Candidquality

First rule is to be confortable while working. Figure out the bottom installed die height and make your decision there. How thick of dies will you be making? 2" dies each side gives you a 4" opening. A decent thickness for a billet of damascus. Now if you plan on squeezing the block at a 45deg angle like the photo, you get Less than 3" square. Decide on your dies thickness to get your bottom height and then how far that needs to be above. You need 10" of travel with dies installed. No need for the plattens to touch.

Was a 50# little giant. Unfortunately no photos I can find from 91. I survived a few disasters, but my photos did not. Learned the joy of babbit bearings. I get the additional footing length as you are flipping the cylinder on top and the center of gravity is jumping way up. But like Frosty, I agree thats a good way to trip. I would recommend finding a way to counterweight the back and slide those supports to the rear. No reason anything should be in front further out than needed for your foot controls.

Thanks, sent along your feedback this morning and just got this response: Astroman680: Thanks for the feedback it all helps. My original idea was not to give them everything they need so they work with what they have available. However, we decided to get more tools, In the second episode we now have 4 x 2x72 and a drill press. We've now also upgraded the welding masks and got a much nicer buffing wheel. We have managed to pick up a sponsor for episodes 2 & 3 Knife Print we won't be overloading the show with lots of advertising but it's a necessary evil with how much the show is costing per episode. The first episode cost us over 30,000 alone.

I completely understand Frosty. I'll pass along any feedback I can. His feedback was good: "We wanted the show to be more educational and not filled with drama and show the makers skills in a still entertaining format." Glenn, I definitly agree about the advertising. No idea how they are paying for the show, but I understand needing to have advertisment of some type. There's a balance between having some way to finance the show be it sponsors or other options, and feeling like an infomercial. I didn't feel putout with what they have done so far. Hopefully they have it figured out enough to keep going. Keeping my mind open to see what they explore over the next 6 episodes. Hard to show everything in one 45 minute show. Hopefully they are keeping a list of other steps, to cover them well without getting redundant.

I don't have any answers to your questions as I've not looked for how to build one before that book was written, but if you don't mind I'll follow along. Rebuilt a hammer a long time ago, and definitly enjoyed working with it afterwards. nice running into right priced materials for sure. Hard oart is usually pulling the trigger, so the rest should be easy now.

Right, I added my feedback to one of the producers on reddit, which is where I stumbled across the post. I said as much myself. They already have 6 more shows in the can, so here's to hoping. Here is their post if you wanted to give your feedback directly. Ignore the adult content flag on the post. Here is what I said for those who hate jumping to different sites to follow a discussion, like I do: "Didn't realize you were part of the production. A sincere thanks from me and the blacksmithing community as a whole. We are not into the drama and scripted reality of other competition shows. It is great you have taken the time to show and discuss some the techniques. It can be hard to balance good information, and make it watchable for multiple levels of viewers experience. If you want to get some honest feedback from multiple people and experience levels, I would recommed taking a few moments to drop into some of the forums and not only promote the show to an avid audience base, but be able to garner feedback. There are even several participants of other shows who have spent some time on that forum. Some of the bladesmiths there are world class. I am sure you have a marketing plan and limited time, so just tossing in my two cents. I know you've already got six shots in the can, but i sincerely hope this somehow is able to continue. I did particularly enjoy the smith sticking his head in the forge before it was fired up, it and got a genuine chuckle out of me. Reminded me of a few groups I've had the privlidge of spending time with. I' ve never met a group with more wit than a group of blacksmiths. If I had any specific feedback it would be two items off the top of my head. Adding some type of text overlay when discussing techniques would be grand. If nothing else just to be able to properly google the terms discussed. The temper discussion was great, but having a quick chart actually showing those colors off to the side would have instantly locked in peoples heads that there is information in a visual format to assist. Doesn't need to be big or flashy, just legible and not blocking the participants or other action. I would also recommend watching the angles to include the shots on the walls of your media outlets. I get the moving shots are hard to plan, so don't stress over those. But on your static shots, I could clearly see there was a link to some site behind on the wall when two of the judges were having a discusion several times, but it was hidden partially behind one of the judges heads. I do appreciate the unobtrusive nature of the links on the walls instead of plastered across the screen, but for those who use those platforms it will not sink in from multiple exposures if they cannot see the entire link. Also appreciate the decent forges being used, not flashy but functional. Nice not seeing a two foot flame of dragons breath shooting out both sides of a poorly designed forge. Great shot of the overheat and bad flame condition, even if not discussed it at least made the audience aware it happens so they can look it up on their own. Oh, the shared equipment. I get there is a budget and space limitation, but having to wait to use equipment is not acceptable. Power hammer, I get. 2 minutes at a time, reheat for 10 minutes, gives a window for other participants. Sanders, just no. Not being able to work on your project for 30 minutes or an hour in a competition is just not fair. Not sure how you can get around that succesfully as I do not know your specific limitations, but you are a bright bunch." Why what we do is important to us: https://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/41227-why-is-what-we-do-important/

For a new show, impressed with what they were able to discuss. Mentioned a few terms that you could at least google and understand more about what they were up to. Explained a bit where time permitted. Mentioned the community of blacksmiths helping each other out, etc. Still a knife show, but has potential for making a good run.

