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I Forge Iron

Timothy Miller

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Everything posted by Timothy Miller

  1. What I'm really curious about is where did the vikings get their RR spikes?
  2. We did a shop test once. Fabricator verse blacksmith to see who could forge weld 3/4" square together for a bid on a fencing restoration. We weren't actually sure what was faster. The results were surprising. The times were equal. The smith worked physically harder than the fabricator but it took about the same amount of time to make the weld. I would suspect the smith might have a slightly higher failure rate but I also suspect the smith would get faster as the job went on. The welder spent most of his time grinding first to V out the joint then to level the joint. As we all know grinding is nasty dirty work. The welder required less physical skill to do the job. Its really about skills and what you desire to do with your time when you really think about it. I know plenty of welders who are broke (seeming more so than blacksmiths) but I know of no rich smiths also. We as a humans are beyond just survival we have choices. Blacksmith work centers around forging if you are not forging than you are not blacksmithing. During a day sometimes i'm a machinist, sometimes i'm a welder, Sometimes I forge weld wrought iron. Punching a hole produces one effect and drilling another. Did you want a bulge in the bar where you passed another bar through it then you punch if you don't then drill the hole. Something that is ground looks differently than something that is filed. You may say this doesn't matter but if you are looking at the tang of a Japanese sword it does. Different methods produce different results and the informed and educated know. This trade is complex the skills are hard to learn and the equipment can be expensive and hard to find. I have seen many who don't know how complain about why some smiths are so traditional. Personally I hate the term you either have mastered a skill or you have not you are producing an authentic product or you are not and the price will reflect that. The process you choose produces a result that is identifiable in the majority of cases to those who know. The problem is many smiths end up with clients who care for none of this. The smith needs to eat and may or may not developed the skill set, so the smith is faced with a choice will I work at the fab table or will I work at the forge.
  3. I should have said The bracket is installed upside down.
  4. It is defiantly worth 25$ I used bad phrasing there. I would not bother with the mount it will work as is no need to weld on a new ear its strong enough. In your photo the spring looks ok. The real problem is that it is installed upside down. Also that chunk of yellow steel pretending to be a wedge is probably too small to take up the slop you may have to forge a new one. Its angle should match the other wedge so they slide smoothly past each other as you tap them into place.
  5. Not at $25 springs are hard to weld properly you may want to get a smith to reforge it for you.
  6. I'm sort of myopic with my interests. Forging and metal work in general is such a vast undertaking you could take a whole life and still not covered everything.
  7. Is this a cooking forum or a forum about forging? I thought we were here to educate people about the possibilities of forged iron. I did a quick look on the google. I easily found many pictures of hand forged wrought iron sad irons. Its a bit of a heavy job if done full size but you could make a miniature iron. Depending on your skill and motivation there are many options.
  8. I buy new file handles from Mcmaster-carr they cost 1.67 plus shipping. I have in a pinch used a small section of stick. I find time and gas spent shopping cost me more than paying for shipping and I don't come home with stuff I never intended to buy. I also try to avoid plastic around the forge as much as possible as I find the fumes highly objectionable.
  9. None of mine look like that. all of mine are hand forged. This looks like its cast or made in closed dies. I'm just speculating but, there are 3 options in no particular order, its a similar tool but not the same maker, It was never stamped US because it was not government issue but the same maker, the mark wore off/rusted away.
  10. It could be from the same maker just not military issue.
  11. I like my vises bolted down as securely as possible Its a real pain to work in a floppy vise.
  12. Most people value loyalty over facts, whether its to an idea or a person. It is in my opinion is one of the most destructive human attributes.
  13. It seems to be fine as is why the big push fix what is not broken? That repair is very unique and shows a ton of skill. Anybody can arc weld but there are few who can forge a U-bolt to accurate dimensions thread it and have it last for decades.
  14. Josh I have some O1 flat bar I would be willing to donate to the cause. I also would be willing to work with you in my shop to do some of the prep work. As you know I have presses power hammers and a machine shop.
  15. If you want some advise on how some stakes are made I have done fair amount of studding, experimentation and collected many historic examples. I also may have some seconds and used stakes I may want to sell.
  16. As a professional stake maker I would recommend 4140 steel or if you want to go for recycled steel truck/car axles jackhammer bits and fork lift forks work well. I have forged and sold almost a 1/4 million dollars worth in the past 10 years. You can also super quench mild steel.
  17. As a professional stake maker I would recommend 4140 steel or if you want to go for recycled steel truck/car axles jackhammer bits and fork lift forks work well. I have forged and sold almost a 1/4 million dollars worth in the past 10 years. You can also super quench mild steel.
  18. I'm well aware time is money. But not everything I forge is about making a buck. You need to push yourself or your going to get stuck in a rut.
  19. Very cool I just joined the big hammer club with a 500Lb Beadury. I set it up quick and dirty no foundation on a rubber pad. But my floor is 11" thick and 70 years old. When things slow up I will put it on a proper foundation.
  20. Carbide tipped annular cutter. We are currently drilling 1 7/8" holes through 1 1/2" thick 4340 with one takes 5 Min.
  21. I have had really good luck with forklift steel too but you need to aneal it first to cut it with a saw.
  22. More often than not ladels and spoons were forged from one peice of material. The rivited on bowl is less common to see in old work though it was done. I myself really enjoy peening out the bowl from thicker stock. It gives me a sence of acomplishment but I don't make spoons for sale I tend to give them as gifts.
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