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Hey all. I don't really do metal casting, (more blacksmithing) but I was thinking of maybe doing it one day. So, if I was to get a crucible, with a lid, could I just plunk it in my gas forge (Chile forge)? It gets up to welding heat for steel, so it should melt brass.
Any reason why I can't use a blacksmithing forge?

Thanks all,
Mitch

This evening I made a new hot chisel (same coil spring), and quenched it in warmed canola oil. We'll see what happens!

Thanks for the tips!

Interesting! So, can I stick with coil springs or should I buy some new stock?

These tools both broke (chisel and punch) when I tried to use them. They were both forged from coil springs.
Funny thing is, the grain patterns are so different! They were heat treated identically (quench tip in water, let it go to straw then quench tool).
I think I'll order some 5160 round for tools. Would you heat treat them the way I described, or oil quench?

I've got an Trenton made ACME anvil, 190 lbs. It's really nice, quite beat up though!

Looks very nice. I would suggest getting some sand paper and cleaning up those grind lines on the knife, the pattern will look better that way :)

Pretty sweet. What size stock did you start with?

It would make a fairly big key chain, but it will fit in a pocket easily.

Thanks for the comments.
Bajajoaquin, I always draw out the stem before flattening, what I meant was I flatten it before cutting it off :)

Hey all, I made a video about forging a leaf key ring from 1/2" square, take a look-

Ooh, they all look very good. I agree with Beth, looks like sea waves ;)

Nice and rustic, I like them!

Yeah, I am :)

Quite true.

I think if the scroll is large as on the file one, it would serve the same purpose.

Pretty cool!
Interesting lines in that metal.

They both look really nice. I particularly like the file one.
If I may make a suggestion, the scroll on the smooth one would look better going the other way, IMO.

A quick googling would reveal that potatoes are a good burn remedy, you cut them in half and shave or grate it to get lots of potato mush, and hold that to the burn with gauze.

It might help to have an aloe vera or two growing near the shop.

This will be a great thread, I need a good FAK in my shop as well.

At a shop I took blacksmithing lessons, I heard they kept potatoes in the first aid kit there, and if someone got burned they would cut it in half and hold it on the burn, supposedly it helps. I'd look into it before throwing some in the kit though, seems a bit dubious ;)

Wow, thanks! I have my head full of ideas now!

I've never heard of 'The Sacred Blacksmith'

I'm going to try to find it just to see what kind of blasphemy it is...

What I like to is get my farrier's rasp, and file the sides of a stock hammer handle, so it's skinnier and parallel in cross section. This is remmomended in Mark Aspery's first book, and it makes the handle nicer to hold. I leave it rough from rasping so it's a better grip.
I'll post a picture in a couple days when I can get back to the shop :)

Cool video, I had never seen those before.

Thank you very much, Ted :)

llmarinen, you have a point! LOL!!!

Let them make the commercials, the world will never believe we make anything other than swords and horse shoes anyway!

That is crazy! Really amazing!!