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I Forge Iron

Francis Trez Cole

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Everything posted by Francis Trez Cole

  1. Its more than just the hammer hand it is also the hand holding the stock you are working on. That can cause a bunch of problems with how you are shaping. Lifting it to high so you are just bending the metal back and forth. Also that twisting can also come from you rotating you work most people don't even realize that they are doing it. Having an improper anvil height will cause problems as well. There are many factors that come into play. if you want to see the right way to do it watch Peter Ross swing a hammer.
  2. try hammer source.com they have a great selection of hammers. Remember its not the hammer it is the way you dress the face of the hammer. I tell my students to not spend a lot of money on hammers buy a cheep Harbor freight cross peen and dress the face as a rounding hammer. then one rounded from toe to heal only and one rounded from right to left side. $8.00 hammers if you mess them up you nave lost little money and time. As you learn and grow it is about how you use the hammer to your advantage to move metal not the style of the hammer or the money spent
  3. Panzer where in Florida? Have you joined FABA yet
  4. thanks it was a lot of work about 50 to 60% was replaces. A lot of veining leaves. The hardest part was figuring out how they they came apart. They will be used on the new wing of the museum flanking the stair case out side. That is why I used thicker steel. and good paint. I also put it on a 5 year paint plan.
  5. Here is what I have been working on for the past few months. They were in poor shape. They will be on display at the the Ringling Museum. in Florida.
  6. that is a good idea. I usually just use vice grips for stamps. My touch mark I welded on a handle
  7. yes but H13 is air hardened and the 1000F is the metal (or your tool) getting that hot. I use it to punch hammer eyes even when it has turned orange it has not deformed. 1000F is the temp you have to heat it up to if you want to weld on a handle. I find it a little better that S-7 . but do not get me wrong I like S-7
  8. You are on the right track, the key to good tongs is the transitions from jaw to boss to reins. Keep at it now pick up some 1045 steel to make them. That is what the tong making companies use
  9. SJS you are right I was forging with a sledge hammer. Its not only the accuracy its the stamina . Travis and I forged a large bird out of 1/2"x 3" bar stock. it Took about 6 hours and he was done after 20 min.
  10. here is a Bruce making a 7# striking hammer and then the hammers in action.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=551vHbALDL4 I love it what is old is new.
  11. ianinsa no wings just thought why re create the wheel I just put the forge in an old grill did not have to make the legs. The plus side after a demo put it in the back of the truck and close the top. all the coke and coal stays put. The Guy working with me trust me. I do not miss. I have even driven drifts into a hammer blank with any fear. At FABA meeting I get called to strike often. At the carnival I ring the bell all the time.
  12. I have seen many people teach new strikers to use just a half stroke with one hand in the middle and one at the bottom of the handle. That is fine for light hitting. I swing from a standing position with both hands near the bottom. But that is a 25# hammer. The hammers where they use a windmill swing are in the 6-10# range with a long handle. As some once said "I feel the earth move under my feet". Being accurate comes with practice.
  13. you should always keep you punches dressed it reduces the risk of pieces breaking off. I keep my hammers oh the harder side so the use has little to no effect on the face. I do not keep my forging hammer with the face mirror polished. I do buff my sheet metal hammers polished. But I would not hit a punch with them.
  14. 1045 is a medium carbon steel. The big tong makers use 1045. H-13 is a great steel. S-7 is great as well. the good thing about H and S steels is they are air hardened. It takes a lot to get them hot. so they hold a better edge for hot cuts. Sure it is expensive to by a full bar but with as little as you need to make a hot cut. it is worth it in the long run.
  15. I would disagree with that statement. It is the way the hammer is dressed. that makes it versatile. the face of a cross peen can be dressed just like Brian's rounding hammer.and it will accomplish the same movement of metal.
  16. 1/4" cold roll is available where I work. some times cold roll forges better than hot roll.
  17. that is a brake drum forge. If you can weld you can make your own fire pot. The one good thing about this forge is he has the brake drum attached under the surface of the forge making it easier to rake in coal to the fire. you do not need the fire bricks
  18. SJS it is not the rounding hammer that makes the most impression it is the edges and you can use that technique with any hammer. It is about dressing the hammer correctly that is the key. There are only five ways you can hit with the hammer flat, left and right side and toe and heal of the edge of the hammer face. I have dressed harbor freight $8.00 hammer the right and got the same results as a $300. Legend made blacksmith hammer. and still have $292. in my pocket. I have also done videos on the proper ergonomics of hammering there is a lot of bad information out there.
  19. find a hobby that will take up all your time and money. But you will be back because it all comes back to blacksmithing stay on the dark side. MWAHAHAHAHAHHAH!
  20. SJS wait until you see Peter Ross hammer metal. Yes it was Brian that coined the term of the hammer and anvil as a die. I guess you need to call it something. you can make many bottom dies for you anvil it can be as simple as a piece of round stock welded to a piece of metal that can fit in your hardie hole. The key is to use something be it a bottom tool or a top tool or the edge of the anvil to speed up the movement of metal. Fewer heats more work completed is the goal to do the most amount of work with the fewest heats. Time and fuel is money. I tell my students Hit it like it owes you money. and Divide and conquer.
  21. if its cheep and you can afford it buy it. As you find more you can give the old ones in Iron in the hat at your local meeting many new comers will be glad to have it. My Brother goes to flea markets he picks up all the Allen wrenches, Ball peen hammers, monkey wrenches and crow bars he can get cheep for me.
  22. I have a farrier friend that gives me old nippers the can be re forged and make some good tongs. The thing to look at is what do the professional tong makers use for steel? The answer is 1045. It is available from most metal supplier. A piece of 3/4" about 18" long will make you a real nice set of tongs. Start with mild steel and then when you have your skill developed get the good stock
  23. ​The set I use the most is a flat die with the corners radius at 3/16". Great for starting a tenon. I also use them for many other things. The one thing I did to mine was remove the cross bar and added a removable one So I can have a bottom die with a piece of angle added and the top die with a matching solid on the diamond. To set V for tongs.
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