SmoothBore

Some folks can "think on their feet", and readily adapt to variables, ... and others do better in a more "structured" environment. As long as you know who you are, ... it's all good. As an example ..... I've played the Guitar for about 45 years, ... and I still amuse myself doing so. But I'm a Awful guitarist. Big square hands and short, thick fingers, ... are NOT the proper tools for the job. No matter how much I study and learn about various Guitar "techniques", ... I still suck. I came to terms with that decades ago, ... but don't let it stop me from enjoying myself. .

Here in "Amish Country" they're just as common as Jockey Sticks and Breechings. .

Just a few years ago, I installed an even dozen "Daewoo" ( Korean ) CNC Turning Centers, ... that included that pattern Screw Driver, as part of the "Factory" Tool Kit. .

More specifically, ... a Valve Spring Compressor for flathead engines. .

Yes, ... it's essentially a spring. I would straighten a section of Automotive coil spring, to use in that application. .

Concur. In a "direct burial" application, you can "get away" with Aluminum, ... but it's more sensitive to proper installation techniques and materials.

Due to the variables in International Power Supplies, ... and trying to cope with the wide range of available Voltages and Megahertz ( frequency ), ... it's more consistent to reduce everything to Watts, or Kilowatts. In the end, you aren't billed for "Volts" or "Amps", ... for the purpose of billing, the universal standard of measure, is Kilowatt Hours. Therefore, Electrical Engineering "standards" are routinely referenced in Kilowatts ( Kw ). That way, you know everyone is "on the same page". .

It's long been my belief, that due to the intricacy of the human mind, people bring a given level of complexity to everything they do. For instance, ... digging a ditch seems quite straightforward, ... but, to the discerning Ditch-Digger, there are MANY variables. The original post was an honest question, ... but, depending on the level of complexity you bring to the subject, ... a Metallurgical Engineer couldn't provide an "all encompassing" answer. .

Concur. Life's too short to plague yourself with unnecessary obstacles. .

This was my thought as well. While the example in the photo IS somewhat questionable, ... hanging fixtures, with an ornamental chain as "strain relief", are commonplace. .

Whenever anyone mentions heating or welding galvanized material, the warnings come from all directions. I would rather see a much more "general" sort of warning, ... about proper ventilation, under ALL circumstances. Just sayin .....

Sounds like "scrap" wrenches would work OK, ... and are probably NOT plated.

Exactly. Bend the "hook" first, ... and then clamp it to any kind of vertical "fixture", while you punch the holes. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A general note about "bending" ..... I make a lot of 3" - 8" diameter chain links, from 3/4" rebar, ... for use in "Forestry" type tire chains. ( Used on Tractors and Log Skidders ) Slipping a pipe over the rebar, gives you lots of control over the position and degree of bend. .

I don't know if it changes the "design", ... but it does somewhat change the "techniques" that tend to work best. And you could make a rational argument, that a variation in technique, will ultimately effect design. From time-to-time I see guys doing "demonstrations" using temporary set-ups, of "portable" equipment, ... and think, "in my shop, I'd do that differently". So yes, ... in that sense, ... the availability of "proper" tools, has a direct effect on design. --------------------------------------------------------------- I'm a dyed-in-the-wool Pragmatist, ... who will readily incorporate "modern" equipment and techniques into my work. "Working" Blacksmiths have ALWAYS done so, as well. In that sense, I like to think my techniques are a result of the Natural Evolution of the Craft. .

Don't know where your pressure and tonnage figures came from, … but I suspect there's a discrepancy there, somewhere. Doesn't matter. If you form the end hot, … a hydraulic “Ironworker” in the 50 ton range, will be plenty of press. You already have the design for the “Rivet” Punch, … and the “Fuller” Punch for the end of the bar, can be easily ground from a standard 1” round Punch Blank Make a simple “double” Punch Holder, … and you're good-to-go. I wouldn't worry about a Trim Die, … and if necessary, you can grind the end of the piece, after it's struck. A decent, used, 50 ton hydraulic Ironworker can be had for well under $10,000.00 .....

