netman

I really like the show! My wife and I make a point to watch it every week. My two daughters also watch the show. We appreciate this type of television program in comparison to all of the garbage that has now taken a lions share of tv time. Thanks FiF and the History Channel!

My buddy from Winchester, Ontario just left my home in Indiana a few hours ago. Shame I did not see this sooner we could have got one up to you.

I found a couple old wooden barges sunk off a sandbar. They are only visible during summer pool stage. I have picked up several pieces of wrought iron from them. If someone is interested I would be willing to sell or trade it. PM me if interested. I can send pictures with measurements.

Spanky when I was in high school my mom and dad aka Santa bought my brother and I each o/u shotguns. I hunted all Christmas break with the shotgun and then reopened it on Christmas day and was so excited. My wife runs a tight ship.

Well the box with the ten Q and D tongs arrived and Santa told me I had to wait until Christmas to get them. I asked if I could at least open the box and take a look. No was all I got. I'm fired up and can't wait until Christmas.

Well upon reading this post and doing a search on Ouick and Dirty tongs I asked Santa for the set of 10 tongs. Santa told me today that she ordered the set yesterday. I can't wait until Christmas to get these tongs in action. I have everything set up in my shop to get busy however I only have one pair of tongs that I built and struggle with them to get anything done. Come on Christmas.

I'm always wanting to make some round conibear type traps. I see where someone makes the round body grips however I always think I can build them myself. I do all my trap mods myself and on the look out for something new and improved.

drakesfourmoose, as a trapper myself I can see where you are going with this. However I would ask if you are respringing longsprings and if so how many. This may sound lazy but you can buy replacement springs for your traps. I have messed around with trying to respring the springs in the past with little luck. I just buy new replacements as needed. Now if your looking for something to do I am subscribed to your post.

Benton where is your shop located? I looked at your blog last night. Nice work. I too have a long history in martial arts. We may have grabbed each others gi's at sometime. I seen you have the Blu hammers. I have tossed around buying a Uri hammer however I think my hammers are good enough for now. Its the hammerer that needs some work. I just need some pointers to be a danger to metal.

I'm from Chandler,Indiana. I'm looking for some mentoring. My work also conflicts with attending the classes. I have made a set of tongs however I TIG welded the reins on. I have been hesitant with buying tongs as I want to make my own but I have come to a conclusion that I need to buy a couple sets myself to get me at my forge making some of these ideas that are bouncing around in my head. If you guys ever have a mini meeting let me know I can bring coal.

Thanks a bunch for the info on the pipe. I would have never thought abou how much heat it would send back to my hand. Super thanks. Hopefully in the next day or so I can run a practice piece or two through it.

Guillotine fuller I made this past weekend. Made from 1/2" steel. I wanted to try and send this photo by cell phone. It worked. I am in the process of building a set of front and back bumpers for my Polaris 850 xp ho. I have been building the bumpers in my mind for a couple of weeks and was stumped on the ends of the bumpers. I decided to build the bumpers with rounded ends as opposed to welding caps on the end of the pipe. Upon seeing the guillotine fuller working on pipe I decided to make this fuller. I will be using roll cage pipe for my bumpers. They are .093 wall thickness[i believe thats what was told to me]. I made this fuller with 1/2" steel plate. The pipe I will be using is 1 1/2" in diameter.

Rich I understand exactly what you mean. Thanks

Thanks for the info Steve. I contacted Ptree several months back however we were never able to get together. I will get with the groups closer to me and make arrangements to meet up with them. I know that if I can get with a group I could narrow my tool choices down to what I need or can use. Thanks.

I myself am looking for a good hammer to start with. I have all kinds of hammers however when I went to buy a couple of hammers I got the yellow handle hammer and its two pound wooden hammer cousin to start with. I would like to buy a good hammer such as a cross peen hammer that will do the majority of my work. I am old enough now to know that you get what you pay for and dont mind paying fair prices for quality products. I cannot find anyone within a decent drive of me to mentor me so I have to find out the long and hard way of doing it myself. I knew that if I bought a Hofi hammer that I would be getting a good hammer of good quality and from a great craftsman. it will be ready to use upon receiving it. As a commercial fisherman I support those that support me and have done very well with that mind set. I have learned more from this website in regards to working metal than anywhere else. This site has shortened my learning curve and I don't mind supporting those that take the time to produce and sell good products and provide good information.

