ianinsa

I think not having a door might cause more of a 'privacy ' issue?

Try plumblink

I'm going to chip in my 2 cents worth here, firstly have you thought about changing your location? Going somewhere where your current qualification is still valid(so you can still have a paying day job) and where there are still active blacksmiths? That way you can possibly take a three day drafting/electrical engineering job and a three day work to learn job? You are still young enough to live in youth hostels and shared digs. Thus an opportunity to travel, have fun , learn and experience more of the fun parts of life. Furthermore when put on your cv this way it will indicate a spirit of adventure rather than a reckless dreamer.

Would said mutant snipe convert Thomas to snippets? @ the OP bare in mind that language use and the meaning and connotation can change quite rapidly even in good old ZA le. Not many years ago if you told your buddy you are going to Cape town to march with pride to the castle they would have thought it was some military thing, Today not so much! As for weather something is "local custom " or plain wrong is based on your cultural interpretation. what your dad 'accepts now may cause him great distress/upset later if he finds out otherwise later, think about it long and hard before you BS him. When I was 17 I thought my dad was quite Dumd and by 22 I was amazed at just how much he had learnt in 5 years sort of thing!

Getting better all the time thanks. The doctors have cleared me to drive so I'm doing 30 minutes of gym virtually every day and I'm no having difficulty walking a mile at a time. Sarah is' not happy with me returning to Johannesburg to work on my own though yet! I need to review this once a week.? Thanks for asking hank keep well friends.

Thanks for the well wishes Kevan

This is good news friend I hope and pray that you guys go from strength to strength!

Hard to believe it but there are atomic powered naval craft measuring speed in knots!

Hi, Michael I am also on the highveld like Kevin I'm in contact with some of the other south African blacksmiths as well. I'm able to help with hard TO obtain stuff and have a large shop. I'm recovering from a hemorrhagic stroke at present but you can email me ian214(at)live.com

Ooh this gets to be a heated/strained discourse quite quickly my home in Durban has electro polished 316 balustrades on the front balcony the house is supposedly within the 100 meter/ yard line of the surf at high tide it needs to be polished every few weeks to prevent "Furring" not rust as in brown scale but pale gray oxidization. This was certainly not my first s/s rodeo and at a not inconsiderable expense I took every precaution to do it right. Since learned.... 316 great acid resistance ...salt not as good so I've tried a 200 series especially imported from Sweden for some floor drains when I've recovered i'l post my findings. S/s can be most interesting and Alan forges beautiful stuff from it

3cr12 is just such an animal. Yet even 316 will rust/corrode on the beach. Anyhow it wasn't the "look" the client wanted so forge then pickle and pasivate then sandblast then powerboat matt black then technique with baroque art paste then clear powder coat over that. Yes I charged accordingly.

My experience with powder coating has been good once I found the right crowd! Also bear in mind that there are dozens of products and textures. Also some are uv resistant and some not if you want good adhesion you have to sandblast No Question! My product of choice is Interpol D . My most aggressive aplication was on the beach(beach umbrella stands in 3Cr12) on beach sand at the One And Only Royal Mirage Jumera Dubai.5years and still OK

F.F. I like the look of the railing ! However I have done work in many countries and all seem to require a top rail on or about 1050mm high and may nay allow the passage of a ball 115 (4") or thereabouts to prevent the "capturing" of children's heads. What's the case your side? Regards i

Great news there Charles, keep us updated. Ps. When you get the rabbits skinning beats plucking every time

Charles you and Sandy are in my thoughts and prayers, you know depression kills more than just enthusiasm. While lying in hospital myself I remembered some woods of a poem learnt eons ago in school and completely forgotten till then "Do not go gentle into that good night but rage , rage against the dying of the light" little understood by me till then yet now my new mantra! Rage on my friend.

I've found it easy to get the flare nuts front a/c supply places , then buy two bags full(20_24) and Tada happy camper fill your copper tube with water, stick it in the freezer overnight and make coil. Flaring tools should be cheap from HF and/or motor spares shops. Regards Ian

It is a metal work shop if the predominant use is for metal work! Blacksmithing is a somewhat "alien" term on "check the block" forms be they electronic or otherwise. Many decades ago I was employed by a multinational insurance company albeit in their property arm. One day one of my colleagues from the underwriting arm asked me if I'd have a look at a customers premises as they didn't have a clue as to how to treat the risk?(this guys family had large business insurance that was important otherwise they would have just rejected the cover) Basically he had set up a brad & nail manufacturing plant in his workshop and this is what he had put on his form. I looked at his setup and it posed no more risk than a couple of lathes so I advised him to change the description to mechanical workshop and he got covers the "form" had the same description. As Blacksmiths we pride ourselves in our smithy yet take yourself out and ask some average Joe what's this place? He may not even see your 'pride and joy' forge.

Great score!

Frosty , this is a simple design easily found on the web as you have big winds you may wish to upscale and tie an anvil to the bottom of the rope

Dale, there is no way those would pass the OSHA....ie. No high viz on the cross straps

I have a few pairs of spats Go to make a plan man , maybe bigger size and extra sox? Crushed tootsies can be debilitating. I have some spats and use them when casting, just very hot and cumbersome in hot weather.

Anyhow one should have a few pairs of boots soas never to ware the same pair two days in a row(well so say the gurus) and I buy laces by the dozen from the Chinese.

A boot that I've been very happy with are Hiec hiking boots with a steel toe cap and you can get them from sports authority in Utah I get the full leather ones and use the laceguardjobbies when doing hot work.