eseemann

I have made a letter opener knife, a few spoons and a tool. the opener was rebar, the spoons mild steel and the tool 5160. They are right that 5160 is a LOT harder to work. I say go for it. I would suggest starting with a nice big knife.

In addition to some kind of handle that knife needs an action hero with a thick Austrian accident to use it in a movie. That is one hoss of a blade. Good camp knife. I would say wood handle or paracord if you know how. What did the blade come from?

I am in Huntsville Al and I have not had the time to make friends with shops where I can get drops but I am working on it. I am working a 5160 drop of stright rod stock and I know what people say when they say working mild steel is nothing like working good steel. Ernest.

I have expect the next photo to be of the wheel barrow failing under the weight. How many people did it take to move that thing! Great find, what did it cost?

That is very cool, "I need a tool, so I make one". 

Keep up the good work. 

I will try that,, thanks. 

Well Folks here are the first few things from my one forge that are recognizable. 

The rebar "knife" (for knife see butter) was done in a break drum forge with natural lump charcoal. The spoons were done in my one brick forge. Thanks for all the info and advice about what to do and what not to do.

So my next question is what to do with them so my wife, daughter and I can use them in an upcoming camping trip. I figured on seasoning them like cast iron, do I need to blue them first. The spoons are not done yet, I need to do more sanding and polishing.

Thanks, 

Ernest. 

That is what I like about you Frosty, you always give advice in such a way that I feel encouraged and if your advice is not to do it you do not sound like you are on high. thanks

Here is a black and white of it http://www.precisionheattreat.com/sparktesting.html

Yup, I agree that 1045 is a bit low in the carbon, it was SO cheap. Even if I just make bottle openers out of them you can not beat the price.

The springs are Moog 5716 or 5778 about 1" thick.

Good Morning All,

The local discount store has a set of 2 large springs, look like truck springs or lift kit springs, for about $30.00. The steel is at least 1/2' maybe more thick, the coil is about 5" to 6" wide and about 2' long.

I have read about why not to use old junk yard springs due to a life time of bouncing around but I wondered about new springs. Can one cut a bit off and re-forge the steel? I will update with a picture this afternoon,

I would haunt junk stores, flea markets/swap meets and places like Tractor supply. I got 4 packs of these http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/disc-mower-blade-lh-4-5-7-in-w for 6 blades for $1.00. These, according to the people at the forge group, are most likely 1045. Go to junk stores and flea markets and the country-er the better. I asked someone about old files and I came away with a handful of old files, including one about 2' long, for $10.00. Ernest

When I had mice in when I was living in a farm house I put down traps but got little results until I bated them with keebler pecan sandies cookies and I was getting 2 and 3 at a time. 

What is you spoon and fork made from, that is very nice work!

What kind of steel is that? Just normal sheet steel?

The screws (propellers) US Navy ships are in large part a copper alloy since they repel barnacles. The screw for a Nuclear powered aircraft carrier is, again for the most part, sand casted just like tools were cast pre-bronze age.

(Not Copper but neat) there is a clean water group that is working on a clay water filter that passes the water over and through silver to kill the bad things living in the water.

Cool, No?

I wondered that myself, is that rubber or stapoing? Nice build!

Randy, I like that you can adjust the height of you forge. that is neat!

What did you use to weld it together? Nice work!