Tom Lumpkins

Great Stories , Keep um coming. Thanks..

Welcome to the site John..

That is awesome..Thanks for sharing with us.

Thanks for the comments, I used a piece of coil spring to make the punches, and drilled a hole in the end for the eye punch, Then grinded it down to size..

Here's a couple picture's of my first attempt at a long horn Bull.
Thank you Bill Epps and everybody that gave me tips and pointer's.

The Mouth is messed up. and the horns coud have used more work.. But what the heck its my first..lol
Plus I made the tools to make the eyes. and the punch for the nose.

Me and the wife went to The Threshermans Show in Adams,Tn today, and I was in the smithy and I noticed outside that there was a trailer and I thought, I've seen this trailer somewhere, and then I noticed this little feller and Asked.. Are you a Member of I Forge Iron,,,
Yes he said , it was Dave " Fiery Forge furnace" ... So I took a few pic's and Dave had a few things to say..

http://s22.photobucket.com/albums/b323/canepole/?action=view&current=FFF.flv


Dave it was a pleasure meeting you and your Mom.. You got a realy nice set up ..

Just wondering if anyone else has stories to share, There's a bunch of good one's here in this tread.

Very Nice, Thanks for sharing with us..

Boy's if you wan't there, You missed a good show friday nite, Rich Hale hosted. Home Page
If your interested in learning, Stop in on friday nites..
Thanks Rich....Tom

I just need to learn what the number's mean, 1040 , Would that mean,, 40 is the carbon, ?????? I'm still learning,, I got some axle's that a friend gave me and was wonder what I could make with them.. Thanks..

if your ever up in danbury ct shoot me off a pm (or a call if i rember to send it to you:D). i volunteer at the danbury rail way mueseam and there are a couple of smiths up there too.

Hello NewGuy, I just noticed your post, and will have to check in my book and see if I have your number in there, Its in my Big Truck and I am home.. Looking forward to meeting you..Tom

Dan, Next time I'm in the area, I'll give you a shout, Send me your phone number thru a PM , that way I can put it in my book, and I'll also write these direction's down.. I'm looking forward to meeting and shaking hands with you.. Tom

I forgot to give a update,
Well I got the new pipe hooked up and its like the difference between nite and day.. Man that joker gets on up there now... Works realy good...I havn't tried to forge weld with it yet, But I am sure there will be plenty of Air, and a real good chance of welding..LOL...

Thanks for all the input. . There's some real good advice here.

Bill I know there's several blacksmithing Clubs in your area. Forsure in the Memphis Area. Do some searching and find you one to join..I live outside of Clarksville, Tn and we got a club that meets every Last sunday of the month.. it would be along drive for you..But you can come and hang out with us.. I'm still learning myself and theres some good people there that love to share info..Tom

Yea Frosty its a good thing being able to meet people that share your love for beatin on metal,, have a pretty good size list of names of people that have sent number's and addresses.. the biggest problem I have is being pushed by the company and not having the time.. Sometimes I just say the heck with it and make the time.. lol...

I would suggest maybe a fifty five "plastic" drum to put over it while its not in use.. That and the paint, Plus keeping it greased it should be fine.. thats my thougts.. Looks good.

Thanks guy's for your input, I am using a coil spring outta a old ford. I want to try and make a blunt chissel, And center punch and a eye punch..
Just wondering , How do you all go thru the procedures. For example..
1. Heat to high Orange.
2 . Forge the metal.
3 Bring to non magetic. then anneal. in Ash or several other way's to choose from.
4, While soft finish the detail work.
5 . Bring up to cherry red and quench. Oil or Water ????
6. clean and polish, And run Colors.. Yellow or Straw, Blue jean blue or ???
Thanks for your input, Someone will find the info you share Very helpful, including myself.. Please share your steps and procedure's you take..Tom

I am so glad that she is ok.. I will pray for her .. Thank God she is ok.

I know this horse has been darn neer run into the ground, But the last time I made a punch a quarter of it broke off. I brought it up to yellow worked the metal then brought it up to non Magnetic, Then quenched in Oil, Then cleaned and polished and ran the color's up to Straw, and quenched in water.
I would love to hear how you make your punches. I know everyone has there own method that works for them.. Please share yours.. And thanks in advance, Tom..

Dang Steve. you did do some good damage. I was talking with you in the chat room after it happened. Did'n't know you that you darn neer killed yourself.. Glad you got to the doc and got yourself fixed up;..

Thanks Rmcpb, I can't wait to get her hooked up and give her a try..
Markb don't think I'm goin to be messing with a dragster.. lol.. But it would be about right.

Welcome to the site Neighbor.. I live in Woodlawn, Tn.. just outside of Clarksville.

Thanks Steve.. and James.. I'm hoping to get her done.. Next weekend..

Last time I was home I was trying to forge weld, I tried all day on Saturday, then Sunday I was back at it. never could get the heat right. finally I cranked the old blower hard and noticed the metal disappear into the coals. I finally got a forge weld. after many attempts.. I got to thanking about my situation and remembered that I had used a 1 1/2 pipe for air supply..
Well I have been on the road for the last two weeks and got home yesterday and decided I was going to fix my problem so I called a few friends to see if they had some 3" metal pipe laying around, One friend told me he had a old rear end that would work. so I got it and worked on it part of yesterday and finished today.. I still have to bolt it to the drum, and mount it.. I think my air problem will be fixed.. here's a few picture's.. I ain't much of a welder as you will notice in the pictures.. but I guarantee it won't come apart.. lol


Boy it was hot out there.