racer3j

Hammer Source gets me my stuff next day -routine. I buy my brass, bronze and weighted rawhides from them. And they always follow up with the satisfaction email. Their hammers are carefully selected for quality. You cannot go wrong with them. My forging hammers are a 2 pound Big Blu and the recently acquired 3 pound Hofi and a 4 pound German(from HS). The Mossad may be after me for this, but the handle on my Hofi took a lot of work to smooth. The Big Blu took minimal rubbing with a medium non-woven nylon abrasive pad- silky but not slippery. The flex-glue used by both is great- it has genuine vibration damping value. So, I bought two tubes.mt

Consider where the forge will be located. I have one T-Rex and in the standard 350 ci. volume forge it will darn near smelt(not the fish). I have had so many things tugging at me professionally, personally and healthily(I made up that word) that I stalled out on the Twin Shorty Crossfire Articulated Forge. If it stays somewhat unseasonably warm next week, I plan to get out in the garage to weld it up. I never feel comfortable with liquid fired implements indoors; shop, garage, attached or not-one spill and poof. I have been on fire-you don't want to be. So, I strongly endorse LP(which of course is only liquid when contained). Rex's hybrids are for real- optomised laminar flow and mixing. Frosty knows the real details there- I think he will agree that there are genuine qualities to be had with Hybrid Burners, I think so.mt

I don't know, here- if it is good enough for Mr Coyote, it is good enough for me.mtPS--two London pattern anvils, one USA Economy(Illinois Iron and Bolt-Vulcan) and one from near London, (Vaughan-Brooks).mt

I never set by a specific number, even on my Dillon. Unless you have very precise gauges, they are not really telling you anything but self-contained relative pressures. Set for the flame you need-neutral for welding taking into account tip size. mt

If you get curious enough to build, buy Michael Porter's book on burners and forges. Mr. Frosty pointed me in that direction. A bunch of the "why" is answered. Several good people, including a character here on the forum, provided input for the book.mt

Aha-we shop at the same foundry.That is where I got the one with the two across 90 degree outlets for the clinkerbreaker.mt

Same experience with the Ellis' very nice and reliable. And, "just add water."mt

Google Ron Reil.mt

My late hunting partner of 35 years and I bought an unrifled wrought blank and built the rifling tool-a long spiral grooved cylinder that mastered a pull through boring head. Note paper shims to deepen the cut on each pull. If I tried it again, it would be fall or spring-there is a lot of effort involved in pulling the spiralling cutter. At the end, though, we thought we were hotter than FFF with a sparkin' frizzen. It shot OK.mt

Great Apron-thick leather, covered pockets,shoulder straps-price belies how good this is Long Leather Shop Apron - Rockler Woodworking Tools

I use my Dillon or other traditional torch as default. If heat transfer is an issue, then mig. I have the Lincoln SP170T- 220 current and the model sold through welding specialty houses. No 220 in garage. But I have a big noisy 5000w generator.mt

Your description of the taught technique exactly described my weave.mt

Certificate tests usually use what is called a "coupon." This is a piece of material at a specified alloy,heat-treat(aluminum) and thickness that is calibrated with the tester. I learned by myself in a garage with my O/A a big vise and a similarly sized hammer and a 14" adjustable wrench( wrench is excellent for bending). Just kept doing it and re-reading and doing it again until I got it right. The real test is- would you let a friend or someone other than yourself depend upon it?mt

I build the occasional "Super Stock" 1911's for LE around here. Dad and I shot them in the basement in the early 60's. It is a wonder I can hear.mt

Take a look at Hofi's tutorial/blueprint on grip. And, the gel in some motorcycle gloves would likely help. I have to watch my hands-they have been banged up pretty badly in a couple of racing crashes and before I sold off my last bike I wore them.mike t.

I have to confess- Sig/Sauer P229 or S & W Model 66-2.5"-First thing that came to my mind.mike t.

This is a very satisfying result. In the near future I will be trying to find other things that will inspire our younger friends.Thanks to all for input and help.Mike T.

