Bentiron1946

Ya, think your mother would still have you? In October here in the US there is perhaps going to be a series on forging metals on the PBS network.

Nice looking corn! That's good looking silk for sure. You done good.

Congratulations on the new family member and blessing on the fellow smith that sold it to you for such a good price. Now you need to turn out the work to match the anvil you have. If I had the brains of a chicken I'd sell my big Fissher anvil and quite dreaming of ever getting back on it but I'm still above dirt.

My first melting furnace back in 1969 was made from the cheapest cat litter there was at the time, straight Bentonite clay, I think it was a $1.25 for a 25# bag. I mixed it up in a couple of 5 gallon buckets with mason's sand and let it set for a week and then rolled it into balls and rammed them into another 5 gallon bucket with a sheet metal form in it. I let this set for a week then built a wood fire in let it cook slowly, then patched the cracks with more clay/sand mix, let it set and then fired it off with my burner and melted 5 pounds of brass, success, I had my first pour! My next melting furnace was made from an old gas fired water heater tank and I lined it with standard fire brick held in place with Bentonite clay, yes, it works for a mortar too, then I made a wash out of it and painted the inside of the furnace with it and made a rammed lid of clay and sand.

I don't think I have ever run down anybody for using RR spikes or even rebar or old car springs, each has a better use for some things others but in a pinch you can make do with just about any piece of steel. Also folks like to see forks, steak turners, spoon, bottle openers and such made out of unusual materials so why not. Of coarse if you aiming for a fine knife a piece of rebar ain't the best or if you making a bowl adz a RR spike is not the best but you can make a serviceable tool out of 'em, probably better than out of air so to speak but go ahead and use what you want, at least your making something and not just talking about it.

Hey, I've made an implement of destruction or two out of rebar, not he easiest thing to do but when it's what's handy it's what's handy. Did they last long, yea and nay. I have made art from rebar, it looks pretty good there. Sometimes we are less kind than we ought to be to the new kids on the block who are the next generation of smiths. This group of young folk that are a dumb as mud need to be led gently into the fraternity of smithing not made to feel like the dog poop stuck in the lugs of our work boots. A little kindness goes much further than a hammer up along side the head. Yes, there are times when you need to be harsh, grab the black end not the red end, but do we need to start off with tell them how stupid they are to want to make something out of something that is laying around everywhere like rebar. We are here foremost to educate one another not to throw boulders or flaming darts at those with less knowledge. I have over my years of doing casting taught young folk what I know about casting and they in turn as they advanced in it have come back and taught me. This should all be about advancing smithing,keep the unkindness to yourself. At least that's one thing Grant taught me, keep your crap to yourself on here and help other. Build up, do not tear down.

It was a sad sight to see the 19 go by at Carefree Highway and I-17 today on their way to Prescott. Many folks lined the side of the road with US flags and banners in their honor. We just happened to be on our way home from church so we were the second car back on the off ramp for east bound Carefree Highway. My wife and I prayed for the families of those 19 young men and for the one survivor, rough days ahead for them all. May they all feel the peace of God. Jerry & Eva

You can ask for all the tools in the world but if you have lost the ability to swing the hammer it ain't worth the breath of asking for it. I want my healthy spine back, I know, not asking for much am I but I sure miss forging steel.

Nice looking PW, have a good time forging with it.

It's a tough one for the kids but with an uncle like you around there will be lots of love to get them through. You didn't mention if there was a father or not, I hope there is, that will help too. You have our prayers for comfort and peace, may God be with you all, Jerry

Ian, Is Frosty trying to get you to lick the rail in January in Alaska? Yes, don't do it! You'll be there till June. I think that the striking with a cold chisel sets up the internal crystallization of the metal for a clean break whereas just cutting a shallow grove may not have the same effect. What say you Frosty?

I was just thinking if that had been my firearms collection of 30 years ago folks would have accused me of being crazy and a danger to society but since it's anvils there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. Strange how we look differently on what is collected and not that something is collected or as they call it now "hoarding" like it is some kind of mental illness to have an interest in something.

Yeah, they seem to be going for around $150 or perhaps as much as $250 for one in really nice condition. They seem to appeal to smiths that work armour or other small stuff and the also favor mounting them in stumps to get them at a convenient working height. I see them on occasion on eBay and the prices are all over the place there.

They're on my prayer list ever since I went out for the paper this morning and saw the headline, "TRAGEDY", I never did get to eat breakfast, it is a tragedy for the families of those men. I've been praying off and on all day. The West is burning for sure this year. Jerry

A Ford! Well, I guess you're welcome here but everyone know the only good trucks were Studebakers, now that was a reliable truck. It sure seems to be easy to get hooked on pounding hot iron so you can't be all bad even if you do like Fords, actually my first truck after my Studebaker was a Ford, gave me good service for five years and it had a 100K miles on it when I got so they ain't all bad, well I guess.

You use a "light" hammer on a "light" anvil to forge a "light" saber, now if you want a "heavy" saber go with "heavy" hammer and anvil.

I had one and used it as a hot cut on big steel, bigger than 1", came in handy a time or two for that but most of the time it just sat. I only payed $3 for it though.

The weight should be on one of the sweeps down to the feet, something like a 15, 20 or 30, look again for a number like that, OK?

I have some silversmithing stakes that are made from ductile iron and as long as I'm working well anneal copper or silver on them they are great but they will dent when I'm working brass or bronze on them and it is past time to anneal it. Even working soft steel on my stakes, like binding wire, will put a dent in the ductile iron. Working hot iron may be different on ductile iron but a miss with my hammer leaves a dent in the ductile iron. I don't think I would spend the money again for ductile iron silversmithing stakes, I save my money for quality steel stakes if I had it to do over.

Cute collectors item, I wouldn't use it for any heavy forging though, strictly light duty in nature.

When I realized that I would no longer be able to do heavy smithing anymore I sold my gear, I know my sons wouldn't respect my gear anymore than they would a dog xxxx. I know that the man who bought from me is a good decent tool loving man and when and if he sells it will be to another decent tool loving man. Plan ahead with your tools and then they won't be communing with the weeds, bugs and covered with bird poop like most of the monuments created in honor of famous generals.

Prayers for his family, may God grant them strength and peace during this trying time, Jerry

That looks pretty nice but I no longer have a vehicle with a hitch on it.

Handy looking little knife! Nice shape too.

Ian beat me to it with the pulp paper egg cartons but that would be a dandy use of them for making brickets, sometimes you can scrounge up the big egg flats that hold 2 dozen eggs. And yeah that much flour and it would smell like you were burning the toast. I think you should switch over to propane, hotter fire and faster too. Nice little furnace you got there but go bigger and go round if you switch to propane. PM me and maybe we can get together sometime as I live in the Phoenix metro area too.