DanielC

I think I already have a use for the round one to the very right (Tongs/rivet hole anyone?). The larger oval ones may be useful for punching through a guard on a sword in the far away future? *shrugs* who knows, I couldn't pass it up.

Being in attendance at yesterday's NCABANA meeting, I was able to purchase these punches and a few dies. These are from pill pressing machines for big Pharma (I think that's what I was told.). Boxes and boxes of these were up for sale, and by the looks of it, it was worth it! With an RC hardness of 60, I was told these were to be formed to fit different needs using a power hammer only! Either way, awesome nab!

Nice shot!

A question that has nagged at me all day. I was told be a gentleman at the NCABANA meeting today that PW's were made from one solid piece of iron. If this is the case, how did they achieve a tool face with simple wrought iron?

That is so cool. I am working on a BS in Chem. And this sorta stuff interests me! Thanks.

I want! (If I hit tonight's lottery!!)

http://www.spectro.c...pectrometer.htm

I see them going for nearly $30k. Any one around here get to use one? It is a neat handheld device that bombards a metal with x-rays and gives you a read out on the screen (in seconds) the composition of the metal you have selected. Neat eh?

EDIT: I will change this post again.

Have you thought of electroplating?

Oops I meant an insulator like that. I have a little chunk of aerogel and its way too fragile to take the place of refractory cement.

Pictures speak a thousand words!

Bar none, www.unitednuclear.com is the BEST source for chemical supply. I have been buying stuff from them for years. Unfortunately their supply of both nitric and sulfuric acid is sold out. It can take them weeks to months to replenish their stock usually. On the bright side they always sell regeants grade.

Ive also been wondering about lining a furnace with aerogel if it wasn't so darned expensive.

I may try the direct burn method in the future.

I ended up getting pretty good charcoal at the end of this first run. There is a few huge pieces that have a slight unburned look to them, so i know I should probably go ahead and make the pieces smaller.

Well, I found out last night that I for sure have a forge waiting on me in Petersberg VA (A couple hours away), so I decided to make some fuel since I cannot get a local source of coal (for now). This is my method and it seems to have worked. I will get finished product photos tomorrow once this baby has cooled off.

This is a ~30gal drum inside of a 55gal. drum. The 55gal drum has several holes in it and angle iron going across to hold the 30gal drum. Underneath the angle iron is all of my fuel to heat up the 30gal. drum. I ended up filling the 30gal. drum with a lot of hickory, and it took approx. 3 hours to get it to where it stopped smoking. I also used an air compressor to make the fire HOT. I also tossed a RR spike in the coals towards the end and used the air compressor to heat it up.

Should I go ahead and join ABANA before going?

Awesome dude great find!

Are there any groups in North Carolina? Specifically Piedmont region?

I've been looking through my copy (Which is actually a 1979 as well, not 78' like I stated above) and noticed at least one piece from Winston Salem NC not far from where I live. Was pretty neat, and will have to get a good view next time I go up there for their historic walk throughs.

Finally got my cup grinder in, and did some work. It took 2 or so hours to get it to this point. Ground the weld on the face down and the welding on the side of the anvil. I also smoothed out the edges to match the tool face that you see in photo 2 since I took it. I think I'm going to use it until it breaks off before I go dumping a small fortune in rods to re-weld. Either way, so far a $72 investment total.

EDIT: Btw, I accidentally gave my thread 2 stars using my Kindle (touchscreen), any way to undo a vote? Haha.

Hello everyone!

I've been posting for a few weeks without a formal introduction. My name is Daniel, and I'm a 26 year old plumber in the Piedmont Triad of North Carolina currently enrolled in college (Will major in Chemistry). Been married for a few years and am expecting a baby girl rather soon. To add to my already busy schedule, I have picked up blacksmithy, or rather aspire to be a blacksmith. Still waiting for this semester to end, I am gathering my basic smithy equipment needed along with several books on the subject (Complete Modern Blacksmith, Complete Bladesmith and Early American Wrought Iron). I have grown up in a family that manipulates metal in several different ways other than forging. I plan on bringing this artisan work to my family and complete the puzzle.

Already I have been welcomed in to community with open arms, and am happy to be a part of it. If there is anything I can do to help, I most certainly will!

Thanks.

-Dan

This is true. It is also true what they say when you buy one anvil you can't help but buy more. It is literally an obsession, lol.

Got a lead tonight of a family member cleaning out his girlfriend's deceased father's barn who was a machinist. He swears there is an anvil in there and is willing to sell to me for scrap price. Cross your fingers that its not a China knockoff!!

Also I am still waiting for my cup grinder wheel to get here through shipping to see what ive got.

Thank you all for the informative answers!

I am a blacksmithing enthusiast. I would love to be called a real blacksmith but fear those days will never arive. The doctors have given me a stent through an aneurism to continue life but a weight limit of 10 pounds, for 6 months. So I will continue to bang away at very crafty stuff instead of forging hammers and large items. Hopefully the learning process will continue throughout the ordeal.


Carry on

I have recently been pondering this. Since there are a lot of people that do it as a hobby and a lot of people that do it for a living (In most cases its both!), how can you differentiate between "I smith iron" to "I'm a Blacksmith"? Is the hierarchy any different today as it was hundreds of years ago when you were categorized as a novice or apprentice, to a master? If you are an apprentice in this day and age are you still considered a blacksmith?

I think this is more of an opinion based answer since I think what matters is what the fellow blacksmith community deems as definition, not Webster dictionary.

EDIT: Bags! I should have looked down in the forum since there is a similar thread posted:

Merged into the existing thread

Very good video guys. Ive been keeping up with your striking anvil thread and was wondering when you would post a video of that awesome hammer.

Bought a 1978 version of this book lastnight, dust jacket and all.

Richard I just wanted to give you thanks. Because of your episode on Nova, I now own 2 anvils and will soon have my forge complete. I have always wanted to pursue this as a hobby, but never really put things into perspective. Every beginner wants to make a sword, and deep down inside I do. However, I have acquainted myself with enough information to realize this is one of those things you work hard for after you put in your time. Never thought I would spend hours on end researching tools and how to make them and other various forms of metallic art until recent. I've also realized that this is less of a hobby and more of a way of life, and it constantly has my attention firmly in its grasp. I simply cannot get enough of blacksmithy (Amazon has several books being shipped to me as we speak!).

It was inspiring to watch. Thanks.