tlreif

I agree the extintion of any craft is not good. I love my gadgets but I must say they are the big problem. But by the same token they will be the undoing of things. And us craftsmen will be called upon once again.

I have been monitoring this post. I have to agree with all the very good advice you have gotten. Now I am not a gun smith but my father was. I spent many an hour sitting on a stool right next to him as he worked. Dad was very talented and ventured into making his own black powder guns. Now you say you would like to make a gun out of a rr spike ? May i suggest a safer design? You see my father never made his own barrels just everything else. He purchased the barrel stock and machined it to his needs. so I was thinking if you want the novelty of a rr spike why not find the barrel stock and use the spike for the hand grip and breech? Here are some pics of a set of bootleg pistols my father made. I could see the spike fitting in a design like this.

Please be aware everyone that I am not trying to undermine the great advice. But if the man is going to do it then this may be a safer alternative.

And by the way, please find help from an experienced gunsmith before you press on with the project.

How do you forget someone gave you a lathe? Lol

Pretty good for your first one. The next one twist more. It will make a more prominent diamond. Remember the formula. Twist x times. Untwist 1/3. You got it!

Do you suppose they were having a discussion about that new fan dangled thing that holds the work by turning a screw? Or someone just didn't like the smell and or the heat that coal made? Or whatever the new gadget was. The thing to remember here is the fact that an arc welder doesn't just put a weld down by osmosis. Whatever the tool is that we say is not traditional still has one thing in common with just about any other tool and that is it still takes a human to operate it. Just because someone owns a welder does not mean they know how to use it properly. It is still a skill set that needs to be learned. So you use a welder, It is still joined together by hand. It took hands to guide the weld. IMO.

As posted in another thread I picked up my second Iron City Post vice this last weekend. I did not know it was an iron city vice until tonight when I was bead blasting the rust and crud off of it. This makes the second Iron City vice that I own.

I was wondering if anyone knew when Iron City stopped making these. And about how long the company was in business.

So this new one is a 100 pound 6 inch vice. and the other is a 60 pound 5 inch. And I also have a 40 pound 4 inch but I don't know who made that as there are no markings on it. Thanks

You might also try local blacksmith clubs. I just bought a 100 pound 6 inch Iron City vise from a club member for 50 bucks this weekend. It is complete and in very good condition.

This is very nice! I like it. The base is that two halves joined together? If you would, tell us how you did it.

Wee my score turned into a bust. The threads are left hand. I suppose I could use it but it would weird. Oh well guess I have to purchase. Story of my life! Lol

I use a pallet jack to move my flypress and anvil around. You can buy new for 200 bucks. It was a good investment.

The stakes were long enough I thought they needed some decoration. Lol. But I have to believe that it would help the holding power as well.

Just a little quickie. I have been volunteering at Old Cow Town Museum. The Blacksmith used to be a paid position. But with budget cut backs it is now volunteer. They contacted our club for help so I volunteered. This is the second weekend I have worked the shop. Both times they have requested tent stakes. I made these a little longer than the last ones as per their request. It takes about 15 minutes to forge one and is really a good demo for the public to watch. They can connect with the product and are willing to watch from beginning to end. Not that this is anything special but, seems to be a good demo project. Here are some pics.

Thanks for this thread, I just got a call last week to come up with some forged curtain rods and was meaning to research them a bit. The customer was wondering how to hang the curtains in a pre-1900 fashion. Tireif, what are those grommets? We were thinking about some kind of loop with a hook, but then wondering how to fix the fabric to them.

I wish I could say i did those. But the grommets were molded into the curtains. I was prepared to make the very thing you mentioned a loop with a hook. Great minds think alike right? But the kids had the curtains picked out before I finished the project and actually communicated with me what they had gotten! How weird is that? Right?

Well, when was the last time Artists were universally liked, respected or revered? I take Artist to mean that I do the best I can and people are able to hold their own opinions as I do for much of the "art" out there.

Regards,
Tim

P.S. Thank you tlreif (Todd) for starting this thread, discussion is always good and I have seen only people sharing opinions here, no flames.

You are welcome! I do what I can. LOL! I have enjoyed the opinions of each and every one that has responded. It just seemed like a relevant question for our time.

I have done some demonstrating at a museum here in town and they put up my name on the door of the shop and gave me the title of blacksmith. That is what got me to thinking about this subject.

That is a very nice curtain rod! I made some for my sons wedding gift. I made them like peacock said at 2 1/2 inches. Here is what I came up with.

I am enjoying the response very much. This is exactly the discussion I was hoping for.

I too tend to lean to Monsters point of view. I do many things every day in my job to make a living. I may be tig welding one day, machining a part the next day, or wiring a control panel the next day, or doing some control programming the next. And then come home and light a fire and move some iron to make something. Its all good.

Now I know you are thinking "what kind of a stupid question is that?" But if you stop for a moment and think about it you may be surprised at your own answer. I realize that there is a certain definition of a Blacksmith. But does that really fit you? How long does it take to be called a Smith?

Your answers may range from very humorous to very serious. I welcome all responses.

I pose this question because I have been introduced as a Blacksmith. Am I?
Truly? I have never studied under anyone. Never had lessons. I have watched very intently several fine Smiths. Have watched DVD's on the subject and talked to people about it. You could say that I am self taught. I have spent many hours in the past 6 years (thats how long I have been doing this)as have all of you heating metal and watching how it moves when struck. So I can learn and make it move how I want it to.

I really like being a Blacksmith if thats what I am. So think hard and share your thoughts with the rest of us.

Nice banana hanger! Here is a couple of pics of the one i make. I have sold a ton of these! I think all the houses in my neighborhood has one. LOL!

I bought from this guy several years ago when I made my freon tank forge. He is very nice to work with and they have most anything you need as maddog says. I am about ready to get some more board from him. Gotta get started on that heat treating oven.

Nice! Very practical. Thanks for sharing with us!

Nice video! Thank you for taking the time to do that. It was very informative. I will defiantly try that. I hope you don't mind.

Yes Maddog it does seem like the cosmos is trying to tell me something. More likely get off that fat rear end and do something!! I don't know what it is lately . I just can't seem to get into much. Maybe this will get me moving. This and the guy that did the airbrush work on my power hammer is calling in the favor. I have to front hinge the hood on his dodge truck.

Score! We were straightening up a corner of the shop that hasnt been touched in the 13 years that I have worked there and sitting on a shelf that was buried was several acme threaded rods from various machines. I picked out the largest one which was 1.250 and it had a heavy steel nut with it. Asked the boss about it and he said it had come from some old lathe. the best part is he said I could just have it. So i guess I know how im going to fix the vice!

Man pat! That is one beutiful shop! I wish I had a place like that. I would love to see more pictures of it.

As for me in my shop. I heat with kerosene until the gas forge takes over and I also heat a plate to warm the anvil. I keep the garage door down with about a 2 inch crack and I have a small exhaust fan for ventilation.

Thanks John. After reading my reply, I hope you didn't take offense. That was not my intention. I could see where it came off slightly smarty pants. Believe me I am not that way.