nett

What Bentiron1946 said, but remember, rapping the dial with your knuckle make it look like you know what you are doing, and in control of everything. ;)

Open the O2 valve on the tank all the way open. Adjust the O2 setting on the regulator with the torch valve open. Close the torch valve and note if the needle moved up on the regulator. If it did, continue to set the regulator at that setting and go forth and solder.

I'm not a doctor, nor do I play one on television, but I have encountered some odd regulators in the past, and the above instructions was my solution to consistently set accurate low pressures on torches. I also rap the dial with my knuckle and notice if it changes.

Looks like a pin, spike, ship, or a top maul, depending what shipyard you work in. We simple called it a 'top'.

It is used to drive fasteners into the planking on wooden ships. Today, screw fasteners have mostly retired ship mauls.

My next-door-neighbor, the fire Captain says, "remove valve, fill with water, dump water and cut". He also suggests I not do the cutting while his wife, the Mayor, is having an outdoor luncheon. The Captain always gives sage advise.

Same advise on O2 bottles (CO2 isn't a problem), but NEVER mess with an Acetylene tank.

I would suggest, for general shop work (Mild steel, aluminum, wood plastic, etc) you start with HSS 118

Finnr, steam is a lot more than just doggone hot water! Steam is a gas under pressure, think about it. Wet wood heated with an tack iron and wet cloth, or in some cases, a microwave generator (scary machine back in my days) will create steam. It is the steam pressure attempting to escape that pushes the wood grain out; water, hot or cold just does not do it satisfactorily compared to steam.

Split cross or Friedrich's cross

cross

Alexander Weygers wrote three books dealing with blacksmithing. The Complete Modern Blacksmith is a compilation of the three; The Modern Blacksmith, The Making of Tools, and The Recycling, Use, and Repair of Tools.

Ditto on Alexander Weygers book, The Complete Modern Blacksmith.

He was an original Modern Renaissance Man.
Alexlander Weygers Biography

Woodworkers expand wood with water and steam to lift dents in wood. We, however, cannot repair broken fiber.

One method of tightening hammer heads that hasn't been mentioned is using CHAIR-LOC

As I mentioned in the loose handle thread, SIKAFLEX and 3M 5200 are both moisture-cured polyurethane adhesive. Sealing after opening will save the bulk of the adhesive, but a plug of cured adhesive always develops at the opening (even overnight in humid marine conditions). The cured plug can be pulled out and discarded, while the rest of the tube remains very usable. I would believe your 6-8 months window might be about right.

3M 5200 is another moisture-cured polyurethane adhesive. It is available in 3 oz tubes as well as the caulk gun cartridge size. The 3 oz size would be a tremendous savings if you were shafting, say, three or less hammers. I've been using 5200 for over twenty years and swear by it. I also used to swear at it until I discovered it clears up nicely with mineral spirits until it cures.

Bruce, I really like this black and white photograph of you, it captures the moment wonderfully.

I would like to have been there that day to lend you a hand, but this native Californian would insist on a fire in the hearth to keep my fingers from growing numb.

I'm curious, can you remember the inventory of hammers in the photograph? Are those masons hammers on the bench to your left?

Highlander, are those hole punches in the sixth photo? Hole punches sized for EMT™ electrical fittings? Handy when you need them. Take care of them and apply oil when cutting holes. Good goings on all your booty.

They are excellent for HOT filing. A farrier's rasp will remove a lot of material FAST!

On edit: I would NEVER use a new rasp for hot filing, only used junk ones the can be purchased for a song.

Skateboard stopping nibs are just too plain easy. You can incorporate a design or theme into your gentle skate grinding inhibitors, but I think whimsical would be cool, too. Perhaps a snakes wrapped around the top rail. A frog would be cool, and maybe some birds. Momma and a covey of quail. Iron mug of coffee. Psalm book. The ideas could be limitless, and could come from the parishioners. Heck, a 'Plastic Jesus' standing on a transistor radio would raise some smiles among the elite hip church goers.

YouTube - Plastic Jesus Cool Hand Luke

I understand that if you place that hunk of steel in a bucket of sand you will dampen a lot of the noise.

I would suggest you scrounge free scrap iron to practice and play with while you learn some basic skills before paying big bucks for store bought steel. Look behind hardware stores, auto repair shops, vacant lots, industrial parks. Heck, you can do a lot with a large bolt or even some pole spikes.

Google™ Uri Hofi DVD

Build a nice fire out of dry kindling. Stoke it up well, and when it starts to develop real heat and a some coals, start adding your coal on the outside and begin pushing it in towards the center. As the wood burns out you should have your coal going to town.

Larry, that rod on the left appears to be off a beet digger conveyor belt. If it is, it is a decent carbon content steel that will make some nice little punches or even a good hold-down tool on your anvil if your pritchel hole is small enough.

Here's a good history of the furnace from the 'The Kentucky Explorer Magazine' by Roger Keith. A good read.

03-01story

Ideas for a restoration project? I got nothing, and no idea where to start, sorry. Maybe Roger Keith could be helpful, his contact address is posted in the article.

Here is a drum bellow design for a side draft forge that Brent Bailey posted at his site. The drum bellow is ingenious and took me awhile to understand that water needed to make it work. I believe the design would be well suited for Jamaica.

Brent Bailey Forge

Once a good fire source is demonstrated, anvil shaped pieces of iron will magically appear, plus some scrap iron and steel for use. Most all the steel will be from autos and trucks so I would advise learning the ASAE numbers on auto industry steel. Jamaicans are extremely resilient and thrifty so they will make things happen in their own "Soon Come" fashion, but remember, recycling is a necessity and have taken it to a fine art form; don't be surprised at what happens and appears. Enjoy.

Any Alexander G Weygers books would be a wonderful gift to leave with the fire keepers, especially The Making of Tools and The Modern Blacksmith. Used copies from bookstores would be more than appropriate. The Complete Modern Blacksmith would be the ultimate book for the hearth, they will understand it perfectly once the view it.

Charcoal is the cooking medium of choice in the rural communities along Jamaica's north coast, and is easy to locate. Local charcoal is made from Jamaican allspice (pimento) wood and is not an endangered species.

Philip, Uri's thought of everything. He has a swing out a bucket to catch the punches and chill them at the same time - look at the second to last photo!

Note: this is Uri Hofi's shop, NOT mine!

Lot of neat ideas you can glean from the photos. Note the swing away tool shelf mounted on the anvil in the first photo - smart idea.

BP1049 A Tour of My Shop