dkunkler

Just don't burn your shop down around your anvil and you should be ok. :)

Here's some info you may find helpful. http://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/17011-making-lock-help/page__p__172971__hl__padlock__fromsearch__1#entry172971

Unless you want to take the chance of an uneven quench, the foil should be quickly shucked off. Wrap it for easy removal and plan ahead on how you're going to snatch if off, practice before heat treat if necessary.

Gun cleaner? Does the end have internal threads?

I'm usually not a fan of painted ironwork, but I think this turned out great.

I just want to clarify what Colleen said. Although pure linseed oil is ok, most oil that is labeled as "boiled linseed oil" contains solvents and dryers that make it toxic.

Thomas, you're expanding my vocabulary, I had to look up penultimate.

Welcome aboard.

Plain mild steel should be fine, but if you have something tougher, go for it.

Wasn't it Ben Franklin who said Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see and all of what you find on the internet?

That's funny. :D

From the photo it looks like the top die has a little nub for spreading hollow rivets/gromets.

Please be careful using brake cleaner, it can be dangerous. http://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/12927-brake-cleaner-phosgene-article/page__hl__%2Bbrake+%2Bcleaner__fromsearch__1

ZIPMAX http://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/24369-zipmax/page__hl__zipmax__fromsearch__1

I like it. Did you use your zipmax for that?

This may help. http://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/6299-building-coal-supplier-list/page__st__100__p__112081__hl__+coal%20+suppliers__fromsearch__1#entry112081

Looks good,ready for use.

Drilling a starter hole in the cube will help center the ball.

The thermal expansion coefficient for aluminum is more than twice that of granite. http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/linear-expansion-coefficients-d_95.html

They look great John, I really like the detail on the leaves.

A new hammer and a flypress on the way.... It's like Christmas in October.

It's some interesting stuff to work with and buffs up to a bright shine. Could you post a picture of your cross please?

Could you explain this part further please, yes a picture would be nice. Thanks.

I got it from Patrick Nowak. I couldn't remember the alloy number, so I emailed him last night with this reply "The alloy is UNS # C63200. You can also find it listed under Copper Development Authority (CDA) # 630. This alloy forges very well in the range of about 1300-1600 F. forging it colder than that will likely result in cracks. Also, it can be heat treated. If you quench it, unlike copper, it will harden so I would advise air cooling after forging.". If anyone needs some NiAl Bronze, his contact info is in this thread. http://www.iforgeiro...__fromsearch__1

I bought a hunk of nickel aluminum bronze at QuadState and forged the 2 bigger crosses a couple weeks ago and made the little one saturday with a scrap from a larger cross. The original piece was about 1" square and I reduced it down to about 5/8" on the rolling mill. I was amazed at how tough this stuff was and how hot it could be worked (orange heat).