ianinsa

Todd, I recognize the trait, I too have it , more fun and satisfaction in making up a good tool/machine than in the project, it(the tool)probably could twist that cold if you used a small motor/box combo and the job look great by the way. Thanks for sharing.
Ian

Nice stuff, is it cost effective? here they want to trade your car in on a bit of stock. thanks for the reply.
Ian

Nice work! And you also showed yet another use for the humble soup can. Work of this quality keeps the world coming back for more! A good deed for smiths everywhere.
Ian

That stuff looks really good! Are you producing your own bronze ? or are you buying bronze stock?
What are you using for you patina it looks good!
Ian

Do you just leave them together with no chaperone and play Barry White?????????????????????
Nice anvils.
Ian

Simple and unfussy yet refined, good job man!
Ian

Great looking tool
Ian

Try putting a bottle of KY next to your forge it's no good for ferrous work but it's sure to get noticed!
Sorry for not being constructive,the grey flakes(scale) seem to work quite well !
Ian

Very, very pretty Peter!
Looks brilliant, hope it pans out
Ian

If our economies get much worse we can always hold they out to passers-by saying "any change sir?"
Ian

That's a nice looking toy sadly you will be obliged to share with others That sort of toy will give you years of happy use!

Tell me, Frosty if one does'nt breathe Zinc fumes do you still have to take the zinc tablets? I think your explanation gets you up there with yoda!
Ian

Out here guys take the VW add a radiator in front and put a V6 in the back! Those babies Mooove! They are just great workhorses.

It looks freindly but a bit dirty, if you promise to clean him, look after him and promise not to let him on the furniture, you can keep him!
What a great looking toy, he said green with envy!

It looks like you had that on the living room carpet! WHAT'S THE GOOD LADY GONA SAY?
Nice piece though :D

And find you will! Ask your local metal work shop they usually have short off-cuts of 12mm(half ") bar both round and square this is great stuff to practice on/with. whan I was young a local scrap dealer let me take stuff "on apro" if I messed it up he would just take it back as he only had interest in the weight and not the shape, I just paid for what I kept! There are really some good souls out there who just hope that you pass it forward!
There is little lost in asking? Ian

there is an easier solution= builders prop jack= good quality Acme thread, many around often scraped & cheap. What more do you want????????????? Beats the pants off a jack! And can handle serious abuse- something blackshiths occasionaly do to their tools.
regards Ian

there is an easier solution= builders prop jack= good quality Acme thread, many around often scraped & cheap. What more do you want?????????????
regards Ian

Speak to Grant, buy an induction heater, use 20+ jack russels to run "hamster wheel" type generators/alternators. Use the sunlight to bask in glory!
Sadly Forge tempratures are achiveable but not currently economicly viable. Better off the grid solutions are available! Without your neighbours bitching about your "solar array"

I made mine by using 2 octagonal plates and welding shaft sections on plillow blocks to each end. then weld plate sections between the plates(ends) to form a drum! octagonal helps with the "tumble efect" one plate is hinged to create a door! I lined mine with pieces of conveyor belt to reduce wear and noise but any rubber mat works!
I used a motor gearbox combo I found in a scrapyard for power. Using belts and pulleys to reduce to speed further I have been quite happy with my results. We can get hold of nutshells(macadamia) but I suppose most will work and this as a final polishing medium gives great results.
All the best Ian.

Hey boys did'nt yo mama teach you nuthin!
cheap Zinc = old carburetors etc.from a junkyard!ask for scrap zink/ called pewter it refined circles!
casting keys for decorative purposes does'nt require purity only apearance!
Bayer silicone's have products that will deat with the heat from zinc casting see if they have an agent in your area! As you should not be concerned with total dimensional stability on these keys you could ask for product that has reached it's use by date or even expired product if it is out by 2% so what!
Lost wax, for decorative castings where absolute tolerances are not important(like keys for decoration)you can use gypsum(plaster of paris)as a first and second coat bake out in an oven and then set these in sand. Cast your keys from wax in silicone moulds.
Good luck with this. If you need any advice on this, please don't heasitase to ask!
All the3 best Ian

Well here's my $0.02 worth I made Wrought beach umbrella stands for the One & Only hotel in Jumera Dubai. We had them powder coated first then we treated them with Baroque Art gilders paste then they were clear powder coated again. This stands up to them being in the sea and on the beach so I am in awe as to what good powder coaters can do! However for things that get bashed and abused we use self etch black primer made for the fireplace industry (the brand we use is Plascon coastcote)but I'm sure there are many other similar products, it gives a nice matt finish and does not abrade or rub off. In fact if you heat it a bit after drying it it sticks like s**t to a blanket. You need special thinners but goes a long way! Therefore cheap(naw inexpensive) just the I like it.
Regards Ian

Stick it in vinegar overnight, it should help to clean it up!

There are those that are just born to be killjoys and some of those are blessed with more sense than most, Me ? easily distracted I think! (I have fun though)
Ian

The problem seems to be "Benzomatic" I do quite a bit of copper work in the U.A.E. and there I thought that we would treat ourselves and we bought some of these Benzomatic torches they and their consumables were expensive and what a *^$$!!* let down. We then reverted to our 'standard' of small camping gas canisters and their torches wich are cheap(less than $10 and $2 for 3 canisters), they work at any angle exept inverted and are hassle free.
Just my 2 cents worth!