Countryboy39067

getting ready for Brian Brazeal's visit next weekend working on the shop and making a few tools

Gonna attempt to make a few rr spike fredricks crosses.

Did I miss the coat rack suggestion? You DO wear a coat or rain gear every once in a while don't ya? A free standing one is good but trickier than it seems to get right and can really put a dent in the floor or your foot if it falls over which happens if loaded unbalanced. I like a wall mounted unit myself, a series of coat hooks on a board that's screwed to the wall. They're much easier, take up less space, look as nice as you make them and don't fall over very often.

Oh yeah, have you asked your girlfriend for ideas?

Frosty the Lucky.

"101 Metal Projects for the Novice Blacksmith" by Al Cannella
"Geschmiedetes Gerät" by Fritz Kühn
"Practical Projects for the Blacksmith" by Ted Tucker
"Hooks Rings and other Things" by Frank T. Barnes

http://www.turleyforge.com Granddaddy of Blacksmith Schools

For those down under in NSW Australia this is where I get my coke - http://www.illawarracoke.com.au/
Just picked some up yetserday at $400 a ton - so 3 * 60 Liter garbage bins cost $40.

It sounds like the same techniques used in making chainmail would help.

Where did you hear that?

I have added stove black to it as well if you want it darker finish

"I agree. As a nation we are even selling the water from the Great Lakes to China!!! "

Which nation? The Great Lakes belong to two nations, Canada and the USA, and are regulated by the International Joint Commission, which was set up over a 100 years ago to deal with issues such as water export. However as of 2002 with the International Boundary Waters Treaty Act it is in fact illigal to remove more than 50 million cubic meters at a time. Bulk tankers hauling water to China was proposed in the 90's but it didn't happen.

http://www.annarbor.com/news/opinion/we-need-to-stop-the-exportation-of-water-from-the-great-lakes-to-china/


As a footnote, there is a move in Alaska to sell water to China in bulk tankers, but I don't think this has happened yet either, only proposed.

I do a mix of linseed oil, turpentine, bees wax and japan dry. No sticky problem.

I suppose depending on how rural your new home is will dictate the building permits. They are nonexistent out in the sticks here in central Mississippi. Might I suggest building a lean-to structure. Depending on your lots size, you can add on to a lean-to with ease. It can be widened by building another stall and by building onto the high side of the pitched roof, making it a two pitch roof like most homes. Crushed granite or pea gravel is in my mind best for the floor due to it's forgiveness of the sore feet syndrome, not effected by moisture, and keeps you from tracking in dirt into the home leading you to having to sleep in the smithy.!! Lol. The more light the better. I wired my smithy with 3 rows of lights. Each row on a separate switch so I can shade any part of the shop for accurate metal temp colors. Good luck!

As long as the strands are not broken the possibilities are endless. The broken strands will make the blade look not as clean after the etch but could cause cold shuts in the weld. A cable blade is so welded, twisted and hammered that any stress it received in it's previous life will be forged out. A good guide on forging cable is in the book "The Complete Bladesmith" by Jim Hrisoulas. Be sure it's all steel and not the fibercore type. Happy hammering!!!

If the metal was sparking you were at and beyond white hot. The sparks indicate your actually "burning" the steel.

I used an old inner tube for a rear wheel of a tractor. I just doubled it over to get four layers, sat my anvil on top, used a utility knife and trimmed it around the anvil base, then finished it off by hammering in and bending bridge nails around the feet to keep it from walking. Very little ring from my #100 Hay Budden now.

Brake drum forges as well as other home built or store bought forges will allow you to forge a knife and sword. You work section by section from the point to hilt when making these items. Heating this one section at a time is the normal process. The forge size becomes an issue when you heat treat the near finished blade. Most smiths build a specific forge for this that will heat the entire blade at one time for hardening and tempering. Pictures and articles that cover this are all over the Internet. You also can purchase books or videos to help you. My personal favorites include The $50 Knifeshop and The Complete Bladesmith by Dr. Jim Hirsoulas (forgive the spelling JPH) he is known as JPH here on iforgeiron. Happy Hammering!!!

Correct me if I'm wrong but using coke instead of coal would save coking time, less contaminates in forge welding, and less clinkers. I realize that one must have the following- larger holes in the air screen and an electric blower. I am installing an electric blower when I wire the smithy and since I built my forge I see no issue with enlarging the air holes. Any info or opinions?

down here I payed $300.00 for a half a ton. On NPR last week said the demand for our coal has gone up and we are starting to export to you guest it China

It's not a conspiracy, but it seems like it. About 20 years ago, a man in the coal business told me that coal going abroad is sold in train load lots and 100,000 ton lots. At that time, most was being shipped to Japan for their blast furnaces. It's the age old story of making more money by selling in bulk. Take steel for example. Can a little guy afford to buy enough steel to get a price break?

http://www.turleyforge.com Granddaddy of Blacksmith Schools

No such blessing have I ever witnessed. My reasoning is this. A ton of coke for $390 plus shipping of $136 for a total of $526 is cheaper than I could travel to any active mine from my hometown. Why do I plan to purchase a ton? I believe it's the best option due to the dwindling supply and ever increasing price of coal/coke. Thanks for posting on my thread. I look forward to taking a class one day.

I can get coal up the road in Utah for $130 a ton. I need to contact the company he gets it from to get an analysis. He had it in small bits to big ol chunks. I looked it over in the stalls, and I didn't see anything much in the way of sulfur veins.

It really bugs the crap out of me how companies sell to
other countries, and it jacks our prices up here at home so much. Coal, steel, cement, etc.. I say take care of the home base first, keep us competitive.

Are you a member of the Mississippi Forge Council? Membership is $25 and they sell coal to their membership. They have it shipped to Jackson.

Best of luck.

Mark
I was a member, but for various reasons I'm not renewing.

I got a quote from L brand coke. Shipped to my work place one ton for $526. Not a bad deal in my book.

Is seems like everytime I ask where someone is getting their coal, where can I get a ton, or any question about coal I either get no answer or someone suggest I switch to gas. I'm not angry at all. I'm just trying to get supplies. I live in central Mississippi. The only company I've found selling coal in #50 bags up to a ton is Buck Ice and Coal in Columbus, GA. I plan to call them soon but I'm somewhat gun shy since this is the only company I found willing to sell one ton to a private citizen. I'm willing to drive to other states. I feel I'll get a better deal buying by the ton than ordering by the bag and having it shipped. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

I'm not trying to be a smart mouth, but you can build or forge everything you listed in this request. You can make a huge forge with the pan from a wheel barrow. You can forge your own tongs to meet your needs. It's a proud moment when you look around at what you created, using what you created. Yes it will take more time than money, but you can customize for your own needs. The $50 Knife shop is a great book to help in this area. Check out the blueprint section of this website and anvilfire.com as well. Best of luck and be sure to post pictures of your work.

I recently hauled 2200 pounds of coal in my short bed full size gmc pickup.

Holy cow! As a bonus, you can rent it out as an apartment when work is slow!