dennis_hl

missed the topic heading--wish I could figure out how to make a dirt box gasser.

Hey thanks for the replies. I picked up a squirrel cage blower and am making a valve so I can fine tune the fire. I fired up my old coke forge the other night with the anthracite and I sure liked the results, I used a bit of charcoal to get the fire going. I did notice with the handcranked blower I did need to keep on top of the fire. Happy to hear not too much diff in coke and seems to work a bit like charcoal--if I squint really hard Happy smithin'

So, a local stove dealer is selling 40# bags of anthracite for $5.75. I've been a die hard charcoal user with brief periods of experimentation. I've used coke and smithing coal from centaur forge, but shipping costs have kept me from fully switching over, I can get lump wood charcoal at a reasonable cost from a local hardware store when wally world runs out for the season. However, at roughly $6 for 40 lbs of anthracite I can't resist giving 'er a go. Any considerations for burning anthracite, I'm a dedicated sideblast user, and am gonna play around with that, but are there any other thoughts on using anthracite and forge design? In general does the fire pot need to be deeper than what I'm used to when working with coke? My coke pots are pertty shallow. Charcoal requires a firepot nearly as deep or as deep as it is wide. My "smithing" coal experience has been in a riveter's forge so I can't judge too much one way or the other in that regard.

I have never taken offense to any of Mr. Powers comments on this forum or others that he frequents.

Thanks. I have several other seax in the works. One is on the order of 14" long. It is my favorite blade style.

Hey, its temp I'm sure, plus you'll likely find a way to heat some iron at some point when you settle in at grad school. It was certainly a pleasure meeting you in the iron museum's shop that day way back when. Wish we had had the chance to hang out a couple more times. Good luck in your travels.

Bellow is an image of my first knife ever and the latest one that I have sold. I made the first one out of rebar and hardened it in super quench. I had lost it and at the time didn't much care, but recently I was really wishing that I had the thing, I found it when I cleaned out the car (it was in the back window behind the seat back). There is about two or so years between the two. I'm sorry 'bout the low picture quality. I need a better camera!

Yep, propane torch here too. Though I use a wood stick match and paper and twigs when doing a demo. Folks seem to think a torch is cheating.

Things move fast I guess when you get others involved on a local level. A building was donated today, 12'X24' and I guess an addition could be added if need be for storage or finishing.

Still planning on the smithing space, but with the nps visit things went well, I'm not feeling so desparate or hurried. Will post more as things move along.

I'm entertaining the thought of accepting an offer to help set up a blacksmith shop at a local museum. This is separate from my shop at the Quincy Mine (if you recall my posts from last year). If we do this we will be building from the ground up and are considering space enough for three work stations: forge, anvil, vise, etc. The other idea is one large forge centrally located with four stations located around it (one drawback that I can foresee is fire needs of the working smiths). I'm not sure about space requirements, I think my current space is about 8' square forge space, less bench and storage. What would you do different if you could do it over again? Its fun to dream, we may not get beyond the planning stage. Who knows... Dennis

I have relied on my work as a blacksmith as my sole source of income for a while now. I think for me learning how to be a businessman is more difficult than learning how to pattern weld. Its tough, but I'm still hanging in there.

No offense taken! Nuetral flame is the ticket. I got a pretty good weld on 1/8" plate today. I had to worry the joint apart with a hammer and a vise.

I've been reading, and am doing what I can to stay safe.