firegnome

Most local area's have a good will or a thrift shop I find lots of brass items that have been discarded cheap just have to cut to shape. Just make sure it is brass not plated lol.
Firegnome

I use a product called flexall it is pain relieving gel with menthol. I get this at the local drug store and it costs about 5 dollars for a bottle. It smell like bengay but rubs in quicker and has menthol in it so watch the cuts and nick. I do not get a chance to forge often and when I do a local fair for a week straight I hurt from my elbows down. This helps.
I also found that I use medical tape on the handles for added grip and I do not hold them as tight.
Firegnome

I have used simple green for the replacement and it works well.
Firegnome:)

I have found that when I get tired of what I am doing I try and teach someone what I am doing. In this I have found that I always learn something from the person and they learn from me. This creates a new vigor for the craft and away we go.
Firegnome

Could you do that to the copper like the old lead work on cars? Sounds like some solder flux and a rose bud torch or would you want to electroplate it with a battery charger and a solid piece of nickle ?
Firegnome

I saw a working shop that had an old restaurant hood and fan system and they had 4 coal and 3 gas forges all being serviced. Granted it was a tad cold if you opened the door in the winter with it trying to suck all through the hood. But they mounted a pair of long gas heaters hanging from the ceiling and that improved it.
Firegnome

A real nice set of roses that will not rust would be nice.
:)

I get mine from K&G knife supply they are on the web and have a nice catalog.
Knife Making Supplies

;)

Well I would like to do this the hard way. I need to make a screw/threaded rod with out a tap and dye. I think the way to do it is to make a top and bottom fuller that has the threads cut into it and to heat the rod forming and twisting and forming as you go. This will take many heats as it is for a cider press I wish to build from scratch.
If you have any ideas or ways to do this please let me know.
Thank you
Firegnome

I truly like taking all the old scraps for demos. I take a small steel box with screw on lid and fill it with small scraps bits and bobs hammer it all together and flux it and screw on the lid and into the fire it goes, welding heat and poof you have a block of steel to do with as you please. If you what to have real fun save your paper clips we have made several letter openers for folk out of paperclips all welded together.
Firegnome

Blacksmith Coal, 40 Lb
Aubuchon Hardware stores in Newengland and upstate NY can carry this coal. While it is not the best coal around it does the trick and if you have several smiths in your area they should have it on hand.
I just a did a week of demos at the local fair 7 hours a day for 7 days and used only 2 1/2 bags. It does coke well. I am using a small rivet forge.
Firegnome

It is amazing as to the heat to weight ratio involved in blacksmithing .
THe hotter it is the heavier it gets till you can not hold it at all.

I never say wow that was hot when I drop it I say man that was heavy.

I have made a 2 hook shepards hook and want to rivet on both side. No I can not find my notes and I do not do riveting that often is it 1.5 time diamiter for a nice rivet head? I made the header tool with a ball bearing seating it in half way to give a nice round head.
So this one is more a I forgot silly question.
Thanks
Firegnome.

I was wondering if you could build a plate 1 inch or better and half drill the holes in the press plate and fill with correct steel posts. You could use mild steel if super quenched the steel to help it last longer. Then heat the plate you wish to punch the holes in and then use a hydro press or a fly press to press the holes all at once.
Just an Idea and you would always have the punch to do more in the future.
By the way what are you making it sounds interesting.
Remember if you are super quenching steel only use mild steel as tool steel will get to brittle and break.
Thanks Jim

Hi I am living in Hampden now but I was in Sidney for 10 years supporting the Windsor historical society blacksmith shop .
I took some classes at the New England school of metal working when I was in between jobs. It is a very nice school and Derek Glaiser the dean of the school has been smithing for more then 30 years as a full time job. I will get in and update my profile and post more info soon as I want to start having open forging at my home when spring starts on Friday nights.
Firegnome
Jim

Hi everyone, I was glad to find this today. I have been smithing for 15 years now and have a small hobby shop in my garage. I also help support the local historical society where we meet in the summer every Friday night at the local fair grounds in a historical shop.
I would like to meet other smiths in my area I have done basic forging as well as knife work and Damascus. I look forward to meeting more people here.
Thank you
Firegnome