SLAG

Mr. JRM ..., If the obstruction is a problem using your left hand may solve it. Left hand hammering is not very hard, it requires less precision than other tasks. Alternatively, you can do such hammering when situated at the other end of the anvil. SLAG.

Mr. Ewert, Those tongs are lovely. Another use for them is as holders for steel punches. I remember that on line stores sell them. They have a good picture of them on their site. Regards, SLAG.

Mr. Frosty, Even though plutonium is very toxic and mutagenic, it is not as poisonous as most people would think. It goes through the digestive system very quickly*, before much of its radiation is absorbed in the body. But the plutonium infested poop is a different matter. For example such plutonium laden poop, in the compost could cause long term problems if the growing crops are fertilized with same. In other words, do not play with the element** nor put the ensuing poop in your compost pile! Just Sayyin', SLAG. * average time is forty eight hours. ** plutonium is a man made element and very hard to come by.

Mr. Charly, Welcome to the fraternity. Beautiful work, SLAG.

Mr. T.P., Scale makes great material to cover and melt ice, too. SLAG.

Mr. T. P., Lots of pectin AND calcium ions. You might be able to buy some of them ions at the drugstore. SLAG.

Mr. IDFACW, I agree with you. The site has just got a lot more impersonal. The site improvements are hardly improvements. They are "schlimbesserungen". I miss all the old pictures that got erased a few years back. Saints preserve us from further such improvements. Respectfully submitted, SLAG. I miss being styed a "junior member". It took years off my life!

Two very notable ammonia nitrate explosions, in the past, were, 1) Opau explosion at a BASF plant in Opau, Germany, September 21, 1921That blast killed 561 people. And, 2) Texas City, April, 16, 1947 which killed 581 people. After the latter blast , ANFO* was seriously studied as a 'safe' cheap industrial explosive. The cost was so low that nitrated explosives, were quickly eclipsed, and mostly driven out of the blasting market. Accidental ANFO explosions are unfortunately fairly common. Try, List of ammonium nitrate disasters - Wikipedia For a list of many of them. Regards to all the Iron banger fraternity, SLAG. *ammonium nitrate fuel oil.

Mr. F. F., Why must the quillions be symmetrical. Good job! Forge away SLAG.

Mr. Patrick, I just into this thread. Your description of various cast irons is a "tour de force". I have "bookmarked" it for further reference. thank you very much for posting it. SLAG.

George, Some of that city might be a slum? Regards, SLAG.

John, Have you tried out elevator counter weights. The have made good hold downs, for me, in the past. And the price could not be beat. SLAG.

Mr. Kian, I will vouch for Mr. Dragon, He does good work. SLAG.

Mr. Powers, Thank you for that. The answer is somewhere in my notes. but your suggestion is more likely to yield results. SLAG.

Folks, I checked through my files for further information. And these are some of the additional details concerning Huntsman's crucible steel process. He used coke to heat the steel crucibles. This brought the temperature up to 2.900 degrees F. (1,600 degrees C). That temperature melted the steel to produce a homogeneous mass in about three hours. The vessels were sealed with clay so as to exclude air. A coal fire could not get to that high a temperature. I am still searching for the flux that he used. Stay tuned for further bulletins, SLAG.

Huntsman had first worked in the glass making trade. So he was familiar with the glassmaking furnaces they used and they were run very much hotter than the standard iron and steel furnaces that were in current use. And he used those higher temperatures to make crucible steel. He also used the flux that the glassmakers used. It's identity escapes me for the moment. (I'll look for it later tonight). SLAG.

Late breaking news. Foundry explodes. check out, 8 injured at mill after furnace used to melt steel explodes (msn.com) SLAG.

Chaps, Thank you all for your service. I'll a glass of scotch for all of you, and especially for those who never came home. SLAG.

Mr. BRV, Is the "softer fibrous material" asbestos? And if so, please fix it Asap. SLAG.

Satori san, Greetings and welcome from the banks of the Mississippi. (St. Louis). SLAG.

Mssrs. Hrisoulis, and JHCC, It looks like Greek to me! Translation please ? ? ? Regards, SLAG.

For those interested in the subject. Check out the Gilgamesh Epic, and the flood story. And, also, Dr. Finkelstein's translations of some of the British Museum's vast collection of cuneiform tablets. (more than 400,00 tablets).. SLAG.

Ms. Vicky, You are welcome. SLAG.

SLAG, Here, The above search suggestions are good. Also, the local historical society, library, newspaper archives, old city directories, and genealogy society may be of further help. Cheers folks. SLAG Woops, Mr. T. P. suggested some of my suggestions before me.

Mr. George N M, The 'acoustic' hand mower may, indeed, be seriously retro. But it is a great and cheap exercise machine. Folks try it, you'll love it. Regards, SLAG.