gadetoz

For those down under in NSW Australia this is where I get my coke - http://www.illawarracoke.com.au/ Just picked some up yetserday at $400 a ton - so 3 * 60 Liter garbage bins cost $40.

Nice work (noting the scale and detail against the 'hand' as a backdrop) - I draw the conclusion that you son is quite small (aka cute). I worry that my large son's hobby of 10th century living, which guided me towards blacksmithing, might translate to a request from him to hand forge an equivalent sized hammer (son:son = size:size = hammer:hammer) Trevor

Welcome Steve - We all like pictures to enhance the story/ies - Do you have any laying around of your first forge and the three year journey, thus far, you would like to share? Trevor

Hi all, from my perspective this thread is a great read already. While I was a bit late to see it (work got in the way) and therefore had to try and catch up on the reference source pics. (For others who might also be late.... the picture attached shows the original? concept under discussion/challenged as to whether the object in question could be hand forged, leading to a discussion tending towards to replication/design/practice with clay) I support the concept of looking at a problem and attempting to solve it (preferably as a group). In this thread I have seen many elements of this and other things I enjoy on this site. Many thanks to all and in particular Phil for taking the time to expose your thoughts on how a problem can be challenged or potentially solved. Trevor

Below are the links to the youtube videos that show the forging of the big anchors and chains. Trevor

Happy to help and welcome - I like the bottle opener - pictures are always great to see as they give ideas and as they say "they tell a thousand words" Trevor

Hi Irontwister, There is a thread called "upload photos" under the topic "Feedback and Support" (2nd link down from the front page of forums). This thread discusses the concepts of size of image and format and also talks about uploading to the 'gallery' but I am not sure if that particular bit is preferred (by the admins) of the new look/style forum engine (which I think is great) - Glenn and the forum admins might clarify. For attaching pictures to an existing thread where you are just posting a reply, I do the following: 1. Look at the size and format of the picture to make it small enough (to allow speedy download while still being able to see it) 2. After clicking reply and typing my response just simply browse to the picture on my computer using the "Browse" button directly below where you type your response 3. And click on the attach this file button There are other methods like inserting with HTML tags in the post - but these are a little more complex. Anyway hope this helps - I am sure Glenn will correct me if I have led you astray. Regards Trevor

Really nice work, I will have to make one for next time I travel to Darwin as the beers up there are big. If you want to know how big check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Darwin_stubby.jpg Trevor

For posterity - attached is a copy of the picture of the anchor (anvil) being discussed.

A really interesting thread, I will obviously have to grind a curve on my hot cut that I made form a wood splitting wedge (as I didn't have an axle laying around) - cut and forged the shaft - a bit tall but works for me - now out to the grinder to make it better. Trevor

Nice one Bill, Here is one I made from a block splitting wedge from the local hardware store (about $5 on special) - cut and the forged the shank to fit my anvil. It is a bit tall but works for me. Trevor

Very nice looking rose. Trevor

Green is definitely 'Earth' - In Australia we run only one hot wire in an Active - Neutral - Earth configuration. In the US you run two hot (or phases) plus the earth. Can you post a picture of the other side of the plug showing the blades?

All very nice work - the recipient of these presents is sure to be happy.

Friends, I have read this thread with some amusement at the various posts, but could not let the re-cycling of RR track "as fence posts" go past without without sharing what happens in parts of Australia. In South Australia they used to re-cycle RR track with a liberal amount of concrete to make power poles, colloquially known as "Stovie Poles" (apologies to and corrections, abuse accepted from any S.A. members). What you wind up with is a power pole that is shown in the pics attached, comprising of two RR tracks with a whole lot of concrete in the middle. As a young man traveling Australia I could never resolve if the story about their name related to some town planner, engineer or politician, named Stovie, who decided to recycle RR in this fashion or whether the popular anecdote that if you hit one with your car it will certainly "stove" the front end in (aka. stovie). At the end of the day I guess it shows a form of re-cycling steel (albeit without heat or hammers) and probably has its roots in the nearly 2,500 miles (4,500km) of track between Sydney and Perth and a lack of forests in S.A (which is roughly in the middle). Anyway - A Merry Christmas to all and to get back on track for this thread.... You may be a Blacksmith if you look at a "Stovie Pole" and see a whole lot of hammers. Trevor

I'd like to see it. Perhaps you could post it on YouTube and then embed a link to the YouTube video in an updated post. Trevor

UnicornForge, Thanks for sharing the picture and explanatory notes - I have made several nail headers using automotive springs like Thomas (following the BP0322 plans as noted by Glen) - but now feel the need to make myself a nail station like the "1993 in the Williamsburg blacksmith station" - a bit for fun, a bit for learning and experimentation, and a bit for skill development and speed of production/consistency. Many thanks all Trevor

Very pretty...great work.

Argh me hearty - mighty fine looking work. Look like something that would have been used by early sailors. Trevor

My similar example was to ask an apprentice (many years ago) to replace the roll of tape in a 'Dymo labeling machine' (old style one that uses the tape similar to the picture). OK - so having realized that my apprentice had not returned in the requisite time allocated in my mind to achieve the task I began searching, only to find said apprentice hiding with a deconstructed 'Dymo machine' including almost all of its component pieces (screws, spring ....) trying to figure out how to re-assemble it with the new tape installed. Needless to say this taught me to accept that not all have the same understanding of a task and the BTW the dymo never worked properly again. Phil - I am glad your experience was equally not life threatening. Trevor

At least one thing down under is both abundant and relatively cheap in Australia (fossil fuels) - not old blacksmithing tools. I drive down the coast from Sydney every now and then and shovel up loads of coke at less than $50 a time (noting that coke is light weight so $50 lasts a long time for a weekend newbie). Funny the first time I went down to the plant with shovel and numerous garbage bins in tow - I got pulled over for a random breath test on the way home - the young officer was very excited (hand moving slowly towards gun) to hear that the back of the wagon was full of garbage bins of 'coke' - until I did a little explaining. Trevor

John, At this stage the bottom is not completed. I have in mind to dish out a circle plate (about the size of a dinner plate) to insert and rivet as the bottom (interpretation of the museum's picture). I am sure the overall pot will leak, "like a sieve", until seasoned using a method similar to that described by Thomas above (oatmeal) - but I will enjoy the journey of discovery along the way. When I have photos of the bottom I will share (along with the seasoning attempts). Needless to say it would leak slightly faster than a sieve as it is 'today' - without a bottom. Trevor

Hi Goldstock, To be honest I am unsure what you are asking regarding a "3D format" - does this mean a CAD set of drawings or files or an actual 3D object? (If it is CAD then I can't help) - if something other perhaps I can assist. Trevor

Welcome Chuck - I agree with ironstein - a great place to be.

Good enough is when you are happy with the outcome. From my perspective this thread has a lot of interesting comments or ideals. In my mind's eye I rationalise these as: 1. All trades (including blacksmithing) where skill of hand and co-ordination for bespoke products benefit from years of practice remain a life long journey towards perfection and therefore have some element of an ever-increasing raising of the bar of "good enough" versus the current skill/time and money questions. 2. Blacksmithing is a skill based on hand/eye co-ordination (when banging away on hot metal), coupled with project planning (drawings/mathematics/concepts/problem solving/customer requirements/form and function) and therefore remains primarily a skill of the person and not a machine - that is if a job is perfect and repeatable it was probably run off using computer aided design (CAD) and a machine. Trevor