ironrosefarms

I just obtained a 1 1/2" round bar. I am hoping to make some anvil tools from it. My question is in heating a piece of this size or bigger, does the internal temperature of such a piece vary much from the outside? Any other considerations need to be taken with larger stock that I might not be thinking of? Thanks in advance James

I use olive oil in a cheap trigger sprayer simular to what cleaners come in quite often. The nozel is adjustable from mist to stream so I don't waste much oil to the ground. All the ones I have had eventually give out from the oil but for $1 and the fact they last a year or two seams to make it ok. Pampered Chef sells a pump sprayer for oils that works well, but the wife won't let me take it out of the kitchen.

I tend to tap only when turning work, not something I do conciously though... Jayco, your statement about missing brought to mind working last time I was working I missed the hot work striking the anvil full swing while using a 2 lb cross pein. I forgot how much rebound a hammer can have and almost caught it in my forehead! A couple years ago I was helping a master carpenter in building some office space in our church... He really got irritated as between nails I occasionally double tapped the OSB we was laying... He really didn't care where the habit came from, just that it was incredibly annoying to him...

“He who allows his day to pass by without practicing love, generosity, mercy and praising God is like a blacksmith's bellows: he breathes but does not live.” an ancient Proverb I updated to remind myself of those things I must work on daily. James

Is this made with a single piece of metal or did you form the socket and head seperately then weld them together?

I can't believe you found one of these!!! It is my favorite color too... a nice deep shade of CLEAR!!!

You have given me a great idea for a project for my twin boys to work on. They are currently Webelos soon to be Boy Scouts... Thanks for the pictures! James Troop and Pack 457

You could also see about donating them to a Scout troop or simular organization.

Pang!!! (is that a word???)

My wife called and said she was having trouble getting the twins to go to bed tonight... said they was making lists of all the things they want to make next... She says I've created monsters??? who me??? First forged item... treasure for sure. I,m looking forward to seeing what their minds have conjured up! Maybe it will give dear ole dad some ideas as well?

Oh boy... After I got home from work Saturday morning I tugged and pulled out all the 'stuff', moved it all under a big ole maple for shade and lit my fire. Other than an hour here or there the last couple months, I haven't smithed for 2 years due to the MC accident. Today however I had a paying customer and they asked that I could get it to them by Sunday. With all the rain here in Indiana I had little choice but to put it off... I made 12 3/8"x6-7" nails with a 5 point head 1" accrossand just because I had the fire going I started on that spear head for the other guy. (Sorry forgot to snap pictures until after I delivered the goods) Well, I ended up forging for about 7 hours... I really found out how ineffecient I have become. It took far more coal and hammer swings than it should have. Wore a couple really doozy sized blisters and I am so sore that I just about don't feel like I can move. At the end I paid my helpers (my twin 10 year old boys) I pulled some 1/4" square stock out and I showed them once then they made their first S hook complete with twists. All in all, I had a great time!!! Ohhh wheres the Advil... James

Blower .

