ThomasPowers

Yup; that's the one.

Yes; molten metals often absorb gasses while molten that then come out as the metal cools leaving porosity. You can use flux to help prevent gasses being absorbed and materials to "degas" molten metal before pouring. (I've used very DRY charcoal rods to help remove gas from silver for instance.)

Do you have the scar too?

Also great tong material!

As I recall; the original Corps of Engineers report said it would be cheaper to pave the river than make a port for Tulsa; however the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee was from Bugtussle OK and so Tulsa has a port... I've decided that since NM is in a blacksmith tool desert; I will try to disburse my tools locally.

Howdy; I'm from NW Arkansas, USA, originally; now in the "moderately high and dry", Central NM USA; as in we will start worrying about sea level rise in about another 4000'...Blacksmithing is good for "Constipation of the Soul" according to my wife. Where were you from in the Ozarks?

Here in the USA there are anvils where the base were cast steel that were then forge welded, (or later arc welded) to the upper half; giving a hybrid look to them and yes location does matter. If you were looking at used cars locally; would they be more likely to be a Lada or a Ford even though both can be found?

I have some 99# dock weights...

Will try to get one posted.

We had a metal roof put on the house and of course the shop is pretty much all propanel metal; loved it! Got a discount on our insurance; less worries about wildfires too!

How are you degassing before pouring?

Got most of the Hospice equipment yesterday; free and they unloaded and set it up for us. Still having hotspot issues at home; using the church wifi today. Glen; any chance of a shirt with "I'm a Blacksmith not a Farrier; please ignore hoofprint on forehead".....?

I really want to thank all my well wishers; the posts, the cards, calls, plastic bags, the "brain warmer" all helped us to keep it together through the start of this saga. Now comes the work aspect. My wife just asked me to get the trash cans holder from the front parking area to the back one: 4' diameter 3/8" disk with a raised holder for 2 trashcans. No dog intrusions in over a decade. Gonna chain it to my pickup and drag it around... Officially signed up for hospice; got a call from my Doctor and friend; going to go listen in.

Cross schedule your trip with Quad-State just up the road from Dayton---we had 4 smiths drive out from Central New Mexico this year.

Frosty; have you woken up "restrained" in your ICU bed? My wife says it was a necessary thing that time...

We boil pinecones in hot wax for firestarters; so a cat litter bucket of them is on the back porch.

Note that soaking a denim apron in a borax solution will help it's fire resistance even when dry and even helps clean it when you throw it in the washer!

Just one more heat to make bottle openers if they do not do the job already!

If you are more out my way there is a NMABA member that makes terribly nice highly ornamental trivets----I got one in an Iron in the Hat and it's now hung on the wall as an ornamental piece.

I remember asking my local contractor about set-back; out here in the country he said it was a good idea if my roof dripped on my own lot...I still did setbacks.

May I remind folks that in earlier times smiths were forging real wrought iron that is nearly butter soft at the temps it likes to be forged at----one reason why earlier anvils could be so small and still work well.

Don't forget Quad-State in Ohio in the fall! We drove from NM for it....

3 pots of different teas with specific "foods" for each pot. Nice way to give a gift that doesn't clutter anything but the waist band.

Got to about 13 degC here today; but lots of sun.

Funny thing that a number of American Prisons did blacksmithing with their prisoners. "The American Prison: from the beginning...A Pictorial History" even has pictures of multi forge setups.