Nick builds trains

Right I'll adjust the title and such when i learn how to use the youtube ;)

Was it, it looked to be to "narrow" a frame to be the moon man and we know for sure it wasn't Master Dale Oh well i shall have to edit the title and such when time permits. aswell as upload the rest.

well after four hours, heres the first video, would format a link but IFI dies every time i try,

Ok, a week later here's the GH @ Moony's Report: Arrived midnight thursday, went to bed 12:45 am friday. Woke up around 7 friday morning, by 8 i had proceeded to cook the poffertjes (see above post if you don't know) for breakfast. they were a hit. only to have the recipe "altered" by Dale to include Creme' de Month (peppermint alcohol) Than came the preparations for the weekend, a space was cleared and a little after 10 we went down to the other site to pick up a 10 station forging table and a few other bits and pieces. I don't know when or in which order but I made a set of tong blanks, during which I used the 9kg power hammer. I finished my first toasting/steak fork. made a spoon. and a set of 10 tong rings. the tong rings were fun, as through sheer dumb luck I designed a 2 position tong ring, so I went into production, and during the process I learned to forge weld, only burning 2 rings. Than came the trip home, for me this was a detour via sydney, I had to pick up my WW1 AIF uniform, than I got home at midnight on monday. All in all it was an awesome weekend, and some video's might appear on youtube. I'll post in a bit more detail of the "bigger" projects later on. Oh and there was much praising of "Master" Dale ;)

Poffertjes are GO! for those wondering: Friday breakfast is a goer, see you all in about 13-15 hours

already packed, just need to find something for breakfast tomorrow, i'll be up late tonight. (uncles funeral at 12:30) so i probably wont be there before 10-11

Lol, nice one. but isnt the only reason to bow to a smith is when he throws a hammer at you? i suppose that's more of a DUCK! If i can only find my tools, i'll be making breakfast I'll be heading up straight after my uncle's funeral. Bringing Andy aswel. and some "special iron" See you in the morning.

Ah yes well, In many ways Dale is my mentor, Hes the man to talk to about growing an awesome Mustache He's also mentoring me in the art of liver damage . Besides that and many other things he's also teaching me to Smith, Well than, lesson #4: Toasting fork / steak fork. Both Jay and I had the task of making our own and we went rather well. Jay, for his second lesson is Catching up fast and is showing heaps of talent. A sad moment came around lunch time, my dad called to tell me his twin brother (my closest uncle) had passed about 3am this morning (pancreatic cancer, he lasted several years and when i saw him last he was at peace and ready to go. Such is life, Its good knowing he's no longer in pain. After a bit of time I chose to get back to work, as there was nothing i could do for the family at this time. Jay had to leave mid afternoon, so it was just Master Dale and myself. the whole thing is coming along nicely with perhaps an hour to spend on the handle and it will be finished ready to sell in a few weeks. 4 days till GET HAMMERED @ MOONY's I cant wait, although I do hope that the funeral isn't on at the same time :unsure:

(copied from my thread) Well after many hours scratching my head wondering where in the jumbled mess known as the shed it was hiding, I finally located the post vice I knew I had. After stripping it down and disposing of a few 8 legged nasties the work began. First i had to remove the front jaw, and strip back the pivot boss so it would move freely, i than sprayed it with SPS (Switch Plate Spray, used in the rail industry for lubricating pointwork, its a spray on powdered graphite) than to clean up the old grease from the thread and box, easy done with a rag. after looking at the old bolt it had as a handle i decided to make a new handle, an hour on the lathe and the end result is rather nice. I than dunked the threaded section in a bucket of grease and re assembled the whole thing. Its got 4.5" jaws and stands about 3' 7" tall

Well after many hours scratching my head wondering where in the jumbled mess known as the shed it was hiding, I finally located the post vice I knew I had. After stripping it down and disposing of a few 8 legged nasties the work began. First i had to remove the front jaw, and strip back the pivot boss so it would move freely, i than sprayed it with SPS (Switch Plate Spray, used in the rail industry for lubricating pointwork, its a spray on powdered graphite) than to clean up the old grease from the thread and box, easy done with a rag. after looking at the old bolt it had as a handle i decided to make a new handle, an hour on the lathe and the end result is rather nice. I than dunked the threaded section in a bucket of grease and re assembled the whole thing. Its got 4.5" jaws and stands about 3' 7" tall

may look deceptive but thats no toy, 2 large blokes can fit in the cab rather easy.