By random selection, the winner(s) is are nate dj's sons. They were randomly assigned the number "8" and that is the number I selected-all without knowing who had what number. In the early evening I would like a PM from an appropriate adult.JET

Whoever ended up being number 8 gets the forge, whether they have one already or not. I would not feel that result was in the spirit of the gift, but I really don't know for sure who has a forge or not. So, whoever is #8 gets it, even if they have access to a fully equipped shop- not what I intended(greed as opposed to deserving), but I did make the rules, such as they were. The two apprentices were to be counted as one person.mt

Farmer Phil went through all of the posts and conferred with Josh. There ended up being a nice number of youngsters in the field(Josh, an honorable young man bowed out because he has a forge or two. So, Josh knows the number assigned to a name. I select the number 8. Josh, when you can, please announce the winner. Thanks, Mike HOLD UP___POSSIBLE HANGING CHAD> WILL VERIFY IN THE MORNING.

I have one volunteer. Will someone else PM me willingness to help? Thanks, Mike

Would two members make a list of all of the eligible smiths- in -training and check for missing and doubles. Then one of you will assign a number to each and keep that list. Tomorrow evening, I will post IN THIS THREAD, the number I draw at random. There are two 19 year olds who want to be included- but, I set the rules and the intent was to get this forge to someone less likely to be able to go to school, keep a job and forge as well. SO, 18 is tops for age. There are a couple of nominees who appear to have regular access to adult smiths with plenty of equipment- I had not anticipated that in setting this up- I did at least suggest that I did not want to see this in an established smith's shop. I meant to help the youngster who was forging ahead with an in-ground, coffee can, or ammo can forge; the bare minimum. I am not saying that young smiths who are sometimes apprentices are not worthy- they are essential to carrying on the traditions. These part-time equipped smiths SHOULD be included in this drawing for the gift. I will have to say no to our friend in eastern Europe- this sounds nasty, but the substantial nature of the gift is there; international shipping will be very expensive- I am not well-to-do, as many of you probably think. If someone here commits to paying international shipping and doing the customs paperwork, then he is in. After each is assigned a number then one of the helpers says" Mike, the numbers run from 1 through 19-pick one." And someone gets a very nice forge. THE FUTURE- there may be another member offering a nice used gas forge for a similar presentation. He can set the rules, but that will likely be by vote. In that scheme of things, merit would determine the outcome. This is just in the works. Once the drawing is done, I will post my mailing address so that, as necessary, a parent or guardian can send me a letter approving the gift. A picture of the recipient using the forge with a big smile will be expected. Thanks-2 volunteers contact me please, so we are set up for the GRAND FINALE. Mike Tobey

My wooden box anvil stand is on HD casters. They are double locking-rotation and swivel. Once it is parked it does not move around. It has 4 bags of lead shot inside-100 pounds.mt

Yes, they will burn up. A stainless steel tapered nozzle holds up better. The nozzle is shrouded by the ceramic lining material. The burner is held by a collar and setscrew. Soft brick is easily opened up and the hole to shroud the nozzle can fit quite closely.That means a longer life, but the nozzles inevitably erode. Ceramic nozzles work.mt

Farmer Phil has it exactly right. We want to hear from the youngsters themselves and others who know deserving nominees. The candidate field will include all who apply or are nominated. The recipient will be randomly chosen because I think that the whole group is likely to be truly deserving. It would be cruel and would destroy the spirit of giving to have me just choose. THE GIFT-- A BRAND NEW NC WHISPER BABY GAS (LP) FORGE Interior Treated with ITC 100 Folks, I listed this for sale on ebay a couple of times at a fair price and no one even bid. I got to thinking that there had to be some way to make this little unit valuable to someone who needs a quality forge for more or less "starting out." While it is more a farrier's forge, it will suit well for heats involving steel of lesser mass and will heat to forging on such stock. PART OF THE EXCITEMENT OF THIS IS HEARING FROM THE YOUNG SMITHS THEMSELVES OR FROM THOSE WHO KNOW A DESERVING YOUNGSTER. THEY ARE OUR FUTURE!!! SING OUT FOR THEM AND SING OUT FOR YOURSELF. THE FUN IS AN EVENT THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE YOUNG!!!!!