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I'll have to check into that stuff... HD has some stuff that sounds to be similar to what yer talking about but it is quite spendy at almost 50$ for a 12' by 2 1/2 foot piece. I think the high cost cos its painted(the only way it comes) and Im stuck using the hardware store type places as none of the roofing center want to deal with a guy that only needs a few sheets... Thomas, where did you get the propanel? the only place i found it is bar c roofing supply in santa fe, and frankly thats jsut too far a drive from Maryland for roofing

Over the back fence... I dont use any chemicals othen than occasionally small amounts of naval jelly if I come across something extra rusty that I want to clean up, quench waster steams off and just refill the bucket the goes back to the land thanks to the developers having to put in buffers btween the stupid yup mcmansions and the trash that lives up on the hill(me)

Sam, So heres my question, what exactly is the difference between this and a tredle? I've dont want a power hammer as I try and have all my tooling availible if I aint got no power so I like human powered stuff... Most tredle designs I've seen wont do anything I cant do with a big hammer(yeah I know I'll regret it as I get older, but I've got lotsa those issues already) by myself as I dont have any access to a striker but once in a blue moon... so yer plan seems to be the answer as I'd like to starting making some sledges, broad axes and the like.

Looks pretty cool to me, if it works well, post some scale drawings I'd love to try one but I'm pretty machinery stupid.

LOL yeah, when I went to HD to check the stuff out I saw all the Ondura was all busted and cracked... I just hate messing around with the ole standing seam(I always cut myself bad atleast once a job). I definately have plans for bracing before roofing(It staked out with guylines at the moment) but with having to put some new fence around the garden to keep the critters out and parts for the dishwasher so the wife doesnt put me out in the new shop to live I just couldnt swing the extra bucks for the additional material this week...but C"MON PAYDAY!!! My other thought was just gonna use corrugated as the I could put in some fiberglass skylights, but it ended up being just as expensive so I think standing seam it is. As far as the sides got its only gonna have 1 side for the present(for storage purposes) and tarps/canvas will make the remainder of the walls if needed. We're usually pretty lucky the climate is mild here and we dont get that much snow and very rarely any hail and I dont mind working in the cold and out here all locks do is cause you to have a busted door/window.

But cheer up young apprentice, although uncle frosty is no where near you do live in the machine shop capital of the world so finding all kinds of exotic metal should be no problem and with yer proximity to philly you should be easily able to hook up with some smiths

Thanks Moose, thats jsut the kinda input I needed, I figured it'd be heavier and as I'm trying to keep things as light as possible up there I'll pro'ly end up with metal and I think I can get it long enough to not have to have a horizontal seam.

I'd have to say that I managed to wrangle some good out of the day, I'm either planning on tin or Ondura depending on which one works out to be cheaper and lighter weight. I post the progress pics as soon as I get some more $$$

Well yesterday after church I came home and put the family down fer a nap and thought I'd sneek out back and bend a little metal(as I have a mothers day gift to finish before mothers day) well apparently smithing counts as not resting on the Sabbath so after burning through the fancy spiral/heart/courting candle I was 90% finished I swore off this stupid craft and decided to goto home depot to see what I could get with the $100 dollar gift card that was burning a hole in my pocket... so below are pictures of what $105.00{less fasteners, which I had} will get you with about 5 hours of labor. My new shop should have a reall roof by next week to keep out the rain. I hoping this will let me get more forge time as I'll be able to work in inclement weather and I should have less set up/shut down work since I wont have to drag everything back and forth to the shed. The dimensions are 12x16 8 ft high in the back and 10 in the front

you still havent told us where, less yer keeping it a secret.

Glenn, While the topic is up, Im curious as to what amounts constitute low or high ash and clinker?

James Once again your ability to adapt and overcome is amazing, as we've seen some times neccessity IS NOT the mother of invention, some times its jsut an ole boy with too much time on his hands... just kiddin ya

Heres a pic of the hot cut I made to alleviate the burnt hands I kept getting from using a chisel to cut bigger stock... Its made from 1x1 1/2 bar that I found at the scrap yard real cheap for a 1" hardy. First upset about 1-2" from one end, then cut off from bar about 4-6" tapered the shanked just enough to get started in the hole then heated pretty hot and shaped the shank with the hardy hole remember the shank will shrink some as it cools. rough shaped the edge hot and finished on the grinder. then cooled on the forge slowly.

Diehl Steel has both, I believe they'll cut any lenght with no minimum Pam is the lady I dealt with there for some w1 there number is 8005431566

Heres how i built my forge coal forge construction *UNDER CONSTRUCTION* I got less than 50 $$ wrapped up in it including firebrick and 200# of coal

Nice rack, Larry... lol really though, I understand about everyones elses stuff looking better, I think thats always the case...Im still mostly making items for the smithy so hopefully by the time I get the shop well equipped I'll be puttin out some nice stuff like you are. I've also committed my self to(or at least attempting) to make all my own tooling, Im getting ready to start on makin some tongs, but Im a little nervous as I havent riveted anything yet and have difficulty getting good clean fullers(all the anvill edges are pretty well round, but I think Im gonna make another hardyfuller out of the stock I used for the hot cut.

C'mon we know you LE's are makin all the money...*COUGH* lol, just kiddin ya Tom, glad to see ya.

I got a trenton(so Im told) that isnt in nearly as nice shape I love it, it wieghs 172#, although I paid $40 for it off craigslist.

thats some nice nice work Larry, Im jealous, my day at the forge was productive but not nearly as nice of stuff. I desperately needed a hot cut hardy so this is my first attempt i used scrapyard 1x1 1/2 stock for a 1" hardy hole it looks like a piece of dung but it works so much better than a hand held chisel. the fire iron set I made a while ago but the hooks and trammel are new, and I got sick of burning my hand dousing the fire so i made a stick for my can and a hookmto hang it and my forge poker on.