Clover .

~~~~ ( ) ( ) ~~ Smoke

Iron Rose Farms is what we call our business' (not that we make much money at them) Truck patch farming and a bit of livestock plus my blacksmithing... Real Name is James Rader

City Coal in Brazil, Indiana has good coal. Located just off US 40 in Brazil not far from I70. They sell by the 50 pound bag at $14 or $10 per 100 weight loaded into your truck. Phone number for them is 812-878-9859.

The only picture I have of my dad is one from when he was about my age and is one of very few he ever smiled in. Dad and me wasn't close at all as I was growing up. Even so I learned a lot from him in the way of auto repair, carpentry and other things that I could watch and learn. It wasn't until about 5 years ago that I got dad to go to a church retreat with me. I bribed him in the fact they had a motorcycle show that he could enter his bike into. It was during that weekend that I learned more about my dad and the childhood he had than ever before. It was because of his bad childhood he avoided contact with me hoping it would be better than what he went through, As a boy I just wanted my dad... The last 4 years of his life we became great friends and we shared some great times together. The man I once couldn't stand is now very much missed. James

Well don't tell my bride cause the story I gave her is different! The truth of the matter is Iron Rose Farms is based as follows... Iron because of my blacksmithing Rose is due to my wife's middle name being Rose (she thinks it is because of the dozen iron roses I gave her) Farms is because there is no business that I know of other than farming that houses so many different types of business all as one operation. In addition to the smithy, we also do some live stock. Currently we have Cows, chickens, goats, pigs, rabbits, sheep and our St. Barnyard (bernard) dog named Slim Pickens who live here along with Reba our indoor dog and the independant stray cats who are on the catch your own diet. We also truck patch tomatoes, sweet corn, green beans, cukes, etc... We also have a small orchard and vines that we grow purely for our own consumption. So using the term Farm isn't too far fetched! Basically IRF is the catch all of all our business ventures making it easier for me to report our earnings under one name. But I like it too and the rose and the anvil make for a great logo... James

When the gentleman asked for me to make the spear heads I started doing some research on the spears as well. The Pilum gets a lot of discussion because it is fairly unique compared to other spears used by historic armies. However what I found was depending on the assignment of a roman soldier would determine the type of spear they would use. From my reading it would seem the style pictured above is more what would be expected of those Roman soldiers who would be in villages or cities to control the many sects of the society of that time. This spear type worked well against the occasional uprising of citizens carrying agricultural implements and such. The Pilum was a weapon used in battle against other armies that would have been armored. Another thing I learned was the thought process in the weight of the spear as well as the shape. Even the Pilums came in a heavy weight and light weight variety. The light weight would be chucked first in a charge as the Roman soldier could make it go farther, then as they got closer they would then chuck the heavier version which was more apt to do more damage. Once the 2 or 3 Pilums had been thrown out came the sword. Another interesting fact is after a battle if a group of soldiers was determined to have been cowardly they would divide them into ten groups. They would choose by lots and the loosing group would then be killed by the other nine groups. If I remember right this is where we get the term DECImate deci being 10 or a tenth... History is so cool when it is more than a place and date in a book...

I just heard the news of the Boy Scout camp in Iowa that has been hit by a tornado. At this time 4 deceased and 40 injured. Official: 4 dead after twister tears through Scout camp - CNN.com It really strikes home as the training program camp these scouts was involved in is nearly identical to the training program camp that some of the boys in our troop are at right now here in Indiana. Please pray for the boys and adults along with the families who are dealing with the loss and injuries of the Iowa tornado. Thanks James

Flooding and severe erosion problems including highways being completely washed away are the rule not the exception in my neck of the woods. One town near by lost a water main from their pump station due to debris rushing through an eroded area. That town is now looking at 14 or more days before water service is restored if we have no more rain... We are currently forecasted for 3 more days of rain starting today...

(honey) Pooh Bear

Finnr, took me a while but I finally found the tutorial on Anvilfire. SWORDS OF IRON, SWORDS OF STEEL Article by Bruce Blackistone The design is slightly different to my eye but enough simular to make this very helpful! Thanks James

I lightened up the photo so more detail of the hammer can be seen...

Steve that is an awesome offer, not sure how to work that out with my work schedule right now... and I leave for my first week of Boy Scout summer camp in just two weeks, I am playing the roll of Comissioner (sounds important huh!) However I have scheduled two trips to Hartford City later part of July to take my kids to Church camp, I'll check the dates and see if we can get together... I was digging around my scrap pile earlier and found some mild steel that should fit the bill. The reason I thought about using the mower blades is I have an abundance of them, There is a guy who runs a mowing service and replaces his blades on his 10 mowers 2 times per season and he gives them to me free, since I haven't used any in the past 2 years, I have several. Maybe after I knock out a few in mild I'll make a few out of high carbon for my own play time? I have been thinking about how to obtain the shape going from the point to the socket, here is two rough drawings I have put together, I am wondering which of the two are most accurate>? The red line being an approximate for the point to begin the fold to create the socket. The guy does not want the socket welded but just a close seam simular to the second one I pictured above. Thanks for the help, suggestions and gracious offers! James