SmoothBore

As I get older, I know fewer and fewer things "for sure", ... since much of what's touted as "new" is so often just a "rip off" of some earlier idea. But this I know, from first hand experience : When I started to work in the Engineering Department at Manley Valve, in York, PA, ... around 1995, ... the process or Plasma Welding a variety of powdered, "hard surface" materials to valve seats, was already decades old. And at that time, Manley wasn't claiming this as any sort of "proprietary" process, ... but instead, it was viewed as just another specialized feature, that was offered to satisfy the needs of certain OEM buyers. The point of all this, is only that ..... there's really "nothing NEW under the Sun". And we would ALL do well to remember, ... and RESPECT those who came before us, ... for they accomplished GREAT things, ... with much less support and technology, than we enjoy. .

Sodium filled valves are most common in high performance engines. This includes MOST Marine Engines, ... due to the sustained high RPM operation they incurr. It's also very common to find a wear surface "wafer" of 4140, about .100 thick, welded on the tip of the valve stem. Hard surface weld on the valve seat area, is also common on valves for diesel engines. Older engines tended to use carbon steel for intake valves. This was possible because the fuel mix flowing over the valve kept it cool. This is NOT the case with direct injected engines, ... therefore, newer engines tend to have Stainless intake valves, too. .

"DON'T make the mistake of trying to compete with the big box stores on price because you will starve if you try." This is excellent advice, ... and I'd take it a step further, by advising that you shy away from items that can be, in any way, compared to inport trash. Too many people just can't tell the difference, ... and you'll go crazy trying to educate them. .

I don't have a clue what they might be, ... but when I used to do contract work for US Naval Ordnance, ... EVERYTHING, ... repeat EVERYTHING got double hot dipped galvanized. And it was commonplace for the Navy to specify "high grade" materials, ... even for very utilitarian purposes, ( braces, struts, railings etc. ) ... in order to achieve weight savings, by using smaller dimension, high tensil parts. .

Yes, of course, ... early bicycles were made of wood. .

So you're the guy who's been spying on me ..... :P I tend to accumulate "projects" ... mostly because my ego won't let me admit that there are things that aren't worth fixing. While it's true that "I can fix anything" ;) ... maturity eventually brings an understanding, that some things aren't worth your time ..... For the past several years, I've been on a "Crusade" around the Shop, ... putting things into 100% working condition. And I've got to say, the result is VERY gratifying. Everything you do, goes so much smoother, ... and because of this, the overall level of quality is enhanced. Why did I put up with all the "temporary" measures, for so many years ? Beats me.

Running the "road" is great fun when you're young, and unattached, ... but for most folks, it grows "old" before too long. And while the money can be more attractive than some other "blue collar" jobs, ... the risks are much greater too. Being an "owner operator" is an excellent opportunity to drive a $100,000.00 truck, ... to the Poor House. Working for a Freight Company, isn't much different than working in a Factory. The best, most honest advice I can give a fellow of your age, ... is to go to School, and learn a different way to earn a living. .

Well, ... a couple of things ..... Here, in the North East, we have a wide selection of Steel Suppliers, ... but this is not true everywhere. And our counterparts from bygone days, rarely had the luxury of "ordering up" material of specific grade and dimension. So, for me, there's a certain satisfaction gained from re-purposing "junk", in the Tradition of our forebears. .

One of the projects, from many years ago, that got me interested in having a Forge in my shop, ... was a very simple fabrication job, using 3/4" rebar to make a "step" to aid in climbing onto a tractor. I wanted the step to be "skelatilized" so that mud and snow would pass through, ... and the "no slip" texture on the rebar, was more attractive than using pipe or round bar, or any other sort of smooth surfaced material. At that time, I had no way of heating the rebar, to facilitate bending, ... but I thought I could "notch" it part way through, bend it at the weakened point, and then weld up the notches. What actually happened to the sawed and ground notches, when I tried to bend them, ... is that they snapped off clean, at the weakened point, ... and a 1 hour fabrication job, turned into a half-day "cut and weld" project. The good news, is that the rebar has served without any problems, for about 21 years now, ... and shows no signs of failure. A "thing of beauty" it is NOT, ... unless you find beauty in durable, functional items. I also run homemade "Log Skidder" style tire chains on that same tractor, ... and make the 6" diameter "center rings", from 3/4" rebar. It would not be possible to bend those rings without a Forge, ... and the stress relief it imparts to the finished ring, makes them indestructable in use. The point of those examples being, ... that rebar can be very useful, ... but it is best suited for use in it's original form. I wouldn't attempt to Forge it into a different cross section, ... or use it for any kind of "striking" or "struck" tool, ... or any kind of pry-bar. .

Like I didn't already feel ancient. I'm certain the structure built in the 1980's was still sound, ... and I'm equally sure that it was "Period Correct", ... so I'm having trouble understanding WHY it would have been raised, in favor of a "Revolutionary" period structure. I guess money talks, ... and Tourism trumps Tradition ..... .

Taking the Wife is a BIG mistake. Beware the Pottery. .

Since childhood I've been fascinated by Colonial Williamsburg, ... and have visited many times. In the early 80's I was in frequent correspondence with Roy Underhill, regarding our shared interest in Antique Tools. At his invitation, ... over Easter weekend, in ( I think ) 1984, ... I visited the construction site of "Anderson Forge & Nailery", ... where Underhill's crew of "Housewrights", had begun construction on the current structure that houses the Forges, and Blacksmith Shop. They had been "riving" the shingle siding for the shop, ... and had several "Froes" that needed new handles. ( A Froe for splitting roof shingles has a straight handle, ... but those used for splitting the 4' long, tapered "Siding Shingles" were often fitted with a curved handle. ) As it happens, we had discussed this issue previously, and when I showed up, he put me straight to work, fitting some new, "properly" curved handles. :P So that was my "contribution" to the "original" Anderson Forge project. ( It's my understanding, that the roof and siding has recently been replaced, ... and Boy does that make me feel OLD. ) Over the ensuing decades, I've re-visited the Forge many times, ... seen it evolve into it's current configuration, ... and would reccomment allocating several hours of your visit, just to absorb the detail they've achieved with that particular re-creation. There's an awful lot to see in Williamsburg, ... and I think it's best to decide beforehand where you'll spend your time. Otherwise, nightfall will overtake you, long before you've "seen all the sights". .

