iron woodrow

i love to sing traditional work songs as i work, slave songs, chaingang songs, british working songs and shanties....... helps me keep the breathing right in long slogs..... whether im hammering, sledging or chopping logs/sleepers, or digging pits for charcoal burning..... or even driving- to keep me awake!!! i drive 1 1/2 hours (100km) each way to work.....

is that richard coombe in the foreground in the gnome hat? he taught me some basics when i was 15......

where i live is infested by large "march flies" like blowflies, but about half an inch long and they draw blood with a sting like a hot poker. in a 5 minute sitting you could whack at least 50. even a full armed WHACK! only stuns them, and the get up and sting you again in about 5 minutes time, added to the extra lot for that 5 minutes... i am not a buddhist, and i offer them to the god of the forge fire, in a special ritual. it helps the fire to remain clinker free.... and it works...!!!!!?!?!

i wear gloves and glasses, but only when i feel the need or the heat, otherwise i wear niether. glasses fog up and gloves impede coordination.

now we're talkin!!! attempted my first pattern weld today, had some scrap wrought and scrap rasp bits, welded them together, folded to 16 layers, twisted, and now i wait to see finished pattern etched.... should turn out to be a simple star pattern

thanks for your post seldom, what would be a good oil for steam? i would love the idea of steam, and i am looking into getting a professionally reconditioned boiler. or traction engine........ :lol:

hmm, i might check mine! nice block tim!

at least with a tyre hammer you would know the ins and outs, and not be too scared to make necessary modifications. i am a bit of a trditionalist when it comes to restoration, and am loth to make changes to original designs, especially on things that are over 100 years old.....

everyone brings a sledge hammer and we form a striking team- lets go for a world record!!!

wasnt the original post about a pneumatic hammer?

gee whiz! i realy through the proverbial cat amongst the pigeons here! and terrible glad too. i am in the (very ) early stages of teaching my twin daughters about smithing. they turned 4 today. i am extremely happy with the outcome of this case, and im sure the score is settled! iforgeiron -1 windbags- minus 3 pages...!

hmmm ill keep it on me horizon. i'd love ta come, cane season, airfares and family permitting....

so lets extend the welcome to any weld! Come one come all!

while not entirely "smithing" related, i am over the moon, because a vintage sheet metal jenny followed me home yesterday! perfect for armour work, ill post pictures when my camera starts co operating......

thats one neat shoulder on that job! if the offender has seen any of these posts, he sure will be hiding now!!! thanks for the support! i knew i could count on you lot!!!! this was his reasoning!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_LA_R4ifYk while this may be a great video of sheer grunt, i think beth said it best!

i am a complete novice when it comes to fire welding, but after seeing jeremy k's little stalk with leaves, so finely done, as his avatar, i would like to see some of the best welds you mob have done! i seem to never get the edges to weld, and would love to see the work of professionals!!!!

i was having a chat with a member on this site (who shall remain nameless) about female smiths, and the view from this fellow was that "women can never really be smiths" i disagreed whole heartedly, and would love to open up a show and tell of the fabulous work out there from lady smiths.... so prove me right!!!!!

'this old anvil aint mine to keep, its just mine to use for a while'

the fire is just reminding you you're alive! :o and to change your pants! :blink:

another aussie! onya. charcoal is heaps good, but dependin where ya are, coal might be right next to the railway line.... central qld. start out simple, and work it out as ya go along, whats yer anvil? i started with a plow disk on legs with a bit of railway iron. initially my air source was a peice of pipe i blew into.. got a bit dizzy.... got me mate to blow the pipe while i forged. that worked better!!! then i got a handcrank blower.. much better, havent looked back! but i have looked forward, and continue to do so,, even after finishing my apprenticeship 3 years ago, and continuing to learn! have fun and keep us posted on yer progress. woody.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/41924895@N07/sets/72157628439741909/ i have added some new shots of the restoration process to this slideshow/set any advice or suggestions/comments welcome!

at my work i regularly use a blaster made from an old fridge. window and glove holes in the door, a sheet rivetted in place where the crisper would be, to stop the garnet escaping when the door is opened. and a latch to keep the door shut. works well

where is the 'like' button, herchamer? well said.

we have a ring welded to each corner of the bench to put the gun into. makes for a much more user friendly environment! nice thinking macbruce