JimsShip

Dan- Your reply confused me a bit, so I went back and read the first post and realized that the loop and cut method WAS NOT what Brian was talking about, but the fold and weld WAS. This makes a bit more sense now, I couldn't understand how looping it and welding it (then cutting) was different from just welding 2 pieces together like a leaf to a stem. So- understanding that error on my part (I told you I like pics better than explainations!) Is Brian saying 2 seperate pieces welded together make a better weld then the fold and weld?

Off topic, but I seriously can't decide which is more awesome- Nick's mustache, or Basher's beard. My wife would never let me get that creative! : :)

Basher- Excellent test and pics! You made this poker by folding over the bar and welding/pointing at the bend, right? Not welding a loop and cutting it open? The rams head is beautiful, i'd love to see THAT being forged as well. (I've seen smaller ones done, but that just looks awesome!) I was taught the loop and cut method, but i thing the fold and point looks like it may be a better way to achieve the result.

That would be awesome! Gerald- I did get your meaning, I just wanted you to know that time spent here explaining why you do things a certain way as opposed to another's way of doing it, isn't wasted time. (at least not for new guys like me!)

I have to admit, i'm not getting the point here. If I scarf the end of a square rod (as in the video) and fold it over, flux it well, and get it to welding temp, then hammer it sound and soild, how is this a weaker weld than if it were 2 seperate pieces? If I wanted to attach a leaf branch to a main stem, it would still be one part scarfed (The leaf end) and one solid bar (The main branch), isn't that the same thing? The only difference I see is that one is looped and then cut while the other is not, is that the point of all this? That it's better to use 2 pieces rather than one? Why? I don't see the difference. (Sorry if it's obvious to some of you, but I just don't get it, and I'd truly like to learn.) Gerald, while I appreciate you being set in your ways, and i'm glad to hear you're making a profit from your craft, discussions like these open up alternatives to habits we've taught ourselves, and hopefully we may learn a better simpler way to work (saving you time and lost income!) Your opinions (as well as those of the other professionals who post here) and your views are an important part of this, and any time spent adding useful input to these discussions may take a buck or two of your time, but it's worth millions to new guys like me.

Frosty, I like the idea if the marble, but wasn't sure how to keep it from falling through- The spoon idea is a great one! I'll try it soon!

I had a box of old glass insulators (These were used to hold the wires on top of telephone poles way back when for those who don't know) and I came up with this idea this weekend. I thought I could use them as tealights (I'd put some pebbles or sand to safely raise the flame height) or small plant or herb holders. It's a simple project, and it's not be perfectly symetrical (A real problem for me and my OCD to get over!) but I think I like the final result. This one is screw mounted, but I think I may make some others with a drive hook for posts or trees, or maybe a table stand for the larger ones. I also made my first cross! Again, it's not perfect, but at least I didn't rework it into the scrap bin! (See? I'm making progress!) :)

Nicely done!

Very nice!

This thread seriously needs a video or two explaining what is the problem and or possible better way to do this. I'm all about learning new techniques and then finding a way to cob it with other skills to find what works best for me.

Chinobi, if you pulled at that weld would it break? It looks like a solid weld to me, and I'd be happy with that result. Sorry Brian if I'm confusing the matter more, but you say welding this way "cannot work", but it looks (at least to my amature eyes) like it has. Can you post a pic of your way for comparison?

This is why I love this place, different views and different ways to do things. I was taught the scarf/fold over/ weld and cut approach to the fire poker. I have had some stick and some come apart. Brian, are you saying it's better to make the 2 pieces seperately and then weld them? Why would this be any different if the scarf is clean and lines up with the larger half? Is it just that you don't have to work the piece any further, and possibly jeapordize the weld? I wonder which appraoch would make a stronger weld? I think we need some videos, and maybe a little testing here. Who's poker could lift more weight by the smaller point?

Sadly if a person, even an intruder is hurt on your property, you can be sued for negligence. I've heard many stories of criminals hurt climbing through windows or falling off roofs and still winning a case.

The Florida Clinker Breaker archives has a nice rr spike teething ring! They even have a nice quenching idea for it! Congrats on the new Grandbaby by the way! :)

Dan- That piano is a nice score in itself! I've worked on a few of them over the years, i've been lucky and have never had to rebuild the small bellows, but have learned a lot about them along the way. Drop me a PM and let me know how it's going. Are you going to electrify it?

Looks like if you flattened the front hoof a bit it would make a fine bottle opener! (It may already do so!) What do you use it for? It'd make a nice handle for something...

Ok, I have no idea what a sucker rod is. Looks like rebar?

Coal ususally costs me an arm and a leg, it looks like it would only cost him an eye...

I love all these ideas! :)

Wow! They look great! I may need to order a few for gifts! ;)

Thomas, I thought about using a thin magnet (like the ones they give out for business cards to put on the fridge) but they are more rubbery than metalic, and I would lose that satisfying sound of the CLINK when metal hits metal! :) Vaugn, that sounds a bit more complicated than I can handle myself (I don't have a tap or dye). I was thinking I could drill out the center of the hammer head and place one of thos strong round magnets inside. Thanks for all the suggestions, I'll let you know what I come up with.

SmoothBore, you think I could grind a bar magnet to shape? I didn't think I could get it as smooth as i'd like, but I guess it's worth a try. I'd still need to drill it for a handle. (I get the feeling tiny shavings are going to get stuck everywhere!) :)

I didn't think so, but I was optimistic. Guess I need to investigate the drill route. :(

Can you heat, hammer and shape a magnet without losing it's magnetic qualities? I have this idea for a desktop memo holder, where I would use a small jewlers anvil (Probably mounted on a piece of oak or something) and i'd like to find a nice size block magnet to heat and shape into a peen hammer head that I would drill and fit with a nice handle so the hammer could be lifted off the anvil and notes could be left under it magnetically holding them down. It may be a silly question, but is this possible, or should I try and make a hammer head out of iron and find a bullet magnet or something to glue to the hammer face? (The second option may not look as good since the magnet seam would show, unless I drill out the hammer face, but that may be more work than needed.) Thoughts?

I sprayed a spork I made with PAM, and baked it on the grill for a few hours before a BBQ. It was a bit sticky at first, but rubbing it down when it cooled worked fine, and left it a nice shade of black.