SLAG

Citizens, Permit me to add a bit of trivia tidbit to the conversation. The tendency for 'real' wrought to have layers of ferrous silicate spicules, in it, made it rust resistant. The use of wrought iron was continued for sea-side bridges, continued many years after it fell out of favor for other construction, elsewhere. Those wrought iron bridges did not deteriorate as fast as steel bridges Some of the members, here, have capitalized from that situation by collecting, or scavenging, or even buying the demolished bridge scrap and selling it to other smiths. I bought some of it from a chap, here, on I-forge a while back. Lovely stuff. SLAG.

John, Thank you. You are ever helpful, and always a gentleman. SLAG.

JHCC, This man is a national treasure! Such sagacity ! , Such enthusiasm ! Such wisdom ! Many thanks for the video. And (seriously), keep them coming. SLAG.

Lieber Herr Frosty, I thought the energy from the sun was due to a fusion thermonuclear reaction. Mein Gott! Could I be wrong? SLAG.

Mr. Tlee, It would help, identification if you posted a picture of the other (obverse?) side. Also coin catalogues will help. (the library should have a copy). SLAG.

Mr. Veyser, George N.M., has suggested two reliable forge video authors. Namely, JLP services Inc. and Black Bear Forge. They are both excellent. And there is an I Forge list of reliable video authors that are good too. Try the pinned article called "A collection of blacksmithing links on u tube" for many more. I suggest that you stick to the smiths in that thread. Utube allows anyone to add videos, and many of them are error riddled junk. Some desperately dangerous. (e.g. how about plaster of Paris lined gas forges!) (Yikes). Good luck with the thread. It's an embarrassment of riches. Oh yes, welcome to the group. SLAG.

Folks, W. R. T. means "with respect to". I had to look it up, and guessed that some others might not be in the know too. SLAG. Great job Thomas. That must have been very satisfying.

Folks, Great tips for cleaning off scale. Good job. One other reason for maintaining a substantially clean anvil surface is, that scale, (iron oxide) is that that scale particles are way harder than than the iron or steel that we are hammering. Particles of scale can end up in the metal being forging. It can cause problems in the forged steel. And it's a swine to get out. Regards, (fellow iron bangers). SLAG.

T. P., Great eye news. Be careful. Drive safe. SLAG.

Mr. J907... , Welcome to the group. Clay behaves, moves ,and responds in a similar manner way as hot steel. (when at pliable temperatures). A good skill to develop is hammer technique. Check it out in the threads on this site, and then it into practice. You can practice with a hammer and wooden surface, at the right height There are a good number of smiths in Anchorage, Ak. There are also smiths in FBX. too. (there was even a chap located in Point Barrow a while back). Look up Frosty, of Wasilla Ak. on this site. He should be able to answer some of your questions. Regards, SLAG.

Daswulf, Allow me to hazard a guess. The video environs suggests one of the Island in the West Indies. Regards, and thanks for your reply. SLAG.

Das. Thanks: that's a great video. And a neat bellows. Very clever. Do you know where this gentleman is situated? SLAG.

GNM., That's what guns are for? SLAG.

Herr Frosty, If you had been mauled, That fool boss could have ended up in jail for a long time. Also, a civil court could have awarded you enough money that he might have had to sell his assets. As a policemen he should have known better. SLAG.

RSF., Phone the Department of Agriculture of your state for a good reference. Also the Federal Govt. has great websites. Don't forget books. For example, The Missouri Dept. of Conservation has a wonderful tree book. Other states also, have good resources. (e.g. Wisconsin, NJ., Minn. etc. counterparts) University botany or agricultural schools can put you on the right track. Happy hunting, SLAG.

RSF, It is easier to identify the species of the hardwood by saving a twig with some leaves on it. The leaves make identification much easier. If you have to, tape them to the log. Or take photos showing the leaf, (top and bottom), the branch and the way the leaves attach to the tree. Identification is done by using a "key". Check "key" up in wiki and then search for an on line key (ideally for identifying trees). Alternatively show the pictures to a botanist or wood worker. Hope that helps, SLAG.

John, It was a moving experience. SLAG.

Mr. Powers, OOPS! you let the cat out of the bag. Your dastardly plot has been divulged. We are on to your camouflage subterfuge now! Regards, Desert Dweller. SLAG.

JHCC, It looks like it might be patentable. Just Sayyin', SLAG

Mr. Frosty, Concerning your expressed desire to recruit a crew for snow ball barrage at lederhosen and Hawaiian types. Do not forget to exercise your first amendment right to bear .... SLAG.

JMS, Congratulations! Take good care of the young lady. Enjoy your kids as time goes by like a flash. SLAG.

Mr. Goods, Would you please suggest a good instructional video teaching the s-hook making for the newer blacksmiths here? Thanks, SLAG.

S & B. F., Look up the ABANA organization site for one of their affiliates near you. You will find a power hammer and expertise that you seek. Welcome aboard. SLAG.

Mr. Nacho ..., Stick around. There is a lot of great information and also expertise on this site. We all had to start somewhere, (usually on the ground floor) and had to learn things, and we all initially made a lot of mistakes. Some of the old hands at this business still make some mistakes. Actually, if we don't make mistakes we have stopped learning. The people, here, are generous and do want to help others, especially those just starting off. SLAG.

Folks, The word "kersplat" is excellent. SLAG suggests that the formal phrase for academic purposes should be "explosive effulgence". Respectfully submitted, SLAG.