Marksnagel

I have some rebar tongs. Not a thing wrong with rebar if it works for what you want. Yes there are a lot of things I wouldn't use it for but like all iron, it can still be used. Only purists (in their own mind) will balk at tongs from rebar. They are great looking tongs and should serve you well. Fine job! Mark <><

This is a picture of the wood gas in my charcoal retort burning. Don't know the temp but it is white hot.

Really beautiful piece or art. Well done. Mark <><

That is a very comfortable looking screw driver. Straightening, tapering, shaping it all is great practice. I also make small items while waiting for larger ones to heat. Small things help with hammer control. Nice job! Mark <><

Living near and working on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, also known as "The Graveyard of the Atlantic" these are all over the place. You find them as yard art in most fishing villages. This one is in Wanchese. I am 6'2" to give some perspective of the size. Mark <><

Longer piece of RR track stuck into the ground standing straight up gives you plenty of mass but a small area. On its side gives you a larger area but less mass. RR train coupler knuckle works great as it has multiple shapes and a flat face. Finding one requires a friend or contact with the railroad. Forklift forks. A trip to the scrap yard will reveal many options. As Grant Sarver (RIP) told me, "Tell everyone you see that you are looking for an anvil. Tell your barber, your relatives, your friends, co-workers, the guy on the street. If you don't tell people you will limit your options." Worked for me. I have a RR track, a coupler knuckle and an anvil all because I told everyone that would listen. Mark <><

Looks to me that if you had to make a lot of identical circles or even just bends on "J" hooks, you could use this to gauge accuracy. Or even use it as part of a home made bending jig. The longer you stare at it the more options will come to your mind. Either way, you got a steel. Pun intended. Nice find. Mark

Welcome to IFI, Ditto on what Dan said. PIctures, we need pictures for what good is art if we can't see it. I too wish this were my full time job but alas, I like to eat and I entered into blacksmithing too late in the game to establish myself and hone my skills. This is not to say that one day I can't make it my full time job. Just not right yet. Keep on keepin on and enjoy what you do. Mark <><

Thanks Frosty! I will have to watch that. Mark <><

wpearson said it right. For a more visual idea, take a kitchen glass and turn it upside down on the counter. The open end of the glass where it touches the counter is the same as the inverted 30 gal drum inside the retort. As the gas builds up inside the inside drum it becomes pressurized and escapes around the rim and burns. Because it is pressurized, no flame draws back into the inner drum. All questions are good questions but not all answers are good answers. Hope the visualization with the glass helped.

This one works well for me. '?do=embed' frameborder='0' data-embedContent>>

I have many tongs that I have made over the past few years. Before I ever joined or knew about IFI I found a video on youtube showing how to make tongs by twisting. The blacksmith that posted the video was a very talented young man whose name was "Whitesmith". I made a pair of tongs according to his video and they are my favorite tongs to this day. They are used every time I am at the forge. I have made several variations of his twisting method and they all serve me very well. My favorite and most used pair.

My thoughts also Frank. Two pieces held together. You could weld or wire them together at the opposite end and then again half way down for stability. Then they would be as one. If you cant visualize that, put your pointer finger and middle finger together. Joined at one end and move as one.

I think your smithy looks great. For my first year and a half I was under the spreading oak tree and at the mercy of the wind and weather. Then I built my smithy from posts and boards from the old cattle pen and tin from an old barn. Cover the pallets with plastic or tar paper and once the snows start, pack it around the pallets and it will keep the wind off of you. Well done. Mark <><

Looks like it will be a very nice comfortable in the hand cane topper. Ditto on the opposite twist. How will it be affixed to the cane? Is the base hollow? Well done! Mark <><

Prayers for all involved and families lifted up.

Wow Jim. They look great! Looks like you had fun.

That is one sweet forge!

Our local small town has a festival every year. Last weekend as a matter of fact. Two years ago I talked to them about doing a demo for the fair. They were extatic. To rent a vendor table they wanted $100. I told them that if they wanted me to do a demo I would do it for free so long as I would be able to have a table to sell my wares. This seemed like a win-win situation. My home town so the demo would be at no charge. My daughter would sell at the table and I would get the word out and I would make a few dollars. The woman in charge said that she would talk to the Historic Society and get back to me. She did and her reply was, "If you do a demo and sell your wares, then you would only be charged the $100 vendor fee." ???????????? "If you do the demo and don't sell your wares then they will treat me as a non-profit who was educating the public on Blacksmithing and only charge me the $50 non-profit fee." Again ????????????????????? I explained that most Blacksmiths that do demos charge a fee and or a take of the tickets. I have not been to the festival since and refuse to go. If you do a demo and you have a table with your wares, have someone else work the table. Doing the demo, you will have no time to sell anything. I would take the deal as you agreed to, sell some wares, meet some people, make some contacts, make some friends. Mark <><

Ian. That is a really nice retort. If it wasn't such a long drive, I'd really like to see that in action. Thanks for all the pics and great descriptions. I'll definately have to give that design a try some day. Thanks again. Mark <><

Hi Nathan, First let me say welcome to IFI. Second let me ask you where you are located. There may be other smiths in your area that could visit your shop and give you some good pointers. without more pictures it's hard to tell you which direction to go. Also I have a question about your ash dump. The picture doesn't show anywhere for the ash to go other than your air supply tube. This could be a problem if and when a hot ash burns through your flexible tubing. Also it will clog with ash and rob you of your air supply. Mark <><

My hardy tools also extend below the heel. A light tap will set them free.

He is in my prayers for a full and speedy recovery.

Here lately it's been the joy of making whatever tool that I need. Been making hardy tools and tongs. Seems that I always need another tool. But no matter what I am working on there is always a fredricks cross in the fire. They are my addiction.