Thought I would drop in a link for the first Australian Forging show. Focus is less on the drama and more on the technique. Give it a whirl. Enjoying it immensly at 6 in the morning for sure, as it dropped in about an hour ago. Forged Down Under Language alert.

Forgot I had shipped that for him. Was really beautiful and definitly jealous at the time. Would absolutely recommend a NIMBA anvil.

Thanks for the update, I was curious as to how they were holding up. good to know the upgrade to greenpatch 421 is holding up better. It is a wear item, but lasting longer still means more time at the fire and less at the workbench on repairs. Ant thoughts on adding plistex or similar wash coat to help face durability and reflectance?

Thomas was an amazing man,and I am better for having known him, even if it was just through his wit and charm here. There's a hole in my heart...here's to hoping he enjoys the fishing. You will be missed and remembered with every time there is a laughter that brings me to tears. Wife just rescued two more kittens, she was sitting in her recliner yesterday, when all of a sudden I hear a yelp from my wife, and she looks under the blanket. Little bit had climbed up the chair and latched on in a bit of a sensitive spot during the hike to join her. Luckily there was no permanent damage and all involved had a great laugh about 10 seconds after. Thank you my friend...on to the next adventure.

Thought a few of you could appreciate this. Heard a sound and had to take a look at the video to be sure. Love that triangle Finnish Bluegrass band Steve'n Seagulls playing "AC/DC - Thunderstruck

Thanks Frosty, Was kinda thinking the same thing with more reading. Can't ever seem to get something for nothing. Tend to overthink things to death, before getting off the ground. Sounds like I need to stick to my original plan. Have my son interested now after showing him how easy it is. He learned to be an electrician in the Navy, so has a good grasp how to handle the high voltages safely. Wanted to get that visibility without air loss on the forge, but with the ir transmission, Just have to play with some other options I guess.

Tranaparent Aluminium, aka ALON I know this is a bit out of the normal balliwick for forging, but since I am thinking about using it as a sight window in a forge build, I have a question to pose to the peanut gallery. We always want to be able to see into our forges, but every opening is just another heat loss. I am curious as to whether or not it would stand up, not only to the heat of the forge, but to the highly reactive atmosphere created from propane at those tempratures. supposedly resistant to 3600f or so, but at what point does that just become a glowing mass, vs a viewport. Normally I would just experiment myself, but unfortunatly only have access to the one piece. Was planning on using it for a Farnsworth Fusor build, but haven't finished gathering supplies for that one yet and I know it will work there. I know it is good for making a tank to Transport whales, but that documentary was a bit light on details for heat resistance. Found a few articles as well, but I'm not a chemist either. One linked just to start a discussion point. More of a focus on the visual aspects and ir transmission. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1350449598000073 If anyone has ideas or finds a better article I would appreciate the discussion.

I was thinking more about the little noise makers with blanks, not one to actually fire a ball. But I would test to failure if I ever decided to play with the idea. Never done anything with gun building, so would have to really spend some time researching first for that route. Getting some ideas for the smaller part inside the larger part, then forged welded and shaped into a peen. Cutting a pattern in to the outer tube to expose the cavity between.... Might work. Might be a disaster.

Once clean you may recoat with high zinc spray paint. Used in the fencing industry to coat cut ends, etc. You will get the protection as long as there is less than 1/4 " gap it will work. Much easier and safer than the std process.

I love it when I read the responses and think, yep, makes perfect sense now that someone else said it. Will give them all a try and see how it turns out. The cz26 is interesting. I believe most of these are friction welded to solid stock on one end. And the second end is already threaded internally though it is probably difficult to see from the photos. Actual dims are 1.5" od(38mm) 1.08" id(27.4mm) .0.212 thick(5.38mm). End has internal thread for a m30x1.5. Has a hole drilled near each end, but could easily be plugged to do some canister. The cz26 made me think this would be cute for a little 1" ball cannon.

Looks really good, but a bit of advice if you don't mind. Might want to make the tips a bit wider. Most felt hats are out of style now, but may come back eventually. Light hats would be fine, but heavier hats and coats would appreciate a slightly wider place to sit. I do see your grinder marks, and that is always a matter of taste. If you like the style, keep using it. Or experiment with other textures. No stresses on decorations. Find what fits for your style or what your client/friends want. Best not to lock yourself in to anything you don't enjoy.

I have access to some 1045. 38mm od and about 5 or 6mm thick. Have some solid stock about .865 dia and about 12-14 inches long. Will be using those to walk my son through intro knife making. Only use I can think of for the tubes is to flatten into an oval and use to buffer the heat of the forge for some nice easy soak time without worrying about oxidation. Seems like a bit of a waste for decent hardenable steel. Any other ideas for the tubing? Both shown in the picture.

