RogueRugger

Thanks to both- that gives me some ideas of where to start my own experiments. I actually liked the result of the twist 'mistake'.

Turbo7: how much longer for the cuts do you think is necessary / helpful ?

@Wroughton makes sense, thanks dR

Great discussion, learned a great deal from the thread. Definitely want to try this out. Quick question for @Wroughton: There are various small holes that appear to be for nails. However, that doesn't seem quite correct. So, what are they for? Thanks, Dave

Thanks Jim! Dave

These look great! Quick question about the ball fitted in the end (last pic, hanger on right). Is the ball tacked in place or is it heat fitted, e.g. outer ring heated and cold ball pressed in? Outer ring cools and shrinks tightly. Reason for asking is that I've tried this off/on for a few months and the ball eventually drops out for me.

Thanks Smooth. Exactly what I was looking for. It has worked well and has held up so far w/pretty heavy use (the stove heats their house). However, when they leave for vacation, I'll rework it and use it as an opportunity to practice some joinery. Cheers.

FWIW - I've decided to use 1/2" square stock (mild steel) and have offered to replace if it seems to be eroding, etc. Made a couple of sample patterns to test for fit and style feedback. Cross pieces will be electric welded for this first go.

Mr Powers: A36 Glen: yep, I understand about the ash as does the customer. Just didn't respond to that part of the discussion. Thanks for highlighting this though.

Apologies for the confusion. The dimensions are right off the manual for the unit and is the same way my own fireplace is described by the designer/builder. 19"W = distance across the front of the firebox 17"H = distance from bottom of box to top of the firebox 12"D = distance from the front of the box to the back of the firebox. Wood is the fuel of choice. I'm looking for suggestions for bar stock size for the grate on which the wood would rest inside the firebox. Again, thanks for any thoughts

My first fire grate; just something quick for a neighbor. I'm not sure what size stock to would work best in this case. The fire box is about 19"W x 17"H x 12"Depth. FWIW - 'Customer' has requested a distance of about 1.5" grate-to-floor distance. The box is relatively small, and obviously I don't want the material to take up the entire space, but I want it to hold up for a few years at least. This is the main heat source for their home so it's going to be used regularly. All of the grates that I've found on the web have been for much larger boxes. Hopefully that's enough background. I'd appreciate any thoughts anyone would have for basic stock width to start with (or a link where this might have been discussed before). Thanks in advance

Not my best work - frantic to meet a party deadline - crappy time to discover that you forgot to temper your treadle hammer butcher. Design is something that I stole from Robb Gunter that he put in iron-in-the-hat a year or so ago. I think the illusion still catches the eye. (with sincere apologies to Robb).

I can personally attest to the fact that these look much nicer in my hand than they do in the picture.

Sorry, I'm probably the only one that doesn't quite get the gist of the technique from the drawings. A bit more detail or a link would be very appreciated! Dave

Looks great! The brass provides a nice touch. Dimensions?

Per discussion in the 1960 Soviet Patent 16,915 EFFECT OF HEAT TREATMENT AND NITRIDING ON THE MAGNETIC PROPERTIES OF AUSTENITIC STEELS you don't need to have the wire pointing north as it cools (seriously). At least the producers didn't have them urinating on the metal as a quench to increase the strength or more interestingly run the sword through another contestant for heat treatment. (urine proven for aluminium but not sure about ferrous.)

Not quite 8D . Finn (MacCool) is a Border-Aussie mix we picked up from someones doorstep. The 'mix' probably explains why he might be a less than reliable directional indicator.

I'm a relative newb and have relied on the direction my new shop dog is facing when he 'unloads' in the yard. Scientific research has suggested this is magnetic north so maybe I'm okay?

FWIW- Burt Reynolds played Quint Asper the blacksmith on Gunsmoke

Eric, thanks for the info. I had already read your excellent Saltfork Craftsmen article and it was what made me lean toward a US supported unit. EE was not my strong suit in school and it's only faded further. I'll look into Mettleworks. Thanks again.

I'm aware of the "Paradise Lost" situation surrounding the discussion thread related to a new source for induction forges. Until then, can someone suggest an alternative source for purchasing said equipment?

I spent some time with Jim Austin a few weeks ago learning various silver overly methods such as koftgari. In my case, Jim didn't have a lot to start with, but I managed to put together a few simple things yesterday after i dug the box of metal cutting blades out of a snow drift where the UPS guy left it. I'm using these initial 'samples' to hang outside and see how they hold up in the weather (with clear acrylic coating). Long term objective, if the samples hold up, is to annotate my sundials with the overlay.

Thanks! I totally agree about the 'No 400' highlight. Some mental anguish on that; I decided to wait until I can lay it out somewhere warm/comfortable before I give it a go. The cover needs a second coat and what appears to be a gasket is just a combo of a shadow and the edge that was missed on the first coat. I wanted the brass to have a more 'gold' appearance, and I'll have to work on that. Since the pics were taken I added a cholla stem handle. Durability is an issue, and I'm soaking it in linseed oil to help with that. Hadn't seen one before so I thought i'd give it a go. Feels great in the hand.

Finished (mostly) the rebuild of my Champion 400. Still have to put together a new handle and paint the legs, but the rest is complete. The additional painting and touchup will have to wait until I finally get moved. Thanks to the info on various threads here, the rebuild was pretty straightforward. Pretty happy with how it runs and anxious for enough snow to melt so I can get to my coal forge. Not to be a milksop, but a temperature above 5F would also be a bit more comfortable.