Doug C

m_brothers.....

Broad axe can be used in dressing timber to create flat sides. Usually the head is flat on one side and beveled on the other. The flat side is against the wood. It can be struck or swung. An adz was used afterwards to dress the timber. I was in a 17th century house recently where the timbers had been hand hewn and dressed with an adz but I would have sworn that an plane had been used.

Braizing......

Did a little digging and found the wain in Wainwright comes from the generic term for carriages built for hauling agricultural goods instead of people. Wheelwright specialized in wheels which were considered the hardest part of making a wagon. I lived in a neighborhood as a kid that had a family named Wainwright and had a crush on a girl named Cartwright. Trade names that became surnames might be an interesting thread.

I have not used charcoal but I like the coal because I can build up the fire in different ways depending on the task at hand, bituminous coal stays lit while I take a break and I have learned with it. John, Does charcoal burn cleaner, hotter? Is that what you learned with?

William's Coal & Oil Co mywilliamsenergy.com 39 Adams St, Braintree, Ma (781) 843-0415 50lb bag of Bituminous for $10 I don't know their per ton price but they'll deliver for $25 if you buy a ton.

I always look for RCO's (Rust Colored Objects) when I am driving. I have found more good big stock, 1 inch plus, on the side of the road than you can believe. Finnr's point about trash day and movin day are spot on. I have a neighbor that was emptying her barn and was pitching out about 15 feet of 7/8 round stock cut into 3 foot lengths. Must of been old tent pegs. I also look for people throwing out those clay chimnea's that folks with small yards use to have a fire on their patio and grab the stands tey sit on. I have gotten a lot of square and round 3/8 stock.

STart with your favorite search engine or the phone book. I found two within 20 minutes of my house that I never knew existed. There appears to be a scrap yard in your town that deals with metal. I would start there. Rosenman's, Inc 902 E Main St, Ottumwa, IA 52501-3647, Phone: (641) 683-1871

Don't tell anyone but I took one out with a sledge hammer once. Buried it in a land fill. RIP

The math works out to $60 / bottle assuming 15 months. I don't weld so I don't know if that is reasonable or not. Irnsrgn, do you have your bottles retested every so often or do they just give you another retested bottle? Just curious, trying to understand the economics. I was thinking of taking a welding course this fall at the local tech school. Might have to buy or rent tanks after that.

Great work. I like the cat tails and may have to give that a try.I like the mixing of the manufactured look of the wheel and the organic look of the cattails. I would never have thought of doing that. The more I read here the more I realize I don't think of much. Oh well just means I have more to learn and more excuse to forge. The wife ain't gonna be happy:D

diapers (Depends of another sort)

Just did a bit of research and for a 30"x40" table using 1/4" the table will weigh 85 pounds, 42.5 pounds for 1/8". Guess you need to decide how movable it has to be. Add the weight of sides and legs and you could hit 100 to 150 pound pretty quick. More if you get carried away.

Bill Clinton

John, Thanks for the input. I think I'll go with the 1/4" sheet. This is for my 'at home' forge. I was thinking a table dimension of 30" by 40". What are other folks forge dimensions. Those are nice looking forges and clean looking shop.

Anyone have an opinion on what is best for the forge table and frame. I was thinking of using 1/4 inch for the table but a guy I work with, who built one, told me I was nuts and that 1/8 inch was plenty good. I plan on using 1 inch angle iron for the frame and firepot supports. Big firepot (15" x 12" X 5") cast about 1/4" thick.

My Golden loves to hang out near by. I had to tie her up so she was outside the triangle and give her her own slack tub for drinking.

Archie, When are you doing this again? Are you doing any demo's else where? I live about 40 minutes away and would like to come see your work. Maybe learn a thing or ten from you.

I would probably look on iForgeIron and find a few folks new to smithing and sell it to them for a very reasonable price like Finnr did recently. Charge them just enough so they understand its value but low enough in price so they can afford it. Take pictures of some smiling faces and post them in the gallery.

I've got a sister that lives in Houston. 200 miles isn't too far for me or the anvil to travel.

LDW, That is one nice looking leaf. How do you get the center split to look the way it does? Are you forming this over a ball shape? Do you have blueprint to share?

Welcome from New England. You will be amazed at the good stuff you'll find here and at the great people the inhabit this site. Make the time to visit often and you won't be disappointed.

I like it. Find a way to project someones face through it(via mirrors?) and it becomes an interactive sculpture. Anyone could become the man behind the iron mask.

I think Thomas and I are saying the same thing, though with 27 years he gets to say it with way more authority and experience. Do what works best for you. Change it continually until it works right for you. There are lot's of opinions. Listen to them all, try what makes sense, share what you learned!:)

The have been used to forge lot's of things. Here is a good url that shows examples: How-To Make Things From Railroad Spikes