Brian C.

In the orthopaedic shop we used it for arch supports, and some hand splint parts and other brace components. At the plant where I work now , I have seen it used for belt buckles, wall brackets, and other uses that the company didnt really buy it for. :)

Dont know how that "page ranking" got in the last post. Should have been " 1pair" Probably a senior moment!

For this christmas I made 1 elaborate set of fireplace tools with stand, 1 "workaday" set of same, 1 pr. candle sticks, 2 rr spike coat hooks, 3 paper towel holders & 3 napkin holders, 1 set BBQ tools, and 1 steak flipper.

MONEL-has anyone had any experience forging monel? I have shaped and brazed it in light plate form years ago in the orthopaedic shop, but never have forged any. I know that in that configuration it was easier to shape than regular stainless.

I think it looks great. :)

That looks like a very good stand for the vise. Could you list the component pieces and their sizes. I just bought a 6" jawed Indian Chief vise yesterday.

Good for you Bob! Now you can get in the big Sandpile, Ellen & Thomas P. carpool to Quad-State. :)

Today is Pearl Harbor Day. Time to remember and honor those who were there.

I would be inclined to agree with A.S.T.. But then again I have been mildly confused before. :)

So far for my own gift giving I have made 3 napkin holders, 3 paper towel holders, 2 sets fireplace tools (1 elaborate & 1 heavy duty), 2 rr spike hooks with leaves on the end, 1 set BBQ tools, 1 pair candlesticks, and 2 lamps. Also working on a 42" X 20" hanging pot rack for a buyer.

mineral oil works o.k. also.

Glad to have you Shade Tree. I followed your kind invite and just hopped over to shopfloortalk and registered there, looks like a neat place.

easily confused- Fear not, you are not alone in this. I had not been smithing very long when my eldest son asked me to make 20 3-legged centerpieces for his wedding reception. I probably made enough pieces to build 40 trying to get some that were at least close to each other. A veritable nightmare. As noted above- practice seems to be the key.

I have used Kilz (sp?) brand primer over galvanized, then regular spray enamel. This is used by the sign shop at the plant where I work.

I tried the beeswax trick and it works great. Thanks for all the replies.

This dry, very low humidity wintery weather is giving me problems holding onto my hammers. They seem awfully slick. Anyone else having this problem? What do we do about it? Something to rub onto the hands, or onto the handles of the tools?

To fairly closely quote our dear late friend Jim Wilson, "You can walk with a plastic leg, you can grasp with a plastic arm. But, you cannot see with a plastic eye".

This is a copy of my posting under "wire wheels" I run an 8" wire wheel on a pedestal grinder. Once as I was cleaning up a piece of 3/8" round stock that I had forged into a hook on one end and a leaf on the other, the wheel grabbed it. Cut my lip inside & out, several sore teeth, small mouse under my eye. All of this while wearing a face shield. Tore the shield from the headband. What would it have done without the face shield? Which, by the way, I only started wearing after #1 son came to visit & walked up and pulled a couple of wires out of my cheek that I had not noticed. When that wheel grabs, it is way to late to "duck and cover". I still use those wheels, but very much more carefully than before. This made a Bill Epps believer out of me ,by using a variable speed sander-polisher with a wire cup wheel in his videos __________________

I run an 8" wire wheel on a pedestal grinder. Once as I was cleaning up a piece of 3/8" round stock that I had forged into a hook on one end and a leaf on the other, the wheel grabbed it. Cut my lip inside & out, several sore teeth, small mouse under my eye. All of this while wearing a face shield. Tore the shield from the headband. What would it have done without the face shield? Which, by the way, I only started wearing after #1 son came to visit & walked up and pulled a couple of wires out of my cheek that I had not noticed. When that wheel grabs, it is way to late to "duck and cover". I still use those wheels, but very much more carefully than before. This made a Bill Epps believer out of me ,by using a variable speed sander-polisher with a wire cup wheel in his videos

Just in from Quad State, and as usual it was great. In spite of the crappy weather yesterday. I spent most of yesterday & this morning watching Bill Epps demo. Got to meet or get reacquainted with lots of folks. Talked with John Larson, John Fee, Steve Gensheimer, Rich Waugh, Paul (3dogs) Wilson, Fred McDaniels, Jeff Reinhart, Jeff Gawell, Doug Lockhart, Fionnbharr, and a host of others. Got to meet & visit with Lorelei Sims (Blacksmithchic.com), and Bill Epps. Lots of nice folks, especially the SOFA staff-including the almost Reverend Robert Cruikshank, the working mans friend. A good time in the mud. :)

Doc- I asked essentially the same question on here a year or so ago. The consensus was, DONT mess with them. Your mileage may vary. :)

I will be there friday about noon or so. :)

I cant ge to it either. :(

Mcraigl, Pat is on the USS Boone, a frigate. Little bitty spit-kit compared to a carrier.

My wife ordered mine direct from Lorelei this summer. An excellent book. I understand she will be at Quad State.