JimG

Habu? could you please do a blueprint on how to forge a 12 sided thing from a cube? I keep getting them with either 14 or 18

My Primary forging hammer is a 25 pound Jardine.

And there's not much danger of my ever getting a power hammer I respect and admire what they can do, but I don't have any desire to use one.

Please rethink that. As you get older and more tired. You may change your view on wanting a powerhammer. Just some advice from someone who's been there...

Not seeing the hammer, and if it has the same type of arms as the ones in your links, if it was mine I'd adjust it so that the arms are as close to horizontal as possible. If your hammer has adjusting nuts on both arms aim to get the arms as close to the same length as you can.

but it's not "hand" forged...

Get yourself a copy of Dave Manzer's the powerhammer cycle if you can. The Powerhammer Cycle by Dave Manzer

Shoot the idiot that abused it first.

A rope can be reused

Thankyou
Welcome to McInnis and Holloway Funeral Home
I hope this link works

May God bless and keep all those in harms way,

And xxxx all those who put them there.

To our dear friends,

My beloved Ralph passed away this morning about 1:30 am. He was here at home, with me, Shannon and Nathan at his side. It was a very grace-filled death. He didn't suffer. In fact the past two days, God shielded him from all pain. It was truly miraculous.

I am so very proud of Ralph. He's been bedridden for the past two months. He even got to the point that he could barely use his arms and hands, but despite all the suffering -- esp. from the one large tumor in his neck/spine -- and despite the never ending challenges and readjustments, he never felt sorry for himself and never complained. He kept his sense of humor, his eyes on God, and his loving tenderness and care for his family and friends to the last. I only wish we had made it to Monday, our 25th wedding anniversary. But he died a year to the day that he had that pulmonary embolism that almost killed him. So God granted us another year -- time for Nathan to come home from the war, Shannon to come home from her job in Europe, to get me though my surgery and the start of my chemo, and so much more. It's been an awesome year, and I have nothing but gratitude for the time we did have.

Ralph's service is this coming Wed, July 5, at 11am, with a reception (luncheon) following at 12:15. There will also be a rosary for Ralph at 10:30, for anybody who would like to participate.
It's at
St. Matthew's Catholic Church
475 SE Third Avenue (that's 3rd and Oak)
Hillsboro, OR

I'll miss him like crazy. Thank you for your continued prayers.

Loving regards,
Dawn

Edit: one of the two entries under consideration and removed for now.

Post deleted by Jim.

Way to go Pam! Expenses and a bit extra you say?
One thing to keep in mind when figuring out what to charge for demos, work, etc. You are not there to subsidize someones entertainment or hobby. They are there to subsidize yours...........

Dangers of lead aside, I'm assuming it is used for training because it feels similar under the hammer to hat iron, plus since the trainee is shaping tong parts etc this allows the worker to see the affect of hammer blows on shaping a peice.

Wasn't it the aprentices job to do the grunt work of doing the filing to make the tap and dies? (plus getting beat for not doing it fast enough, or right) so unless you enjoy the schnitizel werk, buy the bolts and be done with it, and use your valuable time doing something you want to.

Jr,
Legacys are not just passed on through family, but by all those you teach. Every time you help me or many others out with advice your adding to that legacy. When I am no longer on this earth, and some beginning smith uses the universal tongs I made from your pattern, and decides to copy them for his own............
As long as there is iron, and them who work it your Grandfathers legacy contines.

My experience with a gasser is limited, but I'm assuming the principles involving scaling is the same no matter what the forge. Try more fuel, less air.

Worst burns I've ever received have been when I'm wearing gloves. Usualy from something getting in the back of the glove. I will on occassion wear a glove when holding a punch or something close to the hot metal. One reason given for avoiding wearing gloves is that it gets you in the habit of not checking if the iron is cold before you handle it. Rule number 1 in a blacksmiths shop? All iron is hot. How are you getting slag on your hammer hand? short handled hammer? I've had to remember to change my grip when holding tongs and forgewelding or I get a palm full of flux.

Well your in luck being in Calgary, there is a great bunch of smiths there, only second to the great bunch here in Saskatchewan
http://www.wcbg.org/index.php
Should get you in touch with them.

I just got an Email from Rich

"Jim, the surgery went real well, have arm in a sling and tied across my chest, for the next six weeks. Can you spread the news for me? It is way hard to type and run mouse with my off-hand. I expect this will improve soon. Thanks "

check out http://www.iforgeiron.com/Blueprints01/BP0133_55forge/BP0133.shtml
for plans on how to build a forge from a 45 gallon barrel.
The smoke a forge creates is more dependant on the fuel and fire control skill of the operator than forge design. Now the hood that carries said smoke away is a different story.
And NEVER EVER EVER call your shop a "garage" the next thing you know after calling it that someone will want to park a car in it!
What part of Canada you in?

Way to go Archie!
One more little thing. Before you fire the forge for the first time, (or any other time for that matter) go and look in the mirror.

And the person you see looking back at you is the person responsible for keeping you safe. Then look at your set up and figure out every thing that you can think of that could go wrong, and then plan for it. When I started doing buggy and wagon restoration my Dad told me to over build, when things go wrong you can't shut a horse off with the flip of a switch. A forge is the same way.

I'm not saying this to discourage you, I do want you to go out and play with fire, just don't want you getting burned, hurt someother way, or worse.

So keep at it!

You can't turn an eye without a round horn?

I guess I've never turned an eye then. Nor have the shipships in the video clip when they were forging the eyebolts for Bluenose II.

Scarf

Using the edge of the anvil make a 45

What sort of charcol are you using?
If it's the pressed briquet type for BBQ's it's not the best for forgework.
Although I have used it.

Done,
The loss of a young one is so hard.

I'm actualy suprised he mentioned the grinder.........