RainsFire

So, I live far off enough that it is difficult for me to get coal, so I have resorted to using charcoal and gas.. Although a fun and interesting process, I don't fully enjoy making charcoal a whole lot. So, there is my little problem.. I could buy charcoal, but that seems almost stupid knowing I can make it, so I do not.. but then it hits.. I could use residue heat from my gas forge to make small amounts of charcoal with every use. With my tube forge I simply placed a coffee can with as much oak scrap as I could fit in it on the back, instead of one of the bricks I usually use. and with my stacked brick forge I simply sat it on top leaving a small crack in between two bricks. So far it has been working wonderfully, propetual fuel. obviously I am not using the furnace right now (because I am typing) but my charcoal is still cooking away. anyway, just thought it was a good idea.. mabey I get scientific and pipe off some of the heated air to blast into a steel drum cooking charcoal that way, more efficient more charcoal. anybuddy else try this ever?

you could probably blast through it with an acetylene cutting torch and some lovin with the grinder.

ya, its pretty much just set on a stump at knuckly hight. Im sure thats part of my problem.. its still kind of in the temporary stage though.

what do you guy's think of used veggie oil? my father and I do bio-deisel, and are going to run our cars on straight grease here pretty soon.. so we have a few thousand gallons of the stuff sitting around. It has some fine food particals in it, but they can be filtered out.. and I've quenched a blade in it once or twice.

^^or a shed with an anvil, a hot spot, and a hammer.. I'de rather have bill gates or Warren Buffet actually doing the maintenance themselves.. that'd be interesting. I want an anvil for everything, something I can beat out hammer heads without it bouncing around.. I have a small anvil, so I really don't need another one for that kind of stuff lol. 150lb+? mabey a 200lb anvil? something that I can use that when I am using the horn it stays in place. right now my 75lb anvil jumps when I strike the horn.

Hi guy's, im planning on turning my little hobby into something a bit larger by investing in some better equipment. I have a quaint little gas forge charcoal forge, and a coal forge, and a lovely dainty (soon to be replaced) 75lb anvil. I've made a few hammers, tongs, punches/chissels/drifts, fire tools ect..and bought a few and have a lovely barn stall that I can enclose to make a perfect little shop space. But I'm having a little difficulty thinking out exactly what I want to do with it aside from upgrading my forges and anvil. A power hammer would be nice, but I would have to make it so maybe a treadle hammer. I plan on doing anything from knives to decorative iron work. I have a few welders and most of the other basic neccessary peices of equipment. anyway, If you would be so kind I would love to hear your ideas of a perfect shop space, and if you are feeling really charitable a pic or two of your personal workplace. also, what is a good sized anvil? Thanks-

cool, so its not a big deal then.. I was just about too hot when I quit. I guess I'll just keep hammerin then! What about that trick when your doing welds of keeping the steel suspended until it is struck? that sucks but is definatly a bit cooler I think..

ha, I'll go a month for a pair of tongs alone... and im 16..

I've been working on a rather large project, all of which is being beaten out on my 75ish pound anvil. Point is My gas forge heats up my multiple pieces of steel and im moving fairly fast, so there is alot of yellow hot steel on my anvil face. I rested the flat of my knuckles on my anvil and pretty much schorched them.. which is why i'm not still hamering steel right now. So ya, is there a way I can keep it cool? or should I just go slower and take more breaks? or maybe get a bigger anvil. anyway, thanks!

I live in the sticks of oregon.. If you can, stick with the more local solutions.. locally owned hardware stores, whatever.. but this is a charcoal thread.. not economics or politics, so sorry I brought it up. I just realized how much I like using charcoal over any other fuel, you can make it at home, it burns hot, and doesn't leave clinker.. only downside is how it burns so fast but no biggy.

because wal-mart is the festering tumor on the side of modern society, pulsing with gorey energy, bursting at the climax of American consumption. other than that, good point!!

hard wood charcoal.. you can make it your self, or buy it at places that sell bbq charcoal.. just grab a bag or two of the natural stuff. NOT BIRQUETTES have fun mate, if you want to do small runs you can stick scrap wood in a metal can with a lid with a few holes in it, and cook it over a fire until it stops smoking..

around here I can point out 1-8ft sections of the rail, tie plates, thousands of low and high carbon spikes, and everything else they could possibly leave on my place.. used toilet paper included, (not a good alternate fuel fyi).. all can be salvaged.. though im not sure its totally legal.

nicking and bending to break works.. I think you can also cut it, polish and check out the grain structure.

Ha, I'de be a little afraid that the person I hired would deny that I won whether I did or not.. He's a winner either way!

ya.. but I would have to be there anyway.. Could you bring something like that on a plane?

grr, If only I had a good reason to go to virginia.. ^^im afraid we are in the same boat mcraigl.. oregon is just a little to far from virginia.

wait, so its decent quality steel ehh? Thats awesome!! I have cut 1/2 inch flats of it that would make awesome hawks.

you're pretty into these Show me your "-----" posts.. Ill slap up a picture and description of ours when I find my stupid camera..

uh ohh.. I've been described so far, You consider yourself fortunate for living so close to the railroad. Your computer history is greater than 50% iforgeiron/other smithing websites. you never see this thread because you are currently in fact beating on some metal somewhere.

cool, I might have to try this some time also.. I always though cast iron was crappy stuff.. but aparently not ehh?

really? wow your adventurous, I would love to see how it works out. This is a process I am extremely interested in as well.. I heard on a documentary that it took something like 4 days of un broken attention to the fire to yeild good results.. I could be wrong though lol. one little question, do you need fire brick? or will red brick suffice?

dare I say you could use a dremel.. with a small carbide round bit and carve an eye into the punch, or carve the positive and smack the punch onto it a few times..

^^I second that!! we have a masive copper and bronze Prop and drive shaft off an old submarine or ship. way's probably 200lb's.. were thinking of cutting it up and casting it, but It is a really cool peice. I think you can cast copper relativly easily.. I know bronze is easy stuff..

I've had a fondness for wood working, and basic metal machining/fab for quite a while.. but I was struck with the blacksmithing bug about 4-5years ago at a renissance fair where a soon to be friend of ours was beating out basic hooks and blades for the audience. He had a little rivit forge tucked back behind his display which my father and I purchased soon after. I now have a gas forge, and a firebrick coal forge.. but I still go back to my little rivit hand-crank forge for the smaller stuff and welding.