civilwarblacksmith

1. What is the thickness of your fire pot? If it is 3/8" or more, don't line it. Also the size of the pot is fine. 2. If you forge table is cast, and most castings are at least 1/4" to 1/2" anyway, there really is no reason to line it with anything. Unless you are forging 8-12 a day, everyday as a business even then it would be iffy. 3. As far as fuel consumption, you did not say what type of air system you are using. The type you are using and how you use it can be the issue with the amount of fuel you are burning.

In sandy or loose soil, you can add a flat triangular shape welded to the back of the stake and make what some call a sand hog stake. Name given from it's use on beaches to hold down cabanas and tents.

I do know that one of the board members here at the Union Mills homestead where my shop is, was a wheelwright for Colonial Williamsburg for 6 years. Unfortunately I have had any interest around this area for wheelwrighting. I think it would be a neat trade to learn. What exactly is wainwrighting, this is something that I have not heard of?

These are also from Mcmaster-Carr. 8060K39 Neoprene O-Ring Round Belt Black, 1/4" Diameter, 26" Outer Circle In stock at $7.46 Each

Unfortunately unless you are around Amish country, there isn't a whole lot of call for a wheelwright. Maybe with Wild west re-enactors? With the civil war re-enactors we don't see a whole lot of need for wheel wrights as there are places to buy the wheels when needed.

I would like to make a suggestion on making tent stakes. I am concered about the possibility of them cracking and bending under use. I have made alot tent stakes for re-enactors, whose presentations are also camping every weekend. The stakes I make are 12" x 3/8" square stock. These are given a 4 side taper point. The other end is then bent to a hook 1" back. The reason for the size and shape is the depth you can drive them into the ground for the tent. It will keep the tent planted. Also the square shape will not turn in the ground as round stock will. If you are making stakes for a dining fly I would suggest making them 24"- 30" x 1/2" to allow for a spring action in normal winds. If storm winds arrive, the stakes can be driven alot deeper so that the fly isn't blown away. This style lasts the re-enactors a long time unless they lose them like they usualy do.

Here is the local guild that is in your state, you might want to contact them. Not sure where you are in Kansas so I gave surrounding states also. GREAT PLAINS BLACKSMITH ASSOCIATION P.O. Box 17613, Wichita, KS 67217 Pres: Patrick Briggs 12375 SW 200th Douglass, KS 67039 (316) 747-2659 [email protected] Ed: Rob Fertner 4309 Memory Lane Wichita, KS 67212 (316) 942-3755 [email protected] Great Plains Blacksmith Association BLACKSMITH ASSOCIATION of MISSOURI Pres: Kirk Sullens 2300 N. East Ave. Springfield, MO 65803 (417) 863-8628 [email protected] Ed: Robert Ehrenberger 6192 Hwy 168 Shelbyville, MO 63469-2527 (573) 633-2010 [email protected] Blacksmiths Association of Missouri PRAIRIE BLACKSMITHS ASSOCIATION Pres: Donald Stanley 4020 W. 13th Street Grand Island, NE 68803-2912 (308) 382-5500 [email protected] Ed: Francis Belohlavy 3015 Orchard Lincoln, NE 68503 (402) 477-4337 [email protected] Prairie Blacksmiths Association ROCKY MOUNTAIN SMITHS Pres: Craig May 1498 Mount Evans Blvd. Pine, CO 80470-5012 (303) 838-2619 [email protected] Ed: Kalah May PO Box 1736 Bailey, CO 80421 (303) 838-2619 [email protected] Rocky Mountain Smiths, Colorado Blacksmiths SALTFORK CRAFTSMEN ARTIST BLACKSMITHS ASSOCIATION Pres: Jim Carothers 9501 Frontier Perry,OK 73077 (405) 336-9213 [email protected] Ed: Diana Davis Rt. 1, Box 1105 Fletcher, OK 73541 (580) 549-6824 [email protected] Saltfork Craftsmen Artist Blacksmiths Association

Sissy.........

I am trying to find someplace to get liability insurance for doing demos at events. I tried industrial coverage through Hartford, which has a program for Abana members. Unfortunately this is business insurance and if you have someone who is helping you and they are not your employee, they will not cover you even if the are a smith. Which means the demonstrators for our blacksmith days would not have been covered because one of our guild members worked the forge for them and they were not employed by the demonstrator. Needless to say since I had other smiths helping me but not employed by me, I couldn't get coverage through them. Anybody have ideas on insurances and where to get them? Looked through the archive threads and posting but could not find what I needed.

My card. Didn't seem to scan the colors very bright though.

That's Great Archie. Glad to hear you had a GREAT day. I'll be at the Pensylvania Dutch Days in Hanover, PA. this weekend at the Historical Society. Hoping for as good of day as yours.

You can also heat longer areas on the steel by moving it back and forth along the length until a long section is at temperature. As long as you have heated it up it will not take as long to reheat as you pull it from the fire to do that section.

My wife says they showed this video in church, Sunday. Barely a dry eye in the place.

That's an Idea. I still haven'tfound shoes for 6 " pulleys wheels. You can buy them cut them and glue them. But to find ones that fit, haven't seen them yet.

The saw blade was as follows: 4179A863 Bimetal Band Saw Blade 5'10" L, 3/8" W, .025" Thk, 10-14 Tpi, Vari/Vari In stock at $24.29 Each Round drive belt: I bought 2 different sizes. 8060K39 Neoprene O-Ring Round Belt Black, 1/4" Diameter, 26" Outer Circle In stock at $7.46 Each 1835T413 (Same as 3044K706) Urethane O-Ring Round Belt Clear, 1/4" Diameter, 27-1/4" Outer Circle In stock at $7.86 Each I can't remeber which one is on now but it works.

the smell of fresh Manure

What size stock did you use for your crosses?

tempering..........

Anytime you can come home with more money in your pocket than when you left it is a good day. Finished my 2 day re-enactment up today. Brought home some extra cash too! Not as much as most of the re-enactments, but this is a very small one that is still in the beginning stages. Luckily though this one is at my main smithy at the Union Mills Homestead.

thanks for stopping in. If we can be of service let us know.

Welcome to IFI.

traveling forge