cheftjcook

looking for help and Advice on scrolls. I am trying to figure out a small garden project that will involve a few scrolls. I have read every scroll blue print on design and layout and found it very very informative and helpfull. So Thankyou all for sharing your knowledge it does mean alot to me personely and I am sure many others, as it smooths out some of the learning speed bumps along the way. On to the Question, is there a way or formula to figure the length of steel needed to produce a given size scroll? I have been drawing my ideas on plywood for effect , I then use string to trace the drawing then measuring the string for lengths. I don't know how correct that is but it seemed logical to try and get an idea of raw steel vs. finished scroll. Also to get an Idea of what is needed to complete the project. Am I close? You know The "Learning Curve" is pretty sharp for a newbie!!! (grin) Seriously maybe one of you smithys here can point me in the right direction. Thanks again.

Hey Berty! Checked out the Site, Very Nice! Hope you add more photos of your work. Both in progress and finished. Welcome and Best of luck with the site!

Hey Sqeezplay, Hang in there! Even though It's tough, I have a younger sister who fought thru siezures (no tumor) for a while as the Docs adjusted medicines (dilantine, depicane, valium, sp? can't remember the rest). I hope and Pray the The Good Lord will guide your Doc's to find the right meds & levels. It is a hard fight but you can do it and you'll feel better as they get it straightened out. Never forget God is the Ultimate Doctor and All Things are Possible with Him. You Can count on "Knee-mail" on your behalf from our home, And if there are any specific things or changes to pray for, please post. I Am Amazed and so will you be, As I have seen and read how the wonderful Smithys/people of this sight rally behind and pray for one another in true Christian Fellowship. You are in good hands & Your not alone here. TIM

Henry, would love to see the pictures when you get them. thanks for the heads up about ron's pages. Other kind folks of this site have mentioned ITC 100 also, Where do you get it and how long does it last before having to replace the kaowool that has been treated with it? Thanks for the info Henry Tim

Ian, Yorkshire Pudding is something everyone should be blessed with a taste of at least once in their lives. I enjoy using the classic...the renderings of a Prime Rib or Top But and dipping the pudding in the fond in the bottom of the roasting pan. This never makes the front of the house, usualy devoured right out of the oven by the guys/girls in the back of the house. That being said it is also very good cooked in the renderings of pork, Sausage, lamb, chicken, duck or even goose. But Each contributing its own flavor imprint. We also vary between over size muffin pans almost like a lg popover or a small roasting pan. Either way the oil is smoking hot and the product a little bit O' Heaven. You are correct that over beating does harm to the batter, as it does with most batters. It over develops the gluten strands in the flour. Resting the batter to relaxe it, like bread dough between proofs, will help. When making a bagel or pizza dough you realy work the dough hard and use little shortening, to develope the gluten strands and produce the signature texture of a stronger chewy dough. The opposite being a Puff Pasrty were multiple layers of butter are folded in to give flakeness and tenderness (shortening the gluten strands) Well any way, I now have an idea of what to feature an the menu tomorrow and dreaming of tonight! Thanks!!! TIM

Thank you Thomas, I am paying attention and appreciate your time and smarts. As I am gleening some great info from not only yourself but the others who have posted here and the other threads on the same subject. You and others mentioned the insulation & O2... can I just add extra to the forge with out any ill effects. Trying to keep the heat higher and O2 to a minimum I think I am partially or fully going to cover the side ports of the forge. Again thanks for your imput and patience as I stumble along learning a great craft.

How much hotter do you need? Coal forges do not get hotter than gas forges can; but most any coal forge will burn up steel and you need a gas forge designed to get hot to melt it---not all gas forges will weld, some will weld with tweaking and some weld so much better than a coal forge that it's amazing to use them. You can't say gas forges don't get hot enough---rather you can say *this* design/implementation doesn't get