Hit a pickup and pushed under mostly. Didn't even trigger the air bags. Likely pulled off when they pried the car out. Was done before I got there, different angle shown here. Have one of the truck bumper as well somewhere.

That was a bit long winded, but it was the Mazda that was hit. The crown Vic has a button in the left wall of the trunk you can test by tap, and it will pop up like a turkey timer. The Vic will be returning to glory today I'm sure. The Mazda on the other hand: Picture says it all. Wife has a fracture on her right leg, and is hobbling around in a boot just fine. Should have been a lot worse than a cracked bone and some major bruising. She likely cracked the bone by kicking open the door because she was worried when the wind got knocked out of my daughter and she couldn't respond. Yep, good to know we're being helped along. Wouldn't be worth much myself without them.

Thanks for the update Glenn, really good news.

Hope everyone had a pretty good day. I just wanted to take a minute and relay my day, Wife gives me a call as I'm driving back into work, and can barely tell me the car is totaled and where she is at. Of course I comfortable her and remind her things can be replaced, she can't. So naturally I turn around and head out to pick her up, another 30 minutes north of where I work. She was on a trip to take her great aunt in for a check up. She is staying with us for a few weeks, to recover from what will someday be a lifetime movie channel multipart movie. So I get there and see the car is loaded up on the tow truck on its way to the impound, but I'm checking on my wife, auntie and my two teenagers to make sure nothing is broken. Kids have bruises from the seatbelts, but teenagers are hard to keep down. Auntie has a broken stich, but did a pretty good job catching her 75 year old 98 pound body. Wife had swelling just below her left knee where the dash smashed into her (2000 Mazda), head hurting and a bit dizzy, right ankle hurts to stand on and back is hurting a bit. Nothing too serious, except for what could be a possible minor concussion. Thinking I'll be able to take her to the medical service shortly and drop everyone back at the house an hour and a half away. I get in my other car and find that it won't start. This is an old retired crown Vic, and I'm at about 395k. She throws an occasional fit, but nothing I can't handle normally. Let the wife know so she knows we are stuck for a bit as she and auntie are getting the once over in the EMT van. I am of course going through the checklist, spark fuel, etc. Get the occasional bump, but nothing that will stay. By this time they get out of the van and start heading back to the car, I've told two of our finest that I'm broken down, but will either fix it or get my own tow. When they get back over i suggest they get dropped off across the interstate at a Whataburger so they can sit in the a/c as Texas in the summer is a bit warm. And every officer EMT, etc drives off before I can flag them down. So the whole crew is stuck with me, windows don't roll down, on the side of interstate 45 in the heat of the day. Two doors facing away from traffic open to vent it a bit. We call everyone we can get ahold of to get the out of the heat and in a safe place. Takes about an hour but the first two show up and get auntie and my daughter on the way back to the house and my wife on her way to the local Baylor medical with my son and her mom to make sure she gets checked over correctly. So now it's just me on the side of the freeway with my car trying to get ahold of one friend why will drive out with a truck to tow me the 1.5 hour trip home at 75 which will be a good 3 hour trip now. Burning up on the concrete and have already drank through a gallon of water I keep in the truck for just such a case. And then I begin thinking. Just you and your thoughts. Look up and say, you know, I would really appreciate some shade. About ten minutes later clouds cover the sun, and for the next two hours I'm in the shade and 20 degrees cooler. I say thanks, and keep trying to get ahold of my friend. Finally get ahold of him near the end of my 2 hours of shade, found out he left his phone at home and just now got my dozen messages and is heading my way. Tells me his transmission has been slipping lately, but will be heading my way anyway. Now the sun starts to some out again and I'm more worried that my friend may lose his truck than me getting home to work on this. And a tow truck with a big bed shows up. I try to wave him off, because I know what a 100 mile tow would cost, and I just lost a car and need to find a way to fix another. He tells me he drove by an hour earlier on a job and saw me sitting there, and still there on his way back, he offered to get me off the side of the highway for free, as it was dangerous, I thanked him, and just requested that he spin me anound to the other side of the freeway, and on the access road so we could hook up our tow rope safely. So we load up and begin then 10 minute turn around and start talking a bit. To make a already long story a bit shorter, he towed me all the way home. My wife is being checked out and sounds like she has a hairline fracture , full CT scans and the works show her head is as good as it was before. Auntie is now sleeping soundly in bed. And I know everything is going to be ok. I'll fix the car, and find her another eventually, and there is no doubt I had a bit of help getting through the day. Just wanted to let everyone know, that every great once in a while when you really need it, you get an answer. Keep believing, or start, and give it a chance. You might just be a bit surprised as I was today.

I read this very slowly near the end hoping to hear some good news, did you get the job and are so busy you have not updated? Or do you have some pearl of wisdom that might help the next Smith with big aspirations?

Picked these tool boxes up for $20, full to the hilt. The old freon converted to air tank for $3 and the saw for another $3. Paid another $20 for the welder. Definitely a good day.