ianinsa

Now here's a couple of artisans in the making, when they have qualified as metal workers they will move on to be plumbers!
I don't know how to create a link but just google"A Polish plumbers work in a house in Cork" maybe some kind soul will add the link for me? Thanks.
Ian

Hi Fe,
Nice die, these balls look like those old fasioned toilet cistern floats, Going into the potty Buisness? Hang on, you do Blacksmithing a buisness that has recently gone somewhat to potty.
They would look great as a base for a weather vane!Stunning job, thanks for sharing.
Ian

Oh Ha Ha, my apologies, no sense of humour when dealing with techniques. I just wondered why it should have specifically been brass, when any ductile material can be used.

Having said that, I understood the term freezing the 'balls off a brass monkey referred to cast iron cannon balls stacked on the grills on His Majesty's Royal Navy's fleet when they were colonising the globe amongst other tasks, and they froze together in to one mass which then proved a danger in high seas

I would like to point out that I may be getting on a bit, but did not have actual experience of this phenomenon, just hearsay.

Hi,I do'nt mean to be a kill-joy, but I have an old H frame press(home made) that we picked up at an auction some years ago! Somebody spent a lot of time and effort to make that one. They wasted their time, it just does not compare our fly presses even with similar threads etc.
We now just use it as a glue press. Please rather save for the right thing rather that 'waste' it on something that might or might not work. Incidentally when we bought it we thought that it looked functional and well made, wich it is despite not living up to its looks.
Ian

Alec,
You've done yourself proud! nice piece.
Ian

3% everyone here is cheering as the rate here has just dropped to 13%. I guess that's the third world for ya!
Ian

On a lighter note!
'Mailely Bob's account has NOT been flagged for moderation' if it looks vaugely like he might attack you?
Hit him back first!!!!!
Glen, I'm impressed at your ability to lit it roll like duck's water off your back. Most including myself would have just 'hit delete' on the profile and never bother to let them back. End of story/problem.
No offence to Mainely Bob of course
Ian

On the question of forklifts, we got rid of our electric forklift and bought a really old skidsteer(got it cheap so we needed to replace hoses and some seals) it took quite a bit of time but not much money we then made up a forklift set-up by buying a tineset from a junked forklift, this is now a cheap & cheerful and very versatile baby.
Ian

I'd be a bit shy of using a maggot on my own eye, might pull that danged piece of iron or another the wrong way! And then what? Thanks, I'll just haul my skinny butt on over to the eye surgeon.

Very nice work Dave, don't get too beat up on what you charge just make sure that you do it for a PROFIT,
The biggest mistake is to make a loss especially while times are bad, often these 'cheap' jobs get good referals because the client feels that he got a good 'deal'. Keep up the good work!
Ian

Hi All,
If something like this ever happens to you(and I hope it doesn't) Don't stuff around and go to the doctor, Go to the nearest opthalmic surgeon they might cost a dash more but this is a GOOD SPEND! If you are ever going to make one(guess how I know) . Also a good 12V electro magnet(the maglock kind) in the shop is a quick way to get ferrous matter out of your eyes.
Ian

Cool looking rack that!
Thanks for sharing.
Ian

I have a Bosch sds max demolition hammer that came with a 'bush hammer boss' and it does a mean job of 'texturing ' steel hot or cold. Sadly despite its power it's very heavy and you can only use it if you are standing over the work. We've played with it and have decided that it could be a great tool for use when you need to claim off workmens compensation, otherwise it is somewhat limited from a blacksmithing point of veiw(It's brilliant at demolition). We regularly find inovative uses for our air hammers and as they are so cheap we see them as chuck-away tools so no one(that's me) gets upity when they get abused!
Ian

Pragtig........... dankie
Nice work!
Ian

Thanks Brian,
That's just inspiring and beautiful work to boot.
Frosty, do you think that Brian might have used a 'sedge' hammer? .
Ian

Good thinking there, nice rig!
Ian

Interesting switch from 2" round to rectangular tube and back? Any specific reason?
Ian

Hi There Monster,
Those look great.
Ian

Hi There,
The secret here is to find a burner design that gets started on propane(to get it up to heat) and then you switch to oil.This will then be 'smoke free'.
There have been numerous posts in the past on this so i'm sure someone will be able to give you a design.
Ian

Hi Frosty,
It just goes to show! coming from a warm climate, you don't know nuthin about cold climate construction. We were in Abu Dhabi 2 years ago on a 'chilly' day 20deg C on the beach my wife felt the need to put on a jersey! When it gets to 12deg C here out come the heaters.
Thanks for the info.
Ian

Hi All,
I agree, these blades definitely are the 'way to go' I have drilled a small hole in the side of the blade guard of my saw and I fix an airduster(pencil type ie. no triger)to it with a cable tie this blows the hot chips forward and away from me and the cooling effect on the blade helps(if small)with tool life. One could possibly jerry up a oiler to dispence a soluble oil/water mix as a cutting fluid but as I don't do this that often(relying on our guiloteen)I have never bothered.
Ian

Hi All,
We have regularly made wrought rails for projects the largest of wich is the 5* Royal Livingstone Hotel in Zambia:
For rails one needs to consider smooth sliding and the best for this is a wax Polished rod/tube with rings formed from twisted bar formed into a ring with a small ring welded on below(90deg) into wich the curtain hook goes. This allows for the use of standard curtain hanging systems. The better types have height adjusting systems built in, this allows for adjustmemt when the curtain 'stretches' under its own weight(and ocasionally shrinks when washed ...don't ask). The distance from the wall should be at least 3" if the material is heavy this is to give a 'Full rich' look. If you look at standard systems the cheaper the product the closer to the wall.
Hope this is of use!
Ian

Well Frosty,
I am impressed! that's a lotta input for that floor.
Looking at the surrounding 'soil' you seem to have a seriously sucksessfull 'rock farm' as well .
your gazinta system looks useful
How come no insulation and no damp proof membrane?
Ian

Well I'm impressed at your progress. Nice looking setup that you are getting there. Wish you all the best and multiple clients
Ian

Depending on where you live, your neighbors might have an altogether different description
Ian