I've heard it called a lot of things, ... but never an "Anvil". .

Maybe, ... depending on the type of rods. But why would you want to ? 20 Mule Team Borax is cheap, ... and readily available. .

As I understand your description, ... you're trying to create a "truncated pyramid" shape, ... with 4 concave sides. I suspect the problem stems from 2 possible issues. First, ... the concave curve of the 4 sides, needs to inscribe a "decreasing radius" as it transitions from the wide end, to the narrow end of the trapezoid. The tapering Horn of a London Pattern Anvil would be much better suited for this, than the "constant" radius, of a Swage Block. Second, ... due to the decreasing radius, ... the angled "sides" of the trapezoid will need to start out with a slight radius, ... in order to compensate for the decreased cross-section, brought about by the concave curvature. A piece of paper, cut to the desired shape, would be useful in "visualizing" how that all works in 3-dimensional space. Obviously, ... the trusty AutoCAD makes it easy to just "draw" the shape, and then let the "dimension" function, to tell you the lengths, angles and radii. I do this ALL THE TIME, ... and am always gratified by the ease of assembly, ... of complex 3-dimensional shapes, ... facilitated by the accuracy this process engenders. Hope I correctly understood your project, ... and Good Luck. .

That was my first thought, as well. Use the surplus volume to create a "Venturi Effect" in the stack. ------------------------------------------------- I use a little "Pancake type" diaphragm pump, ... originally intended for use with an "Air Brush" set up, ... to generate a Venturi draft, ... in order to pull the smoke into my Cold Smoker cabinet. It blows at about 3 psi, ... and sucks an amazing volume of smoke into the Smoker. The Smoker ( an old refrigerator ) stays chock-full of smoke, ... but the cabinet temperature never goes more than 5 degrees ( F ) above ambient. It's a GOOD thing. .

" what is a tirage ?" ------------------------------------------------------------ "Tirage" 1. the withdrawing of wine from a barrel, as for testing or tasting. 2. a drawing, as in a lottery. -------------------------------------------------------- Tirage, ... or Triage, ... seems to work either way. Especially if there's a "Tun" of scrap to sort. I'm sure there's a tongue-in-cheek way to insert "Butt", "Pipe" and "Hogshead" into this post, ... but enough's enough. .

Did you ever look at who sits on your local "Zoning Board" ? Generally, ... you'll find Realtors and Real Estate Developers who are pushing their own projects through the process, ... and anyone else is most likely a "retired" person, with too much free time. This does NOT make for thoughtful, or intelligent Zoning Laws. .

I have several short lengths of 1'' to 2" diameter round bar, welded into a "T" shape, ... using a bit of square stock that will fit into the Hardy Hole, as the "leg" of the "T". By using the round stock as the "fuller", ... I can use a "flat" faced hammer. I find this easier than trying to strike precisely on center, with a cross pein. .

Permission ? I just spent 20 minutes writing a masterpiece on the topic, ... and I don't have PERMISSION to post ? Get a clue.

The "Bessey" type clamps, usually have the bushing pinned on the end of the upright. It would seem a simple matter to change out the bushing, ... or turn it down. .

Back when I worked for others, ... one aspect of the "Corporate Climate" that I detested, was the endless, "artificial emergencies", ... spawned by "business school" types, ... to elicit a "sense of urgency", from employees. These phoney "competitions", that seem to infect every aspect of TV programing in the 21st Century, ... are equally off-putting. Everything's a sham "contest", ... to determine WHAT ? What I saw last night, was a meaningless display of sub-standard results, ... due, in main part, ... to the arbitrary time restriction. So we learned, ... that you can bang out a piece of crap, ... in a hurry. I already knew that, ... and think such a shallow representation of what a Blacksmith can, ... or should do, ... is insulting. I would have applauded any of the Smiths, who had refused to turn in sub-standard work. .