Theintegrator

Copy. Thanks . It is spendy, I'll say that. Thanks for the the tip; I'll get a hold of Wayne. Thanks. Now I know.

Yes I was thinking of a gauge. I have one I used on my welder but I think a propane gauge is calibrated differently than an oxy-argon gauge? I dunno; this is all new to me. I’ll tell you, I’ve done a lot of reading about this stuff.

Thanks for that. Yes, I still have to re-do the copper feed. I’ll lengthen it and secure it to the frame of the cart. I was thinking plistex or itc-100.

I fiinished forge 1.0. Details: propane tank, 2 inches of kaowool, lotsa stiffener (sopping wet is right) and a layer of kastolite. Frosty 3/4 in t-burner. Here's what it looks like. Any comments? I also have a regulator question. Mines an adjustable unit, bell-shaped with a wing nut to control psi. I'm not sure exactly what I'm doing when I twiddle that wing nut. I'm going by sound mainly, so when it roars I figure it's workin. Be nice to know what I'm doing. Sorry if the pic's too big.

Back on topic; one last thing the shelf for the forge? I know firebrick is not the best (interesting that its evidently a heat sink), but is an alumina shelf the right material?

Way off original topic but I gotta add that as a woodworker for 40 yrs working with steel surprises the heck outta me every single time I face. That's why I like it of course but every day is a new and usually an 'oh shoot' moment. Like, who knew u could actually apply enough heat trying to weld hss to 1/4 in mild steel that it would bend the 1/4 in mild steel? I mean, wow. Wood doesn't do that.

me too.Thanks again.

Thanks guys for the advice; makes sense now. I couldn't've done this without all the experience and knowledge available on this forum. Terrific!

Another newbie with forge questions. Details: a. 20# propane tank b. Frosty burner Questions: 1. does rigidizer = colloidal silica? 2. how do i apply it? before tucking the kaowool into the tank? Any other tips for applying it? (Frosty mentioned sopping wet kaowool in one post, but i couldn't figure out the context. 3. What's the best angle to set the burner into the tank? I've scoured the archives and found answers to most everything else--Thanks all!! These are the questions that remain.

Me too. Little late but solves my problem. Thanks frosty.

I like the wooden bucket in the background of pic number 2 of the fossils in the garden. Did you make it?

Thanks a lot. Cheers!

I will look. So far I have not been able to see any engraved or embossed letters/numbers, but I am about to give it a wirebrushing. Thanks for the news; that would be an unexpected bonus!

Thomas- Thanks for the input, and I'm pleased to hear your assessment. It was a treat to find it.

Yeah I was pretty excited, especially cuz it was just recently in use. The owner retired, brought it into the shop. I showed up the next day. Serendipity.

First anvil. I found this at a junk shop in Paris, Idaho. Evidently used for a long time on a farm and by a farrier. No idea who manufactured it or how old it is. It has a plate welded to the face, and the edge is pretty dinged up, as is the Hardie hole. Weighs about 85 pounds. Just thought I'd share.

Me too. English major.

My first post. I am so new to the field/trade/hobby that I am still tickled pink at the anvil I just bought from a junk yard dealer in Idaho even though I fear it may be one of those dreaded ASOs. (Sure looks used though; even has flecks of horse manure around the base.) But I digress... I am newly retired and want to get my hands dirty, calloused and probably even singed. I will start up on my own and will read, lurk, and ask questions here and elsewhere as I go. I cannot see my way clear to spending too much of my "sunset" years going back to formal training, and certainly not apprenticing. I know that's the "best" way to become really good, by sitting at the feet of a master. But I also feel I will be able to teach myself what I need to know in order to achieve what I want to do. Of course, the more proficient I get, the more I know I will want to do, and the more I will have to learn. I don't plan on setting up shop as a commercial smith. I am an accomplished woodworker (a serious hobbyist for the past 35 years) and I want to incorporate metal into my furniture projects. So I imagine I will learn what I need to to do that. Oh, and I have also decided I want to carve granite. Metal, stone and wood. I don't have time left to become a master of each. So I will settle for becoming proficient enough at each to keep me going on. Now that I finally have the free time I reflect on the past, and sorta wish sometimes that I woulda taken a left turn rather than right turn I did, and found a sensei I could learn from. But I never reflect on that for very long. I am what I am where I am, and now it's forward ho! Red, I think you should lurk a while here and get a feel for the knowledge these folks bring to the table. If they don't exactly conform to your experience and preference for doing things, I'm still willing to bet you'll pick something up that'll make it worth your while. BTW, I'm an English major. That's by way for excusing this long, wandering and slightly off-topic post.