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I Forge Iron

shralp

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Everything posted by shralp

  1. My wife found this one for me at a garage sale for $2. Worth every penny. No markings on it. Weighs about 20-25 lbs.
  2. Agreed. After whaling on a RR spike for a couple of days, I decided to come here and see what I was messing up. Thanks, Glenn.
  3. Here's my ugly but serviceable forge. I finally found a use for that nasty Virginia clay, because the good Lord knows it's no much for crops. I had most of the wood lying around the shed and only had to purchase the 2x10s for the frame. Based on an old army manual I made the tuyere out of a black iron pipe that goes straight through the bottom of the bed (end cap on one side for a scoop-out and the other open for the blower) with a tee joint in the middle to allow a 1" hole. Old shower drain for a grate above it. I've only used it with charcoal made in my fire pit, and you'll note that in a couple of the pictures I have to hold my blower (an old shop vac) a couple of feet back to get the proper flow, but it gets the job done. (If the job doesn't include forge welding.) Welcome any feedback.
  4. Thanks for posting that, WF. I printed the first exercises out, copied to Evernote, and am looking forward to getting some practice in. So far it's just been railroad spikes, which are a bear to beat into shape.
  5. I just picked up a similar-sized Acme from my dad. Apparently was used by my great-grandfather on his farm, but I noticed a thin layer (maybe 1/4") of the top surface on the heel around the pritchel hole has chipped off. Would a tool steel face be that thin? Also, to the original poster or anyone else who would know: Is there any particular key to the numbers printed on the base? Do they reveal anything about date of manufacture or anything?
  6. Wine bottles for tiki torches is a genius idea. Well done.
  7. That's got to be uncomfortable for long, tall Uncle Stan to get his feet under the table at Thanksgiving.
  8. Yep.. As someone who spends a lot of time on gun forums, I sympathize. Yep, I've found the local abana chapter and will be pestering them in no time.
  9. Interesting. Can you forge weld with it? Any problem with the burners being so far into the forge? How do you adjust the air?
  10. No kidding! I found a couple of good ones that gave me a better idea of what the burner should look like and how it functions. Lots of insights on Reil's site, but man is it hard to find your way around it.I should be picking up my great-grandfather's anvil over Christmas and hammering away come January. He was the country road commissioner in rural Illinois, so he planned roads -- then went out and built them himself!</p>
  11. Thanks for the good replies. I'll do some more research on the links you provided. I think my problem is that I just don't understand how a forge that can heat steel to a working temperature is not also destroying the propane burners. But I'll read up on that too. Again, thanks for the links and responses.
  12. Yeah, and doing so as he tells the story of a smith who died that way was...perplexing. Yes, I've looked into fuels and searched the forge fora. I was hoping for some insights into that particular design, which I have not seen discussed. Granted, I may habe missed it in the plethora of topics. If what you really mean is "go away because this site is for experienced smiths" then just say so.
  13. So I stopped lurking and registered to get the community's thoughts on this video: Video link was removed for safety issues (he pops open a beer as he starts talking), language issues (the video does fit the family forum guide lines), and advertising (he wants you to buy his products via the video). Then there is the part about making you an immediate blacksmith just by building his style forge. Short version: "Modern Blacksmith" suggests using a propane weed burner and a roll of Kaowool in a coffee can to build a small gas forge. Have any of you ever tried this and/or have insights into the short-comings? I'm looking to build my first forge, and this might be a good way to go -- I just don't know enough about gas forges (or any forges) to see what the problems will be. I've looked into a few others like the Reil/EZ Burner, but I don't have the metalworking tools to flare a nozzle or make compound cuts in sheet metal. The Zoeller one looks possible, but I still don't quite understand the burner assembly. In the above design, wouldn't the end of the weed burner burn or melt by the time that the forge reached a decent working temperature? Thoughts and input appreciated.
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