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I Forge Iron

keeplokd

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  • Posts

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Profile Information

  • Gender
    Male
  • Location
    Western NY State
  • Interests
    Blacksmithing, history, books, teaching, guns, keeping my hands busy.

Contact Methods

  • Yahoo
    IronKeepForge@yahoo.com

Converted

  • Location
    Genesee County, NY
  • Biography
    Getting back into the craft after a LONG absence. I welcome any help offered.
  • Interests
    Blacksmithing, guns, knives, books, etc.
  • Occupation
    Law Enforcement

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  1. A couple weeks back, this beauty followed me home. I was shy $400, but I think I did ok. Almost 200lb. A bit of chipping and the cutting table is dished out.
  2. Alan, FYI cylinder mowers are still used quite a bit in correctional facilities. It allows for mowing grass by inmates within the walls without introducing flammable or explosive material such as gasoline or motor oil to the facility. And they're a bit unwieldy to use as melee weapons. You could maybe get a swing or two before you're too tired to continue.
  3. First pic is last trip to the scrap yard. Lots of coil springs, axles, drive shafts, etc. I've spark tested it and I'm gonna be a happy little tool maker for a while. Somewhere in there I thought I picked up a cannonball. Nope. 12lb shotput. I'll figure out a use for it. Second pic is the Lincoln that followed me home tonight. Couldn't resist the price.
  4. Stopped by my local Tractor Supply Co two weekends ago. They see me frequently enough that some of the girls recognize me on sight. As I was leaving, i noticed this pile of steel tube pallets sitting next to a couple piles of wood ones way in the corner of the parking lot. I approached a sales associate and asked what was being done with the pallets. He said, "You want them? Have at it. You can take anything over there. The pallets. The bushes." I thanked him, then ran home for the trailer. I'm slowly cutting these up into as much length as I can save. Square and rectangular tube steel. 1/2", 3/4", 1". Some of the long sides I'm getting almost 8 foot sections out of. I'm not sure what I'm using it for, but it followed me home.
  5. Frosty and Rockstar, I was afraid of that (not all there). I've got a decent drill press, assorted other tools, and as of late I'm tinkering with electric welding. Since I've got a substantial start on the tool, I'll see what I can make of it. Who doesn't like a good puzzle, right? Still open to suggestions. Thank you for what you've given me thus far.
  6. Hey folks, I was gifted a g2-style guillotine tool last weekend. The catch? It's never been assembled and I've never been in the same room as one of this design. The attached photo is every piece I received. Anybody out there have some diagrams of this going together? Thanks in advance. Bill
  7. I really like the look of the larger hardie cutoff. What did you use for steel?
  8. Mr. Porter,

    I was referred to your threads on burners and gassers by Frosty. In a word: Enthralling.

    Im looking to purchase your book "Gas burners for Forges, furnaces and kilns" to help with my own gasser build. I'm electing to BUY as opposed to downloading the PDF (credit where credit is due!). Do you have a preferred vendor to assure you get your cut? (I'm seeing several vendors carrying it NEW on Amazon).

    thanks in advance,

    Bill

  9. I heard back from the Office of General Services, through whom I made a FOIL request regarding this matter. Response: They have no records for the ironwork in question.
  10. Update: I contacted the state archives. They put me in contact with the NYS Office of General Services (OGS) which deals with any outside contractors, etc. OGS needed a FOIA request, which I emailed them. Several weeks later, I received email from my contact at OGS - unfortunately no records as such could be found. Both the state archives and the OGS rep seemed genuinely interested in this endeavor. I'm not done yet. I'm going to do some sketches of some of these pieces so I can share them with you folks. Photography inside a state correctional facility requires major approval from Albany. Just not feeling that adventurous on an unfounded hunch. Will keep you posted. Bill
  11. Here's a small example of that I'm talking about. Wrought iron decorative screws/nails that adorn heavy wooden exterior doors. You just don't put this kind of effort into a prison these days. Guess I'm going to have to contact Albany for permission to research it. There's so much more. Will share when I'm able.
  12. I'm currently a corrections officer at Attica prison in western NY. I have questions about some of the architectural ironwork that is original to the facility and who might be responsible for them. (I'll try to get some photos when available, but without SUPER SPECIAL permission from the ivory palace, a camera is verboten.) Construction for the facility was completed in 1931. Obviously in 83 years, many things have changed. However, there are certain LARGE gates, railings, etc. that are original to the 1930's. There are many of these around the facility in various areas, including the area where I work. It would be easy to disregard these pieces as "local" smithing... But I suspect a larger shop was involved (along the lines of Samuel Yellin's in Philly). Does anyone have any idea where I might begin to research it? There is an Attica Prison Museum in the works and if a significant shop were involved, I'd consider it an important addition. I'll try to get photos. If nothing else, I can probably sketch what I see daily. Bill
  13. Hey gang! I'm in an interesting quandry. I recently transferred to ATTICA CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. I spent a brief time there when I first got the job, and almost 11 years later I've returned. Since I'm "new to the jail", I'm spending a lot of time as MISCELLANEOUS - meaning I'm bouncing from job to job all over getting the lay of the land. As such I've noticed some of the great old iron work in various places in the facility. Unfortunately for me, cameras are banned without express written permission from Albany - so I can only describe or possibly draw and scan what I see for you. Attica was built around 1930-1932. Some of the iron work I've seen has a LARGE herringbone design that is both decorative and functional. Wasn't there one of the renowned ironworks or masters that liked to use the herringbone in their/his works? I may have to get permission to take photos and research this for a paper or something. Its great stuff. Some of the heavier gates have been slightly modified to accept more modern electric lock systems, but the beauty is still there. More later. Keeplokd
  14. Thanks Bentiron and Hammernhand. I'll keep at it. Now that our weather up here is clear enough for me to trudge through the weeds, it might be worth a stop soon. Bill
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