Looking to buy a Hofi hammer. Where can I buy one? Thanks. Netman

I have cut out and welded a fire pot from 1/2" x 6" steel flat bar. I am to the point of building a clinker breaker or cutting slots. I have the tools and the steel to do either so they both are the same to me building wise. I have searched and basically decided its a 50/50 deal. Whats your suggestion? Any thoughts or opionions are appreciated. For my air supply I have furnace booster type blower. My plans are to use a dimmer switch to adjust the air flow. It will be a bottom air feed. Thanks Netman

I got the bellows home. He told me the bellow is over 100 yrs old and its in very good condition. Most of the leather is still good however there is a section or two that needs replaced. how do I get a cell phone pic of the bellow on here? Upon thinking about my forge I am not going to use this bellow and upon posting pics would consider selling or trading it.

Intrex I walked over to the neighbors today and picked up the blower. Its a Fasco too. I bet its the same one you bought..I will be welding my forge up this week.

Ring....I got one for you. I will pull it off tomorrow and put it out for you to pick up. What do I owe you? Not a thing.

intrex did you get your problem figured out. Funny that I am reading this.....my neighbor is a H and A man. He has his shop behind his home just down the road from me. I just called him a few minutes ago and asked about a 4" squirrel cage type blower. He thought for a minute and is looking right now for what ThomasPowers suggested. While I am waiting for the return call I thought I would get on IFI and read some post. I too am in the process of building my coal fired forge. Hopefully he will call me with a free blower of some type. Might cost me a bag or two of catfish filets. I will let you know what I come up with. Netman

I am new to blacksmithing and in the process of getting my shop set up. So ....there is this old guy down the road that I knew had been around some metal work like my dad. I spoke to Jim asking about any area blacksmiths that he knew that could give me some pointers. He mentioned Joe a retired coal miner. Joe retired from the same coal mine my dad did. I call Joe and starting asking him questions. Joe tells me that he has a bellow that he used for several years and it had been given to him by a local blacksmith many years ago. Joe told me that I could have the bellow all I had to do was load it up as it had been given to him. He said it was about 4 to 4 1/2 feet long. I started looking at pics on IFI of bellows. I had plans to use a electric blower of some sort for my forge. However upon looking at some of the forges that use bellows posted by guys on here has now got me interested. If the bellows that I am about to get needs leather work[he said it did need work] where would I get the leather/parts? Is there a supplier that specializes in bellows? or should I thank the guy and go with a electric blower. Thanks in advance Netman

Thanks for replys. I got the anvil home today and upon looking at it I am going to rethink the paint removal. I may remove the paint later. My dad who has the steel for the fire pot is out of town for a couple more days. Once he gets back I will get the plasma cutter out and get to work. I got a couple hundred pounds of coal ready to go just need the forge up and running. I got with Ptree by pm and hope to get over his way this weekend for a watch and learn session. Right now I need some tongs however I am going to wait and build them. I have a pretty good stock of flat bar. Again thanks for the responses. Netman

Long time lurker and finally signed in. I live in So Indiana and have been asking around and scouring craigslist for a anvil. I have asked a whole lot of people about finding a anvil. As it turns out a guy I work with had two anvils sitting in his barn. I spoke to him about his anvils and finally got him to sell me one. I had yet to see the anvil however he said it was really big. He informed me the anvil was a Peter Wright and had the numbers 336 stamped on it. Well I did the math and found the anvil weighs 426 pounds. I bought it today after going and looking at it. Jeez its a whopper and now its mine. It had been a anvil at a farm implement shop in Evansville,In. My co worker bought it he thinks about 15-20 yrs ago. I am a very happy. The anvil had been painted blue no telling how many years ago. I would like to shine her up a little. I am looking for some anvil restoration tips and pointers. I am building my forge right now too. I am hoping to be up and running in the near future. I will post up a pic or two in the next day or so. Thanks in advance Netman