Howdy All, its been a while so heres an update, theres a new bloke in the group Jay, specializes in making chain male, it was his first bash last week, and I'm no expert but hes got talent. Lesson 3, mass production of Drive Hooks for upcoming show. With 2 forges going Jay and I teamed up to mass produce drive hooks. the first operation was Jay putting a short point on one end of the stock than passing to me to put the long end on. we soon found a speed and rhythm that suited us both with little time waiting on each other. Second step was to bent the stock back on its self about 1& 1/4 inches in from the short point end. Third was about 3/4" in bend the stock back to 90 degrees from the drive spike. Fourth was to put the curve in to form the hook, this was done using Master Dales expertise ( aka a Jig ) Finally turning a small scroll in the tip of the long point with the rat tail tongs and we were done. And to follow up on how i chose my username: a set of 12" gauge wheels, axleboxes and bearing housings, @ done, just need to order the steel to make the chassis. It will become a 1/2 size brittish narrow gauge tanker wagon, 6feet long by 2' 10" wide at the tank and weighing 1.5 tons when full. it will look nice behind "Merlin" when he rolls out in a few weeks you can comfortably fit 2 blokes in the cab,

got time off work, bought a travel fridge, so i'll be there sure as the beer is cold

Right than, second hit, First task was a BBQ fork, all done but forming the handle, Second was a drive hook. Third was practicing scrolls. The forge: New legs almost finished, spreader braces underway and the assembly for the fire pot and airflow bits coming along nicely, may even have a fire in it by my third bash (sorry guys no pics )

here it is,

Was about to mention the forge Dale, good to see the PC behaving for a while When the folks get back home with the van I'll unload and take a pic. I'll get onto the boss and make sure the swage block isn't scrapped (its sitting 4 feet from the scrap pile) At first i was concerned the blower was seized, but after about 4 hours its pushing air better than my electric one.

Here you are Guys, only the one pic, and Dale has the other leaf.

Hi All, I had my first bash today and am absolutely stoked. First off let me say I've along way to go yet but my mentor (Dale Russel). Is a brilliant teacher and with the assistance of Andy and Jim I hope to learn alot. First off I learned how to draw out material (10mm square) to a point and than to make it round, than square again. After which I was shown how to fuller and spread material out. After which I was fought to hot cut. The end result of mt first your was a leaf key ring. Than came lesson 2, Drifting. After making the initial home I was thought how to enlarge and draw it out on the horn. At which point Dale made a flat edge in my lovely circle, my suspicions were correct when we drifted a small lip in the back edge of the hole. Yep we were making a bottle opener. He left the handle design to me, I decided to draw it out to a taper and than flatten and roll the handle into a tapered tube. Lesson 3, another leaf. After discussions with dale I asked if I could make another leaf. This one for the Sean Conner memorial, its not much but its my humble offering for such a wonderful cause. So in closing, I'm hooked, Dale is a superb teacher and I look forward to learning more in the coming years.

Those are some nice bits of gear, If i get the chance i'll take a pic of the railways new toy, its a wheel and journal lathe, from memory it has a 8 foot face plate and 9 feet between centers,

I'll be trying my best, just need to get time off work, Here's hoping :)

Thanks Guys. Dale I'll be in touch.

Hi All, I have a 1942 P07 bayonet (same as the pic bellow) but it has a slight kink in the end as if it has been used to pry/jimmy something open. the kink is appx 1/2 inch from the tip and the blade is appx 2-3/8ths of an inch off center. the blade is at a guess carbon steel. i do not wish to blemish the blade during straightening. Any ideas??

Hi All, Phil H, that sound rather interesting, should i eventually go on my world tour i'll have to add the State mine museum to the list, and thats sure an interesting history you have there. Ratel10mm, I wouldn't be to concerned, it was actually Dale that sent me here, after conversing at many an event. Then again, theirs nothing wring with working in "tin" CurleyGeorge, heres some pics for ya mate and what it will become: for info on the prototype: My link

Nick Doensen, 22 Woori Yallock, Yarra Valley Victoria. dabbling engineer/ fitter My passion is steam and in my spare time i work at two railways aswel as build my own locomotives. I have been interested in Smithing for many years.

Hi Everyone, I'm Nick. 22 d dabbling engineer/ fitter from the Yarra Valley Victoria Australia. My passion is steam and in my spare time i work at two railways aswel as build my own locomotives. I have been interested in Smithing for many years now and was directed here by my Local Blacksmith. Hope to learn alot and absorb as much as i can about this wonderful art.