Jim Coke

Greetings Michael,

          Lots of good info and. Recipes out there. Before you make a campfire set up do some research on the ovens. I prefer cooking on a steel plate just using coals on the top and bottom. Get the free app on the app  store ( Dutch oven helper) its cool and shows a lot of info on temperatures. I have two cooking stations . Lots of fun 

Jim

Greetings Marcus,

          Now that's  a chunk of iron.  When the lights in Michigan dim and the lakes and streams quiver I will know  the source of the problem.  Have fun  with your new toy and stay safe. 

Forge on and make (big) beautiful things

Jim

TP

   May you and family stay strong . Prayers sent.

Jim

Greetings Owen, 

       Very well done. Easy to follow for the beginner smith . Your explanation of procedures are over the top great and your hammer techniques a true pleasure to watch. Thank you. 

Forge on and make beautiful things 

Jim

Steve ,Sean, 

    I wish you well and prayers sent. 

Greetings Millhand, 

        Just clean and lubricat the friction point at the bottom where it contacts the moving member. It will easily rest in the open position.

Forge on and

make beautiful things 

Jim

Greetings 58er, 

       Give a guy a new power hammer and he turns into a kid in a candy store. I know we live in a " DIGITAL " world but your new hand made creations are over the top cool.  IMO I would remove one ring and mount the sign on the side of your shop facing out. Have fun and keep up the great work.

Forge on and make beautiful things 

Jim

Greetings LBS /Mark.. 

         I've read a lot of your post and offered advice , some  I'm sure is unwanted.  I'm proud of your skills and enthusiasm about blacksmithing. I wish you lived a little closer because we share many interest. I too teach survival and cast iron cooking along with blacksmithing. Some pictures of my outdoor kitchen and cooking stations for Dutch ovens.. Keep up the great work..!

Love the cat iron cookware.

Forge on and make beautiful things 

Jim

LOL .... I had a good customer who drove me nuts ..   Many times when discussing work I was doing for him he would answer his cell phone and talk for 10 minutes or so and than back to me.. One day working on another persons project at the anvil with some yellow hot metal he interrupted me and wanted immediate attention and then his cell phone rang for yet again another delay for me . I fixed the problem by continuing with my work and when he returned to me I just smiled , looked over my safety glasses and said ..""  When you are interrupted by your cell phone I am on your payroll for the next job.!   End of problem ..

Forge on and make beautiful things 

Jim

Greetings Mike,

        Happy birthday, You deserve to spoil yourself with that wonderful anvil..  It will serve you well.. The forge is always open if your in the north country. 

Forge on and make beautiful things 

Jim

LOL.......What happened to the Black Frog            custom built digital directional magnetic anvil locater .  Todd is best

          "UNIVERSAL FITS ALL"

For sure when you try it in on your project you discover the small print you forgot to read. 

Greetings Keeplokd,

     For a reference log on to EB. The G2 is posted for sale. Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words.  Good luck on your new tool. 

Forge on and make beautiful things 

Jim

Greetings 58er,

        I'll keep it short and to the point. You have done an exceptional job in a short time with your shop rebuild. You will do well . I'm looking forward to see your future projects. 

Forge on and make beautiful things 

Jim

Greetings Arkie, 

        Yes the center is set down on oposing sides with a simple rounded point flat chisel., I use my fly press so I control the depth of the tool.. Fun stuff.. 

Forge on and make beautiful things 

Jim

Greetings Baja,

        Tapered ends on square tube can be done but it takes practice.. I have done several elements this way and as you can see twisting adds a new demention. Good luck on your build.. 

Forge on and make beautiful things 

Jim

Frosty,

      She is on my list.. I hope things go well and a speedy recovery. 

Jim

Greetings George/ Patterson, 

     I learned a trick for tracing patterns on sheet metal years ago from George Dixon. Buy some 3M spray glue and stick your paper pattern to the metal. I use special cut out chisels and my treadle hammer for that job. Works great.. 

Forge on and make beautiful things 

Jim

Greetings Das, 

        What you have is a welders shielded clamp. They were designed to keep the screw clear from over spray and slag. (expensive to buy) .  The grabber is a log grabber for a fire pit or big fireplace. You get great stuff. 

Forge on and make beautiful things 

Jim

Greetings Scrambler, 

      The pictures show my leg design. A few other things... Angels welded in the center with flats on the bottom for clamping fixtures and other tools . The removable top plates also have mating angles on the bottom. I have many devices that mate and clamp into the angles for holding and cutting. I made 2 complete benches which clamp together for bigger projects ( railings and big flat stock)   I hope this helps.. Good luck on your build. 

Forge on and make beautiful things 

Jim

Greetings Scrambler, 

        I designed my welding tables years ago with a unique leg leveling system. I used about 10 inches of square tube welded to the top section ( short legs) . The outer legs, square tube with square floor plates I put pinch bolts with handles so I could adjust for uneven surfaces from the top. They have served me well for years., I will try to add a picture later today.. 

Forge on and make beautiful things 

Jim

Greetings Frosty,

        Years ago my old friend was teaching his daughters his form of math.. Instead of using the term division he called it gozinta.    ( 5 GOZINTA 25 5 TIMES )  Much more fun than the new math. LOL

Forge on and make beautiful things 

Jim

Greetings Das,

       The adjustable wrenches that are in your pile are great for making twisting wrenches. They are unique because they have the jaw end and are super for twisting round stock.. At demos and hammer ins it is my most borrowed tool.. Nice haul.. 

Forge on and make beautiful things 

Jim

Greetings HP, 

         Forget the grate your firepot will work just fine as is., You may consider a clinker breaker design for the bottom plate . Easy to make .. Just Google fire pot for a reference.  Lookin good have fun.

Forge on and make beautiful things 

Jim

Greetings 58er, 

         Lookin good... Wont be long and we will see your new hammer in the pictures..  I had a rail in my old shop and loved it. I used it for many operations but my favorite was a tool balancer on a trolley with my Porta Ban saw so all I had to do is grab it , pull it down , Shazam it was ready to work from any place in the shop. Keep up the great work. 

Forge on and make beautiful things 

Jim