territorialmillworks

When I lived in Tennessee (35 years ago LOL), there was a guy in the next valley that had his mailbox repeatedly centerlined by a truck with a grill guard. He sunk a large pipe in cement and then placed a piece of PVC over the steel pipe. Sure enough, the mailbox got hit again, pushing the engine/tranny off the mounts and putting two juveniles in the hospital. The guy got charged with some law relating to creating a hazard/nuasance. Turns out that the mailbox was located on the right-of-way of the country road and not on his land. With the way tort laws are out of control in this country, might want to keep this cautionary tell in mind....still think the little reprobates got what they deserved.

Building a third ribbon burner but with "pilot tubes" this time. Could someone give me the ID of the metal pilot tubes (not the refractory opening) on their Pine Ridge burner and let me know if it a GP or LP model. THX, Keith

I don't know about the rest of you, but after watching that video, my IQ score increased by 200 points LOL

Want to make some 3/4" dia X 3" long PH punches out of 4140. Planned on turning down a groove in the shank for holding with bolt tongs, forge to shape and then HT in an oven I've built. Probably not the best steel to use under a power hammer but it's what I've got and I've got 5 feet so....Question is,what hardness should I be looking at when I temper? Any suggestions/advise appreciated. Keith

MacBruce....it obviously works very well for you....Your tree is unbelievable....I've thought that a needle scaler would be useful tool but hadn't run up against a 'need' for one. Back to the forge....THX

Good advice/ideas....With inconsistent forge welds on my part and the size of what I'm hoping to do, forge welding is probably not the right approach this time. Hadn't even thought about torch welding. Would probably get me there better than tig/mig. Amazing how sometimes we don't even consider all the options.... With an adjustable brick forge and a rose bud, I can heat the larger pieces and then forge to shape a smooth transition. Will also work on test pieces to before jumping into this....a good excuse to work on my forge welding....THX

I'd like to do more organic items. Specifically to redo and existing double gate where I taper and texture 5/8 rnd stock and then branch off with 1/2, 3/8 and 1/4 and then leaves.....Don't like the look of tig/mig welding...Question is how to forge weld these pieces together and make it blend in and look natural. Here is where I've committed myself beyond my abilities, to my wife none the less LOL. I'm open to all ideas...Keith

Here's an old photo with the ball valve. When I adjusted the inlet choke on the blower, it started to cavitate/free wheel. The ball valve was better but beyond 1/2 turn, it just dropped out. I learned about the linear characteristic of butterfly valves used in the exhaust port on my kinyon hammer......check out McMaster Carr. 2 1/2" valves are a little expensive so I "cheated" and made mine on the milling machin with a pvc coupler, 3/8" bolt and a steel disc. One could be made with a drill press and some patience...Keith

Matt, I have two naturally aspirated forges and built two different ribbon burners for a third forge. The ribbon burner is the only one that I fire up these days. One of the things that I learned was that the ball valve on the exhaust side wouldn't let me fine tune the burner. Seemed that it was 'all or nothing'. Then I learned somewhere that a butterfly valve is linear in controlling the volume/velocity. Made a big improvement....The radial blower I use is oversized because it was free so I can't help there. But make sure you don't undersize your tubing to the burner. 2 or 2 1/2" With the volume of air, I ended up taking off the back door to allow the forge to breath...Like any forge, you cant have too much back pressure or it just won't work.....Let us know how it comes out...remember, everyone likes pictures....Keith

OK, I guess I'll have to contact McMaster Carr or is it MacMaster Carr....Im sooo easily cornfused these days besides never being politcally correct THX (wise) guys LOL

I think I have it figured out, they're paying an extra $35 because it has a green label on the hammer....that makes worth a whole lot more. And don't forget that it is listed on ebay as "collectable" that's got to raise the value...going to round up some of my 'used' tools. At this rate I could sell them, buy a replacement and pocket some money LOL

I read somewhere that the pilot/roller valves should be plumbed BEFORE the oiler...Any ideas as to why? THX, Keith

Finally giving in and building a hyd press using 2 stage log splitter type pump. Looking for a 3 hp 220v 1ph motor but I don't know which type motor is best for this application. Open to all advise...thx, Keith

Bob, I completely agree with you on building it right the first time. Unfortunately, I'm painfully aware of the limitations of the town where I live when it comes to scrounging steel/used components having lived here 23 years. None of the scrap yards sell to the public and there is little industry for this type of equipment to be found on the "used" market. Might be something in Mexico but my spanish isn't good enough to go scrounging south of the border. That's why I didn't build a real press last year. Buying everything off ebay would still require a considerable investment of $$$ with the shipping....Maybe I'll rethink going to Mexico...thanke guys...Keith

Here is link to air/hyd jack http://www.harborfreight.com/20-ton-low-profile-air-hydraulic-bottle-jack-97453.html

I had thought about an air cylinder..possibly fab a spring loaded cam to the valve and plumb it into a foot valve so that it actuates with the ram... Anyone know what kind of foot valve would work for this. a two-way or 4-way......Not very knowledgeable in pnuematics....THX Keith

I'd like to use an air/hyd jack for cold forming bowls. Figured a foot pedal would be useful. But don't want to have turn the t-handle valve open and closed each stroke. Is there a work around for this so I can hold the work piece with both hands while operating with the foot switch? THX Keith

I have everything mentioned except for a shaper & horizonal mill (we wish!!) I suspect that I'm over engineering things once again. This would be a one-off situation. A template and patience should get me there. Guess I'll p/u some flap discs and get after it...THX guys........

When I made the fuller portion of my combo dies, I mounted the stock off center in the 4 jaw chuck......swinging that much weight caused some scary vibration,but it worked(without injury to me or the lathe LOL... Now I want to make crown dies but haven't figured how to profile the long radius. Any ideas on doing this on the mill...I have a rotary table but it doesn't have any t-slots. Suppose I could drill/tap some holes. Thought I would free-hand the side radius with flap sander to avoid buying a speciality end mill...THX for any and all ideas...Keith

Found an IR thermometer w/ 1800F @ at an affordable price. Could it be used for heat treating?

Thank you everyone for your prayers. Denise made it thru her surgery without any complications. The early prognosis is that she will probably NOT need further surgery. It is so very reassuring to us both knowing that family, friends, church and IForge folks were there praying for us. His blessing on you and yours.....Keith

My wife Denise is having surgery Monday and I'm in Afghanistan working. She coded three times after her last surgery so there is a great deal of apprehension. Me not being there makes it tough on us both. Please pray for His blessing and protection. THX Keith

Showed the video to my wife.........she said "NO" Don't think that pouting will change her mind this time.

"Many" years ago, I was introduced to a man about my age. He was sharpening a knife while we all sat around drinking an adult beverage when he took the knife and violently stabbed himself in his thigh. Scared the fecal matter out of me. Yea, you guessed it, prosthetic leg - Vietnam veteran.... Besides ruining a brand new pair of jeans, the guy didn't let his disability keep him from having a positive, if not warped, perspective..... 12 years ago, I succeeded in cutting off 4 fingers in a table saw. Three surgeries and a full year of rehab and I have 65-70% function today. My point is, it's not so much what you have but what you do with what you have. For me, I never let failure keep me from doing most anything I want to. Thanks for the thread....really an encourgement Keith

Google SketchUp....I'm there, thanks guys