slimpickins

You know what i think would be better than going to see 1 man with a thousand+ anvils?
Seeing 1 thousand+ kids putting them to use.

If anyone in NSW is interested, there is an Blacksmith/Ironfest event this weekend 21/22 April, at Lithgow NSW, 2 I/2hrs west of Sydney.
www.ironfest.net/
(PS Bring warm clothes) ;)

I have also set my clothes on fire with grinder, and stick welding.

Dont know if the U.S. gets Bosch tools, but i have used (and abused) for years. The wheels they sell with the grinders are the best ive ever used. Flexovit wheels i would also recommend.

Anyways, I bought a bag of the charcoal, seems to work nicely, (expensive though),although i am starting out so dont have much to judge it by, but best of all the missus is not affected by it. Happy wife = Happy life.
Plus my fair weather forge is only 12 feet from next doors clothes line, so no coal smoke in their laundry.
Thanks everyone for your input.

Hey, anybody think this charcoal be alright for forge?

http://www.redheads.com.au/faq.php

I can get plenty of free coal, but the wife has bad asthma which of course the free coal is not so good (thankyou Murphy) .
Just wondering what Aussies are using, charcoal wise, and what do people think of the above charcoal (USA incl.) if it would be ok.
I know its not lump, but it has no binder etc. Where do Aussies buy lump? Thanks all.

Rural Australia gets bad for mice some years. Watch - Mouse Plague invasion. on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkTBPk1kunA youll see what i mean. Guiness world record stuff.
I have seen clever traps like http://www.swiftrap.com.au/about-swiftrap.html work pretty well. Sometimes filling a 44 gallon drum in a night or two.

Thanks Ian, i usually find out about good shows the day after they were on. Thanks. :D

I got some SS type EI-312 rods for dissimilar metals, they do the trick?

Thanks everyone for the advice so far. ThomasP, MANY thanks for the offer for the chunk of metal, but im 8,000 miles away in Australia, but still appreciate your kindness. If i do weld, what temp. should i preheat to? I got some

Just starting out, and was wondering if anyone can give me advice. Until i get something more practical i plan to use a length of RR. Problem is it ony is 8 inchs long and 22# in weight. I want to use it horizontal for more of a face and was wondering if welding 2 pieces of 1 inch mild steel underneath will work in boosting its mass. Can i weld RR to Mild steel with a stick welder? Can i stagger the welds or do i weld all around? Am i just making it heavier, or am i creating more workable Mass? I have a 2 foot long length of I or H Beam, so should/could i weld the 1 inch plate for a larger face to that with the beam in its vertical position? Thankyou for your help in advance.