Steve Sells

for what purpose ? You can build one for under $5 with a fire brick a drill and a can of propane, OR you can build a 6 burner that gets 500,000 BTU. with out know what you want to do there is no way to answer except to say that you should not look into a gas forge, it can cause retna burn from the IR waves. As for buying one, again there many options,and most of the those can be removed from your choices, if you know what you are going to use it for. Since you have not told us, then we don't know.

what is your question?

I am a Master Electrician with IBEW Local Union Number 305. Code is clear about this, but since you are not in the states. it is up to local authorities. What is important is good path to earth for a lightning strike to drain off, Remember Its a very high power electrical charge, no matter what you use, when it gets hit it can become toast. But its lazy. Electricity will travel the easiest route. so if your Rod is a better path (less resistance) than the surrounding area, then it will follow that path. Your conductors likewise should be an easy path, large enough to deal with a high power transfer, at least a diameter as your finger as smaller wont last, this usually means Copper wire. as Gold is too costly, and Silver is not much better. Steel is used for most grounding rods, they are only copper coated. the rods for lightning as well. Use 1/4 inch strapping 1/2 inch or wider should be a good connection point to the rod, larger is fine, but 1/8 is too thin to hold up to a strike. For the record, when I mention lasting, it is not about years, its about lasting long enough to drain the lightning strike. its not any good if it melts at the first hit, before it can drain the electricity.

You may want to ask in the folder section. FYI Rich Hale does Beautiful folder's and is easy to talk too.

good brand I would like one. Hit it with a hammer and look for the bounce, checking for problems like, is this an anvil a fire survivor that ruined the heat treat? are their cracks in it? Price sounds good too. 2 thumbs up.

do ya think that Glenn has the legs for a kilt ?

Very nice, Congrats on your journeymen status. I served apprenticeships in 2 trades: Blacksmithing, and Electrical. I and remember how nervous I was for those exams. Your work looks much nicer than my presentation for blacksmithing was. You have done well.

Cold shunts or weld sheer, the point it that it is no longer welded. You can re weld it, but being a finished blade it will get very thin, and me already be too thin to hold enough heat to be able to weld. It may have been faulty from the manufacturer. You can ask them, BUT since you forged it, any warranty may be void, because most will warrant wasted stock methods, but not the forging process. If you forged too cold for the steel used in the pattern welded billet that can cause separation as well. Many have a danger zone of 600F to about 1550F. Between these temps we do not hammer.

Tonight at my class, my Apprentices and I will ring ours in Her honor. May she have peace.

Looks like a knuckle from a rail car's coupling.

When the moon is rising over a grassy hilock, and thou hast sacrificed a bail of oats to a she goat, Then warm the "want-to-be spring" in yea forge hearth whilst chanting the mantra, "Harden yea steel". When said item no longer is attractive to a load stone, plunge into oil or water if the spirit moves you thusly. Then polish and change your mantra to "I hope this worked" while heating the polished and shiny bar of hardened iron, til it reach the appearance of a sapphire. Prefer this one ? While it WILL work, there are many unnecessary steps, but if you feel that you have to complicate things, ... what ever floats your boat. Have fun. :D

5.5 inch Post vise from IBA member, $50 in 2005 3 inch bench vise $1 at yard sale 1989

Model 45 Kholshaw scales say 104 pounds like new paid $235 2007 75 pound anvil with stump, no markings, on anvil OR stump Trade for rewire of electrical in a bathroom in 2001 7ft x 4ft leather bellows with fire pot, my portable for Ren-faires I paid $600 in 1998

Maybe you and I can not forge weld Titanium, but look at the all the timascus being made and see that it can be done. The timascus.com web page is dead.

I have noticed that when I am aligned with Gods word, I have a much better life. Why wouldn't this apply this to the forge it is just another part of our lives isn't it ?

Many of us make it ourselves :)

I have forged brass and bronze as well. Usually in the bright red to dark orange range. Light blows are preferred. Try to move to much metal and it can fail. also as noted above, many alloys will be very red short, and fall apart if too hot. Working cold poses none of those worries. Heat to red, QUENCH , then work a little more. if any resistance to movement, heat to red again, then quench. this is how most metals are annealed. Blacksmiths: Iron alloys are opposite of most other alloys in this matter: its not a typical typo from me.:D

The things that just knowing Dale can drive people to do. But that is impressive.

No problem, and you are correct, I was also made aware that I need to explain distal taper too. There are many things I am too opinionated about. (and I should not be) The web page comments are good for others to see too, as not everything on the web is totally accurate, and we all can benefit from scrutiny. Even the most l earned person, can make mistakes, we should always question what we read, and verify if it is the truth, nothing wrong with that. and the Ren Fair is only 2 days.

This is one thing Thomas and I agree on 100% the buffing wheel/bench grinder is determined to get us if we don't watch out. They are the single most dangerous machine in our shops. Use only with total concentration, and care. Any one that does not agree, has been very lucky so far. respect all power tools, as One of my teachers told me, Tools can injure, power tools can maim, and fast.