saintjohnbarleycorn

I guess you guys are talking about real swords? Made with good steel. What about ceremonial type swords, or swords that are just mild steel? I wouldn't think that they would be so demanding, or am I wrong about this. thanks. kevin

you mean you wouldn't pull up a rail from a working rail line! just kidding!

I have never heard of a chimney fire in a coal burning system either, clogging up and suffocating the people in the house but never burning it down. The creosote is a gooey mix that once started burns very hot, like the above poster says try burning the soot and see what happens. I have burned all types of wood in my house, and built a rumsford fireplace/insert, burned for over thirty years and have never once cleaned the chimney. I check it with a mirror and it is always clean. IT is not air tight by any means or that efficient and the chimney goes right up the center of the house which is insulated and open in the attic. The chimney heats the second floor. So if any creosote is there is doesn't condense on the liner apparently. hope this isn't too off topic. kevin

thanks, I was looking to get a larger area for just forging, push the burners. I will go with a 700 cu", and probably a 250 cu" if I want to do welding billets. I guess the pictures just seem like they are bigger.

looks good. If you want to hide the weldments take some flat steel heat it up and wrap around the joint, so it looks like it forged not welded. Use pliers to bend them around and tap with hammer, then wet it, it will shrink some and be nice and tight.

I am going to build a couple of forges with interchangeable burners. I have 3/4" burners. I know you need 250 to 300 cu" for to get to forge welding temp. So I can build a small one with one burner for that. How many cubic inches would you need if you just want forge heat? I would build a bigger one just for that. thanks for any advice on this. kevin

One way to make a clapper is use a golf ball with a paddle like attachment so the wind can move it easier.

thanks, that is reasonable fro a large piece.

what was the length of the bottle when he was finished, that has a direct effect on how it resonates. I have experimented with nitrogen bottles, and was wondering how long he made the bell, if there might be a ratio of height to diameter?? thanks.

The torch idea has been used with very explosive results. People would use the torch, heat one part of the the thin metal, weaken it, raise the temp of the tank and yahoo! Its in all the hvac books as a real no no. Even though you were joking, just in case some one was speed reading and didn't get the joke.

sgropp, just out of curiosity how much did it cost to get the ul listing? thanks.

just for the record it is not legal to wire a lamp fixture, unless you have it UL listed, which is very expensive, I know people do it all the time. BUT if something ever happens the person responsible for the wiring or selling it wired will be the one who could be sued. Should you worry about it?? I don't know a lot of people do house wiring illegally and it doesn't bother them. I would guess the way around it would be to sell it unwired, or possible go with low voltage?? just an info packet.

I converted a log splitter, it was a hand built so I don't really know how big it is, probably a 10 or so maybe 20? in any case Its got plenty of squish power, and speed doesn't seem to be an issue. I just put a jack hammer bit in there and upset is about 1/2" in one heat with no problem. If you have a big system I am sure you would use it and be glad it is big. But for those without the big stuff, any log splitter will make quite a powerful tool. IT them becomes setting up the dies. You will really like it.

I looked at the centaur tailgate shear, but I am not seeing how the thing works. does the steel go between the cutouts? Tail Gate Shear-Centaur Forge

I like it too!

I am having a hard time finding this one, it doesn't link for me and when I look in the blueprints it stops a 200, I know I am missing something here. thanks for any help. kevin

thanks that is a good thing to know.

It is a tough question. How much are you worth, and how much the market will bare. From what I have found over the last 40 years is that artists of any kind don't so much make a good hourly wage. A select few make way over the hourly wage. When talking value of art it is of course subjective. I have seen fireplace sets for $1600, I don't think my skill level will ever attain that high of artistry. Lower quality work should be lower cost. If I make something functional for someone I wouldn't charge artist prices. You may not want to cutthroat someone else and sell it cheaper, but if you mortgage is due and you are offered the money it may become a tougher decision. Things never seem to be so black and white as we would like.

mine is a log splitter, I can show you my dies but not sure if that is what you would use for a hand operated?

who needs engineers anway?

it this a graphite handle? CBrann this is my dumb question. or there is no dumb questions?

I am curios about the platen, how does the ceramic help?

just looked on the web page $160 per gallon before shipping

thanks that is a good price, I will check that out and see what there prices are on wool also.

Thanks I see what you are saying now.