fat pete

my first hammer was a vaughn 2# for about 35 bucks from hammersource.com....till i got used to how you hammer this was big enuff for me .... i am a big guy and could handle a 3 pounder..easy...well as i got more used to the handling of the hammer i notice there are different reasons, different metals, different techniques all related to hammering....I just bought 2 little hammers cause the have thier purpose that i found by banging on my own...when i bought them i knew what i was looking for....in the begining i wouldnt have had the experiance to realize what the purpose of these hammers were.....I still use the 2 pounder...I also use a 3 pounder when i am trying to move metal on a larger piece of stock...I didnt go to the three pounder for a long time .... i guess you could say I worked up to it....these r things you discover as you make your way thru the trade.... Personally I have a hrd time with the short handle on a Hofi hammer... I also preferr a rounder type handle as opposed to the rectangular one issued with the Hofi system. Try all kinds of stuff till you feel comfortable....

My opinion only!!! When I started I considered building my own propane set up...after researching the subject I decided to just buy the forge and get on with the blacksmithing. After a couple of years it came time for me to rebuild the forge....well by buying from a manufacturer who stood behind his product I decided to let him rebuild it...now i have an almost new forge that really is nice and safe to work with. I often think even with the repair cost i still spent about the same money as i would have building the thing...probably less in the long run cause it works with out any adjustment....for about 120 bucks more than you are spending I got my forge hooked it up and in prolly 20 mins was banging away ..... so simple!

i took the begining 3 week school at Turley Forge, last October at this time. I still hvent worked my way thru his whole curricullum in my shop. It IS the school. As you said the history, the depth, the tools, little tricks and his techique just plain rocks...I said when I left I think anyone with the slightest interest in history or metal should go and dive right in...it is a very fufilling time spent with an extremely talented instructor.

just starting one too... mine will be 12 x 20 some kind of dirt/sand floor.... i am sort of inheriting a iron kiss hammer....all i gotta do is provide a compressor....but this is good inputus for me to get off the carport and put all my forges and hammers in a enclosure....it will be added on to my existing bay of my garage.....

best of luck to frosty and deb and thier immediates....i really do hope it all works out

there are a bunch of smiths down your way....ask glen!

great news!! hope all stays steady on the mend!! take care and good luck....still praying

i am pullin for ya frosty and deb .... hang in there buddy!

i will have an i fporge shirt on also we should be getting there friday noonish... i will be in a rv

my dog is quiet and i am sure it is older than both of you......i hope i meet ya both

jan and the fat guy will be showing up friday ....with my dog...

brushing your piec does remove but doesnot reduce scaling...the reason you want rid of it is it is harder than the metal you are bangin therefore when its hot and you smack the metal the scale can imbed it self in the steel ...not to mention how it will dent your anvil so you should brush the piece and wipe the anvil after every heat

say hi to shawn for me....sorry to hear about hi liver...i fully understand.....u needed a break anyway from IFI ..... best to ya steve

--------------------------------------------------------------------------- if they were warmer than the air they would rise...and on the opening stroke of the bellows it may suck it up

i find if i use too much wax and the metal wasnt quite hot enuff it gets maybe a little gummy....i just put it back in the heat and put some coal dust on it and rub it... i also notice if i use linseed oil alone it gives a brownish look ....and if i use butchers bowling alley wax some oil and dust i get a really good color and its very durable....the metal needs to be hot to melt the wax but not hot enuf to burn it, but of course... milage will vary

I know there are a few threads on this subject in the archives....u oughta search the files and read those threads.... I live in PA and it gets cold but i dont think it gets cold enuff to damage anything under normal use....I have heard it recomended that you heat up a plate to warm up the anvil and some propylene glycol for anti freezing the slack tub.... i do have a heater in the clean room but if i am running the propane forge after about 10 mins the area is warm....ventilation is one important consideration when looking for some level of comfort during cold weather......

chili forge rocks...i have a habenero for a couple of yrs and i never had anyprobs with welding...i use a 60# tank...i run 1 burner most of the time .... i tried to rebuild it cause the borax just ate everything up...well i could get the kaowool out but not in so i called dave and asked for advise....he said send it back he will rebuild it and bring it up to date for the cost of parts and shipping...cool deal...they r very nice people! I am glad thats the route i took in the begining......

i had to remake a tool for a guy and both ends needed to be upset to get more metal to make the shape needed....the wrap around side worked out well however the other end wasnt upset on the one i made and it has the wrong shape...upsetting that end will change the way the shape comes out ..... spud

i clean anything i weld ...i will clean the metal of any mill scale till i have nuttin but metal...the cable i have done is good and clean before i heat it up...i have 7 strand cable i took apart and soaked in kerosene for 2 days before it was used....also after you pull it out of the fir put a wrench on it and make it tighter.....do that a couple of times,,,then start to hit it...you will feel it

sometimes holding your hammer and tongs hurts u....it comes from grabbing your tools like you wanta choke them....your should be throwing your hammer at the anvil you realy only grab it hard enuff to lift it....your tongs will hold the piece with less pressure than you think...but if you hold these tools for dear life you will get sore arms elbows...relax when you bang dont get all tensed up.. lift that hammer like its your friend and tell it where to hit..... dont muscle things....if you got pain when you arent banging lay off a little while till you heal up....then do the stretchig and warm up like said earlier i make a couple hooks before i go wild....loossen up it helps

search the archives....u can get in big trouble fooling around rr....they take that kind of stuff real serious....all u need is some nit wit to squeel on ya .... but look back in the archives there are a bunch of threads on it.