civilwarblacksmith

All the lady can say is no.

At BGCM we teach student to forge barehanded as we don't want to get used to wearing a glove then grabbing hot metal when they forgot to put the glove on. Down the road on their own if the choose to wear gloves is up to them. If the do, the glove need to be loose fitting so that if a spark falls into the glove it can be thrown easily. I wear a pair of high welding glove on certain thing I might be doing. I normally forge barehanded though.

Coal is the better way to go if you are in a situation to use it such a rural area. I live in a townhouse developement so I have to use either charcoal, coke, or gas. You will burn more charcoal to do the same project that you would with coal, meaning that to do the same job is costing you more. The amount that you are paying for coal seems alot to me. Something you might think about is join a local blacksmith guild if you have one in your area. The guild I'm with buys a bulk load (this year was 26 ton) and we sell it to our members at $7 a 50lb bag. Here is some guilds in your area. I don't know how close you are to them. BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA KOOTENAY BLACKSMITH'S ASSOCIATION Pres: Chris Waters Chinook Country Forge Site 113, Box 12, RR 3 Sundre, AB CANADA T0M 1X0 (403) 638-3529 [email protected] Ed: Jesse Ellingson Box 775 Nelson, BC CANADA V1L 5R4 [email protected] VANCOUVER ISLAND BLACKSMITH'S ASSOCIATION VIBA Office: VIBA 1040 Marwood Avenue Victoria, BC CANADA V9C-3C4 Pres: Charlie Dowdeswell #53-2911 Sooke Lake Rd. Victoria, BC CANADA V8B 4R5 (250) 478-2460 [email protected] Ed: Dennis Gillett 1212 Garden Gate Drive Brentwood Bay, BC CANADA V8M 2H6 (250) 544-4816 [email protected] Vancouver Island Blacksmith's Association (VIBA)

sorry, I thought I pasted it. Had a long day demonstrating at Boyd's Bear's Yankee Doodle Days. By the time I posted that I was ready for bed. Pres: Owen Bostram 99 Chase Hill Road Ashaway, RI 02804 (410) 377-2611 [email protected] Ed: Fred Mikkelson 23 Waterman Drive North Scituate, RI 02857-2036 (401)647-3086 [email protected] New England Blacksmiths

I have bought from Admiral Steel before with good results.

here is some contacts for the New England blacksmith Guild in New Hampshire. they should be able to help you find coal. they might be a good guild to join in your area.

I didn't even see that machine at HF when I lived there for a day. That is is a neat tool.

I don't think I could find a fat enough bike seat to be comfortable these days to turn to using them. They all want to fit ya like a thong. Looks painful.

Hey!! That would be great. Thanks

Coal would be cheapest if you are in an area to use it. I'm having problems finding a close source of coke or bulk charcol in my area. I will probwbly have to by alot of bagged wood charcoal from Lowe's.

I have always just used borax and never had any problems, plus it is readily available from the grocery store when I need it.

Thanks Curly, I knew the Rev War style was a cart mounted forge, but I have never seen one. That could work for the 1840 impression at the Martin Log Cabin circa 1820.

you will use more charcoal versus coal. Depending on where you live can decide what you use. I live in a townhouse developement. Coal would not work with the neighbors but charcoal, gas and coke would. Gas and charcoal will be more expensive than coal. Coke will be more expensive per poundage but 50 pounds of coke roughly equals 70 pound of coal.

This is the Colonial style brick forge I use at the Homestead. This one dates from 1880 to 1910. Belt driven crank blower. This one date a little earlier than the crank forge. It is a belt driven rachet/pump forge. I have another but it has not been put together yet. It is a 2 1/2' x 4' cast bowl type with either a coal resevoir on the front or it is for water. No blower as of yet but heavy as the dickens.

Hey Mark, How close to period correct is your forge cart? Just wondering.

Go to a scrapyard or junkyard. You can pick up an old brake drum from a bus or some other large vehicle for the firepot there and find the tubing (pipe) or solid rod to make legs and tuyere (T-pipe).

I found blades through McMaster-Carr. They were $25.00 each though for 70-1/2". In your opinions, would it be cheaper to buy a spool and weld it? Also I use a 110 flux core welder. It is all I really need for welding the steel and Iron I work with. Will this be enough to weld the blades together and not risk cracking at the weld?

When welding with a coal forge, you are watching for the color of the flame to change as well as the metal color equallying the surounding fire and slight sparking. With a gas forge, you are wanting to look more for the movement of the flux. The metal doesn't need to be a high yellow to white, but when you see the flux seem to have fluid motion you will be able to weld.

My dad recycled long before it became the thing to do. He collected all sorts of iron. He passed on in '91 and we got rid of it. I think now if I had been blacksmithing then, i would still be using that metal. Great find.

I actually used some ribbon. Just hoping for comfimation on size. There was no paperwork for it at the sale.

Well it is a 14 inch bandsaw but the wheels are 6" in diameter and it is a 3 wheeler.

I don't have an old blade to go by. This was an auction buy.

I got the drive belt and the shoes are now usuable. Does anyone have one of these and knows the band saw belt size? I'm thinking from the crude measurements i've taken. About 69-70 inches. Do they make this size? I haven't seen any in stores.