Leah

Very nice. I like the way you put the little scroll on the bottom of the knocker part. Did you form a tenon on it and peen it on the back? Did you rivet the loop that holds the knocker to the backplate?

Last of the Dogmen

Leah Fuller Northeast Louisiana 51 years old Married to a great guy (a cop) for 33 years no kids millwright/mechanic in a paper mill As the oldest of five kids, I got to help daddy in his shop on weekends when he welded and built things. I guess that is when I got the metal working bug. I worked in banking for 20 years. When I turned 40, I decided to do what I really wanted to do. I quit the bank and went to work in the power plant at the mill. I worked rotating shifts for two years while I went to trade school. When I got hired in the maintenance department, I started saving my money and built a my dream shop. I like to make fireplace sets and cooking utensils. I also like to knit (I don't know where that came from) socks and sweaters.

Monica, I hope everything goes well for you. You are on my prayer list.

Jr., That thing is beautiful. I just showed it to Steve and said "hint, hint". I don't think he took the hint.

Thanks Guys! You just reminded me how old I am :cry:

my matches. They have been afraid to let me play with matches after my accident with the dynamite. All I did was...

Jr., I read this to Steve, thank you for sharing this.

I used to be able to get a lot of good scrap for free at work. The only problem I ever had with hubby was that, every once in a while, he would kinda fuss about all the scrap metal I had in the corner of my shop. I get home before he does so I just started sticking it in a corner before he got home. As for spending, he buys what he wants and I buy what I want. As long as the bills get paid, everything is fine. Heck, I bought myself a new truck a couple of years ago and did not even tell him I was looking for one. I just drove up in the dirveway, blew the horn and told him to come see what I had. I did the same way when I ordered my shop. I told him about it after I had bought it. He did not fuss because half of it was going to be his. Sometimes, one of us will ask the other one what we spent on an item and the answer will be "You don't want to know"

Jr. and Cookie, I am glad Carrie is well enough to go back to work. What kind of @#%$&* outfit does she work for that she can't be off sick and in the hospital without losing her job?

Bash away all.....I like that. Thanks Jr.

I would also like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Glenn, thank you for helping make this a good year for me. I look forward to reading the forum every night and I have learned so much from the Tuesday night blueprints. I know that, if I need some help on a project, I can come here with a question and find an answer or six. I guess the best thing I can say about this place is that I am comfortable here.

Ironscot, If you have a chance to go to Frank's class, by all means DO IT! I can't say enough good about it. When I was there, he still had some openings in his January class. If you have been doing this for a looooong time, or only a little while, I think you could learn a lot from Frank.

Fred, You are in my prayers.

Jr. and Cookie, Glad to hear good news about Carrie.

James, I am so sorry to hear about Jeanette. Heaven has a new angel. You are in my prayers.

Thanks guys. You have given me some things to think about and try this weekend.

I am with Daryl. I use a pry bar almost every day at work. I would much rather have one bend than break. I could have the end of a heavy motor picked up or a pipe flange pulled over with it. While we know we should never put our fingers under a heavy motor to pull the shims out or get between a pipe flange and another pipe to start the bolts or put in the gasket... I see people do stuff like that all the time. It would be much cheaper to buy a new pry bar than to get your fingers fixed.

What a weekend. Yesterday, I had a great day in the shop. I did a lot of cleaning up and did some other things I had been putting off. I forged the handles for a fireplace set and called it a day. I got up early this morning and went to the shop to weld the handles onto the tools. Everything went well as I forged the 1/2" round stock into a rooster spur for the poker and forged the end of the broomstick. The broom handle weld went just as it should and I was feeling good - maybe a little too good. I scarfed the end of another piece of stock and got my fire cleaned up. So far so good. When everything was just right, I tried to make the weld and missed it. No problem, just brush it off and flux it again and I will get it this time. Missed it again. Cleaned out the fire to make sure I had not missed a clinker. I will get it this time. WRONG! Sooooo, I go into the house and get another cup of coffee and think about what I could be doing wrong. I decided to try something I had seen in a book and cut a "V" in the round stock, quenched it and drove the hot scarf of the handle onto it and made a scarf that would lock in place. I know I will not miss this weld........ So I got out the welder and tacked it with a 7018 rod and when I brought it out of the forge this time, I gave it a little tap and it broke into two parts. By this time, I am looking at two pieces of burnt, mangled metal and there is so much borax on the floor that it looks like a dope bust gone bad. Murphy had taken over my shop. I mean really, I could not even forge weld it when I had tacked it with a welding machine! I figure most people would have given up about this time and gone to the house. I found out today that I am more hard headed than Murphy. I dug around and found a box of 1/16" 6013 rods and figure "it ain't no good this way, I might as well ruin it for good." I ran the amps all the way down on my little buzzbox and it still was too hot. I sure wish Murphy would leave me alone. I decide to go ahead and give it a try - it can't look no worse. I started building it up a little at a time. I was burning the rod up so fast, all I could really do was dab a little, chip, chip, brush, brush, dab a little more. When I got through, it looked like a big, ragged blob. So back to the forge, clean it out and get my fire going again. I brought the blob up to a red heat, brushed it with everything I had, sprinkled on a little borax and put it back in the fire. I laughed and though, "I am waisting my time for sure." I brought it up to a welding heat, smacked it on the side of the anvil to get rid of the flux and beat the stew out of it. I let it cool a little and brushed it off thinking I would at last give up and let Murphy have the shop to himself. Much to my supprise, it did not look too bad. I fluxed it again and, after a couple of heats, had a nice looking shovel handle. I HAD RUN MURPHY OFF! I swear, you can't tell where the weld is. I finally called it a night and went to the house - but, I saw Murphy peeking around the corner of the shop - he hasn't gone too far...

Elkdoc, That is great news! Thanks for letting us know.

I'm praying for you, Ralph.

Elkdoc, I will keep your friend and his family in my prayers. Please keep us posted on the young man.

Sandy, This list is great!

Jr. and Cookie, Carrie is in my prayers.

Beacher, Your mom is in my prayers.