I quized the Office Manager at one of the local "recycling centers", ... and he claimed it was his Liability Insurance Carrier that insisted on no "retail" sales. :( .

I'd be inclined to incorporate one of those ornate, cast iron Christmas Tree bases into the design. That should be sufficiently stable, cost effective, portable, and in keeping with the "Ironwork" theme. .

I think perhaps, individual success with various hammer techniques, might have something to do with individual physiology. I'm a "barrel chested" physical type, ... and tend to be more "right brain" methodical in my approach to things. Someone that'a thinner, lankier and perhaps more "artistic" in their thinking, is surely going to have a different approach to things. There's no "Right or Wrong" in that ..... .

I've noticed that some folks like a fairly light hammer, ( 1.5 to 2.5 pound ) ... while I prefer a heavier one. ( 3 to 4 pound ) Those who favor the lighter hammers, tend to grip well down the handle, ( which increases velocity ) and use short, rapid blows. You might, ... for lack of a better term, ... call this technique, "flicking" the hammer. I mostly grip about 6" below the head, and use a very "deliberate" blow, ... often "stroking" the face of the hammer across the piece, to help move the material in the desired direction. For me, "rebound" doesn't usually enter into the equation, ... unless I'm really whaling away on a larger piece.

Those who are somewhat less "gifted", tend to throw things away ..... We, the talented, and anointed, ... can ALWAYS find a new use for all that old stuff. :P .

I don't intend this as a "critique" or to be "judgmental", ... but the original question immediately struck me as being indicative of the fundamental differences in perspective, within the Blacksmithing Community. For me, ... Form will always follow Function. While I appreciate the "artistic" aspect of ironwork, my attitude is always of a Pragmatic, rather than Artistic nature. That being said ..... I realize that today, the money, and interest, is in ornamental and decorative ironwork, rather than toolmaking and fabrication. So, ... for that reason, the original question is probably of greater importance, than any issues regarding the "proper" steel selection, necessary to create a "best" quality blade. In reality, no modern day, hand forged blade, will ever be subjected to rigorous use. My advice, is to go ahead and make it "pretty". The resulting "low carbon" blade, will be easy ro sharpen, ... and will open letters just as well as any other ..... .

It seems we have a failure of communication. Perhaps "Barrel Link" is the incorrect term, for the sort of CAST IRON weights, that are incorporated into Anchor Rode Chain. In further explaination ..... In what I know as "Barrel Link" chain, the Half-Barrel shaped weights ( like a barrel that is split vertically ) are riveted into both sides of every other link, of an Anchor Chain. They bear no load, ... and serve only to add weight, and to give the chain a more uniform cross section, ... thus alowing it to pass more smoothly through the "Hawsehole" ( or "Cat Hole" if you're British ) and around a Capstan Winch. .

Many, many years ago, my daily commute took me past the railroad siding that served the old "Campbell Chail" facility, ... in York, PA. From time-to-time there would be "Gondola" cars on that siding, loaded with the cast iron "Barrel Links" that are often incorporated in that sort of anchor chain. ( Campbell Chain Company would forge and weld a "regular" chain link, alternately, to join the weighted "barrel links" into a length of weighted anchor chain. ) [ Note : The weight of an anchor chain ( rode ) serves to keep the "load" on the anchor in a more nearly horizontal, rather than a verticle direction. An anchor is designed to "dig in" ( set ) when pulled horizontally, ... and to "break out" when vertical lift is applied to the anchor rode. Additionally, the weight of the chain portion of the anchor rode, works a a "shock absorber", ... in that the "pull" of the ship, must first lift the chain off the bottom, before any load is transferred directly to the anchor. ] .

All I've ever seen, were Cast Iron. They make excellent Decoy Anchors, ... otherwise, they tend to be low grade Cast, ... so basically, ... not much use for anything. . .

Chris LeDoux, Guy Clark, Gary P. Nunn, Arlo, Robert Earl Keen, Jerry Jeff Walker, Don Edwards, John Prine, Dire Straits, ZZ Top, Steve Earl, Warren Zevon, ..... Or sometimes, my "Girls that can sing" mixed discs, ... EmmyLou harris, Nanci Griffith, Iris DeMent, Joan Baez, Allison Krauss ..... Then there are Grateful Dead marathon days, ... and Jimmy Buffett days, too. .

I thought my shop was sealed up pretty tight, ... ( except from the invasion of "Stink" bugs, that moved in a few years ago. ) But back in March, I took a fall ( broke 9 vertabrae ) that kept me out of the shop for 4 or 5 weeks. While I was laid up, the birds invaded the place, ... and have splattered their "calling cards" all over. Apparently, they fly up into the 2" crack between the sliding door and it's "cap" flashing, ... perch on top of the door, ( and drop their excess cargo down over the inside of the door ) and then take up a variety of "comfort stations", above the Welding Table, Belt Sander, and Lawn Tractors. At this point, I'd welcome a coupleof Blacksnakes. :( .

I'm sure those are good luck charms, ... intended to be worn around the necks of "Surfer Dudes". :P .

I would think Bone would be a good, "period correct" choice. .