Dave Leppo

That anvil is junk. Ship it to me in Pennsylvania at once to get it off the market. I can use it to hold my wooden stump from blowing away. :)

was a horse barn when built, much better use IMO

Thinking about this: for a weather vane, you could weld the air pipe in in a strategic location, inflate the form, and then use the air pipe as a pivot point for the vane!

What tools do you need to buy, to use to make the rest? the tools you cannot make?

ELizabeth Brim has done some inflated forgings, here someone replicates her technique, w/ pics: Inflated Steel

Why couldn't it be welded from two pieces, w/ two welds?

Out by the river, where we used to fish when I had time for things like that, there was an old quarry, complete with buildings (all cast concrete). When we got tired of fishing, sometimes we would climb up the hill, cross the rr tracks, sneak back into the quarry, and check out the buildings. They were empty, except for a storage rack with core samples piled up on it. Also, there was one building that was obviously the smithy for the quarry. There was a brick forge built in the middle, with a brick chimney, and an open slot in the roof directly in front of the chimney – over the forge. Other than the forge itself, there was no equipment, furniture, or hardware left, except for a stump, which was obviously the anvil support. Of course, eventually a local biker gang rented the whole place for a massive party, painted graffiti everywhere, and did about ten years worth of damage in a weekend. I think afterwards the brick forge was still there, but the stump was gone, as was anything else portable. As far as I know the buildings are still there. The last time I was back there was when I was dating my wife, about four years ago. It’s always been private property, so I can’t reveal the location, other than “Susquehanna River.”

Philip IC If you want to build a still in china, I must direct you to this site: Home Distillation of Alcohol

Wouldn't want to drink anything w/ blackpowder in it - a large portion is SaltPeter!

My firepot is an old cast iron floor drain, the kind that was embedded directly into concrete. The inside is hemispherical, about 12” diameter. It has a 2” hole in the bottom, with a collar attached. There is, however, a frame cast into the top where the grate would have been, making it square where it mounts into the forge table. It’s about 4” deep, but it’s only about

I don't have problem with solid matter going up the pipe, using a 12"dia horizontal and vertical pipe. The ash deposits in the horizontal pipe. I think a lot actually drops into the elbow. My horizontal pipe actually isn't horizontal; it slopes up slightly as it passes thru the wall. I scrape the ash out with a hoe occasionally, but it would take a while to impede the flow with ash, I don't us it every day. BTW, at the forge intake point, I’ve formed the round pipe into a square, and attached it to a vertical plate, like a wall next to and over the fire pot. This all draws pretty well, but I use a removable hood attached to this plate to try to get as much smoke as possible because my space is pretty confined. I also have an exhaust fan, which I use as needed.

My flu is similar to Maestro Hofi's, but I just ran the 12"dia pipe thru the wall via an elbow, and into the forge. I didn’t know if it would work because I didn’t see any others like that at the time. It does work, but probably not as good as Hofi’s, because I suspect his square tunnel provides a chamber for the gases to expand before being drawn up the chimney.

The “piston pump” you describe reminds me of the air pumping system used at the Hopewell iron Works in eastern PA – national historic site. A water wheel turns pitman cranks on each side of itself, which drive pistons in huge wooden cylinders via rods. The pistons push air into a central valve assembly built into a big wooden box. Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site check out the second picture.

Mechanical / product designer / drafter Our firm makes display walls and consoles for the utility sector, and control panels for the transit sector. I blacksmith as a hobby only, and (sadly) rarely these days as my wife and I raise our 6mo old son, and fix up our house.

How much is a TIG?!) I would actually buy an acetylene torch; I grew up with one, and know how versatile they are.

Glenn Profile edited, per your request.

Would Black Walnuts work? they're free for the picking-up!

MORE ON DISTILLING: homedistiller.org

When I built my coal forge, I tried to add a clinker breaker - forged a steel ball about 2" dia, then forged flats into it. I couldn't get it to work, the gap around the ball was to large. Otherwise, the forge works great, though. I ended up using a replaceable piece of perf. steel for a grate at the air inlet. When I'm forging, I occasionally rake the top of the fire off to the side, probe the inlet area with the poker tip, and pull out any clinker in one or two solid pieces. I do this maybe once per hour. However, I regularly poke down to the bottom of the fire to keep the air inlet open while heating work.

Frosty I live in York County, PA. "Goatman" Isn't the best name for me anymore; I had one goat that came with the house I bought, but he died of old age three years ago! O well...

Toaster oven free from work, a little old and dirty for the company kitchen, but should be perfect for tempering, and my wife will appreciate not having the kichen oven smell like burnt oil or whatever 8)

Coal bin in the corner of my little shop is the top of an old metal wheel barrow, with some oak supports underneath. It'l hold about three bags at a time. i spray water right on this bin with the hose. This time of year, putting big chunks of frozen coal right on the fire is interesting. I think I like frozen coal even better than wet coal!

Funny, i just finished a knocker - anniversary present for my wife. Wrong material, though: dragonfly forged from 1-1/2"X3/16"thk angle, mounted to a 1-1/2"X3/16"thk flatbar plate. I'll probably post a pic on the Farwestforge.com "forgemagic" page when I get it mounted

Load, Load, Load

what's the DEAL?