Rodney Skinner

if you had it setting for a long time the seals in the cylinder my be dry. try putting a very small amount of oil in one side of the cylinder. cycle a few times and see if it improves. do not put too much oil in or it will "hydrolic" on you. It would not funtion well like that either.

fantastic forge hood and overall setup of shop! How do they get you out of there? I would move in and never leave...

paranoid, yes I am a bit but for good reason. I have seen changes in my life time that blow the mind. I can't believe how calm everybody takes things. Obama made a statement of wanting to shut down the coal industry so it a possiblity wether you believe it or not. He has thrown it out there.

In Oregon they have seriously tried to ban wood stoves many times. With Portland able to out vote the rest of the state, it will happen someday.

Every thing I enjoy has been under attack by some do good group for my entire life. I am a bit tired of it. Don't give me the vote nonsense. The city dwellers out vote folks like me nearly everytime.

My post was more curiosity about view points of others here then anything.

Despite no mention of politics in the forum rules it seems to be a no no. So lets just drop this thread.

Thanks to all who responded.

If the following topic has been brought up before, please forgive me.

If Obama and gang get their way and shut down coal mining, what are blacksmiths going to do? Has anyone started a political push for an exemption for coal use by blacksmiths? Carbon emissions by blacksmiths can not be enough to worry anyone I would think.

I was just wondering...

I had a JHM Shaper. very nice rebound. I sold it to get a larger refflinghause anvil. I wish I would of kept it now. nice anvil but the casting around the edges of the face was a bit wavy.

shop mess do to upgrading electrical and adding drywall to ceiling.

see audragon photos folder shop mess.

nice work hammer! thanks for sharing!!

like you, I have been busy with the forum down. I have gathered up my parts for a gasser.

What size is your forge tube?

your forge looks great, by the way. I like the way you mounted your bricks on the ends.

Thanks for sharing the photos

very nice photos thanks for sharing.

that was a nice demo!

I use sheets of cardboard. It can cover a large area easily and moved quickly

out in the country...nice! you can make all the noise you want. please keep the pictures comming. I enjoy them a great deal.

irnsrgn, looks like your serious about your wood. I like the axe! Did you make it?

thanks for your understanding!

cutting short, splitting, hidden flaws are just some of the crazyness of wood.

I love metal of any kind. Oh well, Just two more rooms to go... Oh noooo...

I am being forced to do woodworking. My wife has me building built in dresser drawers and closets in my old house.

I have not been able to touch metal for a month. This is clearly abuse! lol

Are there others forced to work with wood?

very impressive. nice clean job!

I was thinking that none of use will ever "heal" if we keep haning around other blacksmith addicts.

I asked my blacksmith friends if I had a problem and they say "NO!" So I am not sure if I need to heal.

I have been thinking of him since this started. I also pray for him and his family.

Any idea how close to the conflict he is?

tempting to fly there and rent a truck back with a load of anvils!

bullchuck,

I am wondering about the spring you made. Did you need to heat treat it. I have never made a spring before.

I purhased a postvise at an estate sale several years ago for $10. While I was paying, a man walked up and asked how much it sold for. He then went on to tell the seller it was worth $100. The seller said "well, its been here for two weeks and no one wanted it." I offered to let the new guy buy it for $100 but of course he declined. I was very happy with the $10 deal.

Another vise is available without a spring. That is why I am asking about how you made the spring.

I got a chuckle out of construcitng a building and heating it. That's my favorite! lol

I use a natural gas furnace to keep my shop above freezing and to drive out the moisture to keep the metal from sweating. Then the wood stove is fired up for an hour to make it cozy for the blacksmith. I will add a insulated box around the anvil with a light to keep it a bit warmer. I have always been careful not to work on a cold anvil for fear of damage to the anvil. I over looked the cooling of the metal being worked.

Great thread! Always something new to learn everytime I log on.

Thanks folks

I like that very much. I may try and make one of those.

I would like to attend a blacksmith get together of some kind.

Loose weight of course...

thats the short list. I don't want to over do it and wear myself out next year!:D

Helping out the neighbors goe's along way. I give them free eggs from my chickens. Weld items for free and help the neighborhood kids with bike repairs and filling up tires with my compressor. Now and then a neighbor gets a free artsy item I could not sell.

I also try and watch what I do noise wise. I live in town but have a lot twice the size of everyone else, so there is a bit of space between us. I work midday and shut down before folks get home from work. During the summer I won't work past 8pm. I find the biggest noise makers for me are my hand grinders.

My anvil is 165# JHM with a chain wrapped around it several times and anchored on both front and back of the anvil.

Now if I could just sneak in a power hammer!:D

the 1/8" per foot for sag rule of thumb, I read in the english rural craftguide last night in the section of making an ornimental gate.