style for me, like what would you call this system it would be actually called. That is what I would really like to know . I hate I dont have pictures right now, so bear with me on my descriptions. Didnt figure there were to many still around with the pull down handle and flywheels exposed like that. But I am not a forge expert and have only seen a few in person that I believed to be made in the 1800's . Thanks for all you help so far. I have really learned alot on this site and am proud to be allowed to see yall work ,shops, forges, designs. I have really enjoyed reading all your post. Thanks in advance for all yall's help.
  4. Sorry for the confusion, What I meant was that the table was one solid piece of cast with the tuyere on the left hand side. Table is approx. 30" X 36". It is a Buffalo model with the blower operated by pulling straight down on a handle. Not a rotary system. But when you pull this wooden handle it works these flywheels with exposed gears on them . I researched and found some old ad's for this table and I believe it was one of the first designs Buffalo came out with. The flywheels are are moved by the handle of course, yet they normally came with a leather flat belt drive that eventally turned the impeller. I know I am vague on my descriptions but I wasnt able to take any pictures at that time. I have tried to describe it as best I could , so I apologize for my un-educated post. But was hoping I might get close enough in my rant to get some advice upon what this thing might be worth. I know that it only produces a burst of air on the down stroke. Therefore , it would be SUPER labor intensive, but seeing how it was possibly one of the original models developed by Buffalo I thought it would be wise to invest in it just to have. I was just wondering if anyone else might have purchased one like this or seen one at a sale or on display somewhere. If anyone could give me some advice as to what it is worth that would be greatly appreciated . I hope I have explained my situation a little better than before. Thanks in advance for you time and feedback.
  5. Sorry I dont have pictures yet , but let me explain what I have found. It is a very old hand crank Buffalo with a large cast table. Now the difference is, thta is a hand crank but has all the big gear system/flywheels under the table . The handle for the blower is on the left side and above the the table. The opening and clinker breaker seems to be rather flush with the bottom of the table. Not sure if it is missing some part of that or not, Maybe yall can tell me. Point is , what would it be worth, Oh yeah it seems that the gear or flywheel , is belt driven. I tried to get it to move but couldnt , but I didnt try to hard. I would like to know what yall think about it and what would somwthing like that be worth, and also, can anyone give me some kinda time line on how old this thing would be. I would love to have it and will speak to the man that owns it. But I would really like to have it just to have , I imagine it is rather old, but I dont know much about them. It had a flywheel system much like a old foot operated sewing machine, if yall have ever seen one of them. I appreciate your help and hope yall might be able to date this for me and tell me more about it. Thanks in advance
  6. Thanks Dave, I called them today and they dont sell it in a bag. Plus it is over 9 hours away to go get it. Does anyone else know of somewhere else I might could purchase it or go get it that aint so far. I would drive up a pretty good ways to haul it on a trailer, but 9 hours one way is a little far. Hope to hear back from some of yall soon, I thank you in advance for you help. Really nice folks on this site and I know yall have got the expericence to help someone like me. God Bless you all
  7. Pretty cool, I like the way that looks like a old timey forge
  8. I will introduce my self, My name is Mark Seaton but ZIG has been my nickname all my life. I am a Union Boilermaker and have worked for TVA for the past 24 years. I served my apprenticeship long ago and I operate the boiler shop at work. I work on the same equipment that my Grandaddy worked on when the place was built in the late 40's. Just to mention , within my family I have over 10 Blacksmiths going back to the late 1800's. My great Grandaddy was the resident Blacksmith in the area I live. I have many of his handmade tools . I had several great uncles that where Blacksmiths that moved in the 40's to other parts of the state. They in turn pasted the trade on to their son's. I am in the process of re-creating my Grandaddy's old shop just like he had it in the early 1900's . Yet I will have electricity. I will post pictures when I am done. I live in Eva, TN right on the Tenn River. I am a extremely dedicated waterfowler and fisherman. But I have always wanted to build a shop like this to pay homage to my ancestors. I was lucky enough to have my Grandaddy , who was a Blacksmith and Boilermaker too, serving both apprenticeships , show many of the old ways his father and uncles had shown him. He is gone now and I just want to get back to the basic's and hopefully teach my children something. Because I dont wish them to work in my profession. But hope to instill this art in them if only for the history of it. I love this site and appreciate yall having me. Any Blacksmith's that live anywhere around , please holler at me . I would love to hopefully, come check your shop out and maybe get some ideas . But most of all I would like to hear of some deals on equipment. I am in need of somethings and would like to do this shop right.
  9. I am willing to drive cross state or out of state also. I am not able after a disability to make my own charcoal anymore but never want to get away from my solid fuel forge. I actually live in North West Tenn, in Benton County. Camden is the county seat, if that helps give you some direction. I dont mind buying in bulk if it is more efficent that way. Basically, WHERE DO YALL GET YALL"S COAL FROM AND HOW MUCH IS IT?
  10. I live in Eva,Tenn. that is on west bank of the Tenn River. I would like to find some coal to use that I can go get or have delivered for a good price. Not meant to be only for people from Tenn to answer. All local Blacksmiths , TN, KY IL AL GA MO Please give me some direction or info on where yall get your coal at ans how much. I will drive to save a buck, but need your opinions. Thanks in advance for your help.
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