Chris P

This is sad to hear, I was just thinking of setting up a makeshift forge with MAPP gas to get me by till I had my coal forge up and running... Oh well, I guess MAPP-pro or propane will have to work now. :(

Anyone who finds the joy and determination to put hammer to hot metal, be they new to the craft or seasoned veterans. I'm just barely starting out after getting other things out of the way, but I can honestly say I find it both inspirational and encouraging when I see beginners showing off their fist pieces, or masters showing off their master pieces Good luck with your paper.

Your not kidding here. When I was welding without the ventilator I never even really noticed the smoke until I looked around the room and saw the haze. The first time I used it I kinda forgot about the smoke and took it off when I was finished (before I went out side). I couldn't believe the difference between the filtered air and the air in the garage. The reality really set in, in those first few breaths.

I'm glad it helped you out . I just got mine the other day. I found a great deal on one on ebay. The auction ended for about $500 and I ordered a couple new filters and a battery charger.. so the mask was about a third and with the extras it was about half price. So, keep an eye on ebay, sometimes the deals come up . Good luck.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'd like to get into more the fabrication end of things. I enjoy making things and thinking about ways to solve problems. As it is now my mind is remarkably mindless and boring. I'd like to work on something important or at the very least something creative. I know thats kind of vague, but its all I have right now. At the moment I'm kind of nailed down (house, wife, bills, job), so it may take some doing trying to go to a school a long distance away. Not that it can't be done, just that I'm not sure how to do it right now. I know Barren Institute has a welding program, although they are still a bit of a distance away, 1-1.5 hour(s) away. I'm not sure how good they are or how much they cost tho. For now I guess I'll keep practicing and reading and hope to get my foot in the door somewhere. Thanks guys for the replies .

Working outside isn't a bad idea, except the winter coming up and all. As it is I work in a drafty tent for a garage and almost always have the door open. Still the smoke collects. I have a fan that is about a foot away from the projects on my work bench and it seems to help a bit, but in a month or so when it is 30* or lower during the day I don't think I'm going to want to have the garage door open. I have a kerosene heater that will heat the place, but it will be rendered useless if the door is open. Would something like this be effective enough: 3M Welding Respirator Assembly with Odor Relief Model# 6297-W | Masks + Respirators | Northern Tool + Equipment Thanks all for the replies so far.

Thanks for the reply and thank you for your service. I for one am getting very very sick of doing a job that I hate. I know I won't find a job I enjoy 100% of the time but I'm sure going to try to find one that I actually find some enjoyment and meaning in. If I have to go to school to achieve this I will make it happen, but it would be easier if I can get around it. I wouldn't mind getting the certs so long as I know I have the knowledge behind me, unfortunately the world we live in seems to be getting farther and farther from common sense and more obsessed with frivolous pieces of paper that may or may not mean anything. But I'm getting off the point. I guess with all things if I were to get a degree in the field it would make job hunting easier. Although it doesn't seem like its 100% necessary, it does seem like it can have a real impact in a lot of cases. I guess I'll have to look around and try my luck and see where it takes me. Thanks guys for the replies.

Every day. So no specific suggestions regarding a good respirator? I and thought something like this: 3M Adflo PAPR High Efficiency Multi Gas and Vapor System with 3M Sp but I wasn't sure if this was over kill or maybe something cheaper could be had and still achieve the same results. Thanks for the replies and advice so far :)

I'm not really looking for just a pay check. I'm more looking for something I enjoy doing. If I wanted a pay check I could say where I am and continue to be completely miserable. Although, I see your point too, I don't necessarily want to be just a weldor, but I do enjoy metal crafts and working with my hands. Welding seemed to be a gateway into that particular line of work. I wish it was as simple as just "going and getting it." Right now I still don't think I'm really qualified to get a job that will pay what I'll need to make to change jobs (if that makes sense). So, do you actually need the schooling for the certs? I'm assuming they would play a big part in looking for a job. I was hoping that you could get them with out the degree. Thanks for the reply.

I don't know how many folk here are professional welders, but I was wondering how important it is to go to school for welding? Right now I'm 27 years old and don't really have the money or time to be going back to school. I've been practicing stick pretty much every day now for more than a month and am getting fairly good at it. I don't think that I am even close to being capable of making a career out of it yet, but I was wondering if I could just learn it on my own and eventually find employment or go for the different certifications? The amount it would cost to go to school for welding seems like it would be money better spent on welding equipment. But, I don't know the expectations or requirements in the industry, so any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Well, I'm still learning and doubt I'll ever stop. But as it is, I'm teaching myself arc and hoping to move onto Mig in the semi-near future. Mostly, I've just been reading books, reading forums and practice, practice, practice. I've gotten pretty good with making strong welds and avoiding burn throughs, but the welds are still pretty ugly.... all things with time I guess ;)

So, because my wife loves me so much, now she wants me to at least consider getting one of these hoods... I've looked into a couple and yes, they are expensive. Does anyone have any suggestions to a good one?

I'm just curious how hazardous the smoke for arc welding is? My wife gets pretty annoyed when I forget to open the garage door while I'm welding. I know its not good for me, but is it really dangerous?

Thanks for the link. Another question tho, how does one remove the metal shims holding the fan to the drive shaft?

Thats basically what I have read about the gears, that they should just come right off. Unfortunately for me, these ones aren't going anywhere. I think I'll just work around them the best I can. Any idea if kerosene is good to clean with? I only ask as I have some on hand for my heater. Thanks for the replies.

So, I got my blower in the mail the other day and I'm trying to clean it up. I'd like to pull the gears and really clean up the inside, but I can't for the life of me figure out how to get them off the drive shafts. I've read up on it a bit and found a few posts, but the gears don't seem to want to come off as easily as it seems that should. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Interesting, I have never seen any other kind of brick in a fire place other than the typical red. I was actually thinking of using the brick between the fire pot and a wood stand that I was considering making for my drum brake forge, but I was curious if red brick would work on its own. I guess that rules out that idea. Thanks all for the replies .

Are there any books on this subject? I was curious about ancient to century old forges. Forges that predate the steel and iron forges we see so often today. Thanks :)

Anyone know the max temperature rating of regular red brick that is typically used in fireplace construction?

Thanks for the tip about the ss bolts, I actually bought 5 to plug the stud holes. If I can't weld the drum, I'll have to weld up a piece of sheet to the coupling and drill it out. I'm glad you told me about the cast iron, I'm sure I would have lost my mind trying.

Thanks everyone for the replies. I actually found some 2" pipe at my local lowes (funny the website doesn't mention it). Although they didn't have the flange, the coupling they have is 3" in Dia so I'm just going to weld that to the drum. Thanks again for the replies, I'll try to throw up a pic when I get finished with it.

So, I'm making a brake drum forge to get started with. The drum I have is about 11" with a 3" dia hole in the center. What I'm not sure of is where to get the piping for this. I've looked at Home depot and lowes, but all I've found is 1.5" pipe. I was hoping for 3" to fit the center, but 2" should work if the flange can bolt up to the drum. Any one have any suggestions?

That is a very handsome piece. Nice work :)

I'm pretty sure at least one of the letters is an L. The other is hard to make out but it seems the lower leg of an L is still visible. I'm leaning towards the Hill anvil idea, as I did a little research and found pretty detailed pics from one that was for sale in early October. The placement of the weight is the same as mine and there appears to be a roman numeral I above the first L in Hill, which would explain a mark on mine. Here are the Pics, what do you think?

Thanks, not bad since all I paid for it was about 6 hours worth of cutting cord wood. I even got some apple cider out of the deal :)