civilwarblacksmith

As this is my part-time job, I only need to look at the reasons that I am doing it. And that is the fact that it brings income in for my family.

This is my set-up.

They are still working on the problem. Seems it's gonna be awhile.

That's incredible. I have never thought of doing a fountain. I might try one over the winter for the auction at our May hammer-in. I would appreciate any help I could get in making one. Such as non-rusting finishes. What is the size of your fountain?

I like the utility cart idea. It look neat with a place to put stuff on the side like jigs and the end for tongs and handles. I think I'm going to replace my stand with that. I can move it around the shop easier that way and store it out of the way when the gas forge is not needed. Propane tank can be stored under the cart when not in use.

Nice work. Keep it up.

Wash tub forges are excellent portable benchtop forges. They can work with in a shop setting with a metal stand/hood combo (meaning the stand and hood are one unit). With this type of setup, when you have a demo somewhere, you can just pick itup and go. The other thing with these type of forges is the ability to adjust the hot spot for different size projects and not waste fuel.

The fellow I got it from is a member of our blacksmithing guild and said it would be good for knifemaking. He learned alot from Bill Moran in the 30yrs he knew him, so I can put my trust in him that it is good. Reb

I have a friend in the blacksmith guild that makes my tools for me. The tongs I owns were made by a blacksmith in Canada. I have time to make product right now and not tools. maybe later.

Tell you dad, thanks for his service and he will be in our prayers. I have a daughter who is with the Air Force special ops and is serving in Iraq for the 5th time.

You can try the hartford insurance if you are an Abana member. Maybe you will have better luck than I did. Commercial property/Liability insurance.

Coke is what you are trying to get to when using coal. When using coke, you will need to use an electric blower in order to keep it lit. Otherwise use it like you would coal.

Raid.... What I just did to the fridge

Hey Chris, Russian rose how-to: Russian Rose by Larry Mills: anvilfire iForge Demo They are fairly easy to make.

Another thing to use wood be a hitch ball.

You can find them from Pieh tool co. , Centaur forge, blacksmith supply, Ebay. I just make mine on the anvil though. Curves in spoons can be made using a wooden block.

I was given a ditch witch tooth and was wondering if anyone has ever made a knife from one. It is extremely high carbon. I'm looking to find out how to harden and heat treat it if I get another one. I started making one today at the Mason Dixon Steam show when the hurricane finally blew in and dropped the fly we were working in. Not sure if it was cooled enough before it got wet.

Ain't nothin' wrong with them. I like that style of finishing the stem than the way that I have been doing it. Good Job!

We are doing the Mason/Dixon Steam show this weekend, so I asked some of the other smiths there. One thinks the pins may be of higher carbon content due to the amount of stress they take. The best way to check is to put it to a grinder with a higth carbon spike or a pc. of coil spring. If you get more sparks with bursts of sparks from the ends, you'll know you have tool steel grade. Compare it with the other pcs. of metal.

DIF, another great book for beginning smiths and a fairly easy read is The Blacksmith Primer. It is put in the format for a beginning smith. We highly recommend this book to our students.

My winter project is going to be a civil war period mountain Forge. I thought about doing a traveling forge, but won't fit in either of my smithies. This one belongs to Dwight Neely

That will be a keeper. As you progress at what you do, you'll be able to see where you are at now and where you were. It still looks pretty darn good. Keep it up.

yep, it's decoration and grip.

I make a handful of nails to warm up. I can always use them or sell them as souveniers later.

I work at a EVAPCO (Manufacturers of Industrial & Commercial Cooling Equipment that makes water cooling towers, evaporators, etc. Big unit placed on tops of buildings. We do alot of Galv. metal and weld alot of the same. Our welders use or are supposed to use what is called a defumer. Basically a large vacuum cleaner that sucks in the fumes and filters it. There must be some smaller type of unit that you can buy that does the same thing. Also there are welding helmets on the market that have a blower system in them in order to keep the fumes away from you.