Dodge

something as a couple well placed bar stools works wonders. They can be bought cheap at walley word and target etc

Are theses meetings still going to be as posted in the news letter; 2nd Friday, each month?

Speaking from experience, flash burn to the eyes is about as pleasant as getting a hand full of sand poured in you eyes! And, yes, you can get flashed with your eyes closed. Plus, you get the added sensation of having your eyelids severely burned. The only comfortable position was closed for a couple days. I was young and foolish, but I learned fast; Use the proper equipment!

Turning ccw also puts the cutting pressure down on the cutting tool. Cw and the cutter wouldn't cut

In general, RR track doesn't make the best anvil. There is a lot of rebound from track that makes them less than desirable. However, if its between using RR track or not smithing until something better is found, I would opt for the track. In fact I used track for a couple years B4 someone was kind enough to lend me an anvil until I was able to acquire the material that is now my permanent anvil. If you live in an area like mine, scrap steel sales are hard to find and used anvils are not real common in the city. LOL Bottom line is, use what ya got till you can get what you want.

Actually, grinders are still a bit beyond me right now($$$) so I do almost all my shaping in the fire. The polished bowie was done with files and then up to 2000 grit wet/dry paper. I wrap the paper around various tools to get a more or less defined edge (like in a corner). Anything from a piece of wood or hard rubber to a file steel with no teeth. I did use a buffer on that one. The other knives pictured were done mostly in the forge. The drop point has maybe two hours of work with files and stones, and the kris was all done in the forge with minimal filing and stones on the edge. I'll post a picture of the jig I use to hold the blades.

Is it possible that that anvil may have been buried for some time and the damage is from heavy rust action? I have seen rust go pretty deep in plate steel. Not sure about a forged or even cast hunk of iron.

I am still quite a novice in blade smithing but one thing I have gleaned from the more experienced smiths is that a polished finish is desirable on wall hangers as well as knives that are used, as it makes them easier to keep clean. Just a couple penny's worth :)

Hang in there, Ed. And try not to give those nurses too hard of time LOL
-Scott

Wonderful story, Angela. Thank you for sharing. I have 3 daughters. My oldest is a cosmetologist. (Can't get dirt under her nails) My second oldest is a medical assistant. (Can't get dirt under her nails) They both like what comes out of the shop but not whats in it LOL My youngest (22) likes the shop and the sounds, etc. I'll have to keep brow beating her to grab a hammer though :)

Gilly, Glad to hear things are going better. Hope to see you and Rod here when you can :)

I drill dimples around the handle. These dimples allow for a terrific grip. For a 3#er I used a 1/2" bit and make the dimples the depth of the point. 20 - 30 per handle. On smaller hammers I use a 3/8". Make your own signature pattern or just randomize. Or perhaps ergonomically engineered patterns ;)

Very nice Rich!!

I need to read all post b4 I post . Missed the wiper posts and the scotch pad trick. Please forgive my redundancey :)

A trick we used at my last job was to fold up a paper towel (or even cloth) to about a 2" x 4" pad and wrap it around the wire where it leaves the spool and enters the guide before the rollers. Clamp with a clothes pin or one of those heavy duty black spring loaded paperclips. It wipes the wire b4 it reaches the rollers. Make sure you have enough room. You don't want the clip to make contact anywhere it will ground out. Change paper towel weekly or even daily if you do a lot of heavy welding

Never say to you helper, "When I nod my head, hit it".

Are you sure the liner is the problem? Do the feed motor and/or rollers turn?

Hey Dale. Sorry to hear about your ailments, Mate. Gotta wear them purty stockings now? LOL. I do Just tell the doc ya don't want the pink ones!!

wiring the shop with lots of outlets does eliminate the need for long cords but even in the garden shed they gotta get hung I agree with Jr on the mig wire spools as hangers. Even the little 10 - 12 # spools work. I use them cuz thats what my welder uses :)

Dies aren't machine flat, but not exactly round either Top die has a bit more radius than the bottom, and half the width. Got some more RRR to make some different configs. Maybe a combo set.

Here's my version of the theme
More at http://www.iforgeiron.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/1426/cat/500/ppuser/38

Sorry to hear of your woes, Jim. I hope it all works out for the best!

Heres a link to look up MSDS's (Material Safety Data Sheets) SIRI MSDS Index The searches can be made on brand names, generic names, as well as chemical names
Information on literaly many thousands of substances can be found and the nature of associated hazards. It can even be used to determine what ISN'T hazardous.
The company I worked for, and I'm sure many others, was required to have this information readily available to anyone that wanted to know the level of hazard for ANY material they were working with.
When in doubt, be safe. Look it up. Its free and it could save your life!!!

Welcome, Joe. I am currently learning the IT/ Networking stuff. Maybe I can bend your ear once in a while for knowledge and vise versa You came to the right place. Lots of knowledge to gleen.

Scott

Maybe we should get a link to MSDS posted. Material Safety Data Sheets for industrial materials and their reactivity for absorbtion, combustability and such. I know its a web site but dunno the addy. Little help anyone??