Richard Furrer

Examples of work without power hammer use? Most of the exhibit at the V&A ironwork gallery (though a case could be made for waterpower tilt hammers there) and in D'Allemagne's "Decorative Antique Ironwork " I think what you are looking for are examples of work done alone...if you had two friends who would not mind swinging a ten pound sledge you could do many things you can not now. Have you thought about a treadle hammer? Hydraulic press? Screw press? They do not take the place of a power hammers per se', but they will allow things to be done rather quietly and with a small foot print. Work smaller, use forge-welding and joinery (or modern electric welding)...my first teacher,Paul Marx of Madison, WI said a man with an Oxy/Acet torch could build a bridge alone...true, but it would take a while. I am VERY machine tool intensive for my normal work, but do non-electric things when requested. I use tooling and machines because I wish to extend my body's life use and work larger stock (or rather any stock I need). Ric

My longer post here two days ago seems to have been erased. In short: I have a 30hp american rotary phase converter (gentec) works good, but still not real three phase. Some motors do not like the manufactured phase. I suggest you get the real line and go from there. Three phase to me would be $46,000 so I opted for the converter and will have a natural gas fired generator making 480 volt this year. In the long run it is better to not have to worry about power...get the true three phase and be done. Ric

Patrick, Did the small bradley you have for sale sell yet? I have a 30HP american rotophase (Gentec) converter. I like it, but that 10% near phase is NOT true three phase and some motors do not like the manufactured phase. I produce near 240 volt on each line (266,239,238 last I checked) and one small motor I run has an odd amp draw.....4.8/6.5/6.8...on a five amp motor. This motor will die soon I think. It would cost me $47,000 to get three phase here so I got the conevrter. I'll soon have a generator for the 480 volt and other larger motors and may re-route it via a 480/240 transformer to the panel fed by the rotary phase. My electrical engineer really likes the idea of a genset and some of the tools I have are unpowered due to the lack of power. If the cost is anywhere near close get the real three phase line...in 480 volt. You can then run smaller wires and get surplus three phase kit for panel and such. If you need 240 volt then get a transformer. As to winning the Bigger Blacksmith Equipment Contest (BBEC)....I'd like to join in that race. Good luck with moving the new hammer. Ric

Good luck. Network in the area...find folk with tools and services you can not put in house ...and then use them. Ric

Hello All, Here is a crossover show which illustrates the historical roots of some of the more famous video game edged weapons. This show was on the Spartan Short Sword from "God of War" and how it evolved to what they use now from what they used then. My assistant is Jeff Benson of Benson Designs in Green Bay, WI http://bensondesigns.com/ The film crew came in from Hollywood and filmed for one long day. Due to the length of the show much of the info filmed in the shop had to be cut. Hard to distill it for all audiences as well so it it not a "how-to" for blades, but rather an introduction to the method. I like the concept....how digital entertainment draws from old craft. Enjoy. Ric

Nope...I make the white/grey in the beard all by myself. Ric

I have not seen closeups of the tool, but it may be welded from sections in which case the head was designed with a hole from minute one and only a drift was needed to maintain and shape the hole. Such is the method for axes. The grain flow of the metal will show you how it was made if you can find good enough photos. Ric

John, I think I understand now. Ric

very good unit you made CAL Inch pounds or 8433? That is rather a bit. What is the max reduction you can take per pass on 2" wide stock? Ric

John, I'd like to see it eat as well. What are you thinking for hammer sizes with this valving? Will it replace the current model across the board? Ric

Its kelvar coated Ric

I hippe it leads to many sales. Ric

I have no idea who John Neeman is or how the businesses he runs actually work nor particular interest in his product line HOWEVER I think what may be learned from this is that if you are in partnership with others and you are building a company around your own name...to be sure to own the name outright. One could venture, as pure supposition, that the first partnership was dissolved, but the smith could not take his name with him in his next venture. After building a brand it is not a simple thing to begin again. Ric

Well, If any are marked "shear steel" or "crucible steel" I'd buy them as samples of those two varieties of steels. I am not aware of collectible files, but folk collect all manner of things. Ric

The only issue is having a large exposed surface area IF there is a flashover when using oil. You need to be able to snuff the flame and a large area like that makes it an issue. Then again...you have a lid. Ric

Then USE the public image and lead them to what you do. Have a Japanese style blade you made and then tell them that "the British Museum and local museums are full of examples made right here in what became the UK and Europe"....."and those look like these pieces I make over here." Point out the similarities and differences and the public walks away smarter...and maybe with some of your work. It also helps to have documentation such as that BAR series publication by Brian Gilmore or the work of any of a number of British archeo-metallurgists. Let your work take advantage of the public image and imagination....the marketing has already been done for you. Spang, You can simply weld the files onto itself as well..there will be a pattern. Doing multi-part welds is a way of placing the edge material where it does the work and non-edge material where it provides body. Some of the ways of stacking the billets can be very complicated...such as the wolf-tooth style, but for now I suggest you simply get comfortable with forge-welding and then build from there. Ric

Alabama damascus has some sitting outside the building. Ric

Square tube costs more from my supplier in small sections than solid so no cost savings. Solid is easier to forge and twist as it will no collapse and the slight change in resistance to the twist is nothing to be concerned with. I would use hollow bar only if you needed the hollow (lamps with a cord) or larger sizes (above 1" say) where weight savings actually comes into play. Ric

OK...looks like I'll go buy the updated book. Ric

Harold, If your copy has the "H" style frame then we have different editions. I bought mine about 18 years ago. Ric

I have the 22 August1994 edition of the book......covers only the "C" frame model. Does the more recent printing include the "H" model? Ric

30 ton is 60,000 pounds and that divided into four corners is 15,000 per corner...assuming even loading. I have found that building tools involves more than just the math. Also..there is more than just tension loads if you side load the dies and guides become a huge issue as well. Also..will the corners be welded...how much weld? If bolts then what type and what is you fit from the hole to the bolt? Drilled holes or punched? Will the "I" beam deflects much under load (i.e. beam calculation) and what stress does that place on the corners? When it comes to life and limb I follow the belt and suspenders rule...bolt and weld....preceded by design. What is your designed in safety factor? many questions. Ric

hot acid works faster...in the winter it works almost not at all. Its 8F here and some of it freezes and you can pour off the concentrate. Tom Latane' has been vinegar soaking his work for many years. RIc

I would get rid of my telephone before my website. That said...I push hard in other areas which circle back to the web in some ways. In my business I have two things to sell...ME and my WORK...nothing else. The simple fact of having a web presence means nothing if you have no way to get folk to view the site AND items to sell. Its like a stack of business cards at a rest stop...not very useful. I put a business card in every hand that stands still long enough to hold one. Branding is important as well. If you have not contacted your local newspaper or internet news then you are not pushing you brand. The trick is not reaching the ten people who need your services and know you exist...the point is to contact the 7 billion people who do not know you exist and did not realize they need one of what you make. Side Tangent: To me it is silly to mark your work with a stamp that can not be traced. Who can trace a horseshoe or anvil with a letter near it? Or a creative use of your three initials? If you are Coca-Cola then a swooping "C" is OK cause folk know the brand, but if your name is "Carl" a "C" means nothing to others. Nike has the swoosh, but it is a Billion dollar swoosh.....if you mark your work then mark it in a way that can be traced via a simple web search or at least via a few phone calls. I see old knives with a name and city/state...good marketing if you ask me. I have a Cyril Colnik bit of iron...the only way I know it is his was because of its provenance..no mark can be seen....poor marketing. Ric

My shop is purple and green. Pink tools get stolen less. Real men can use any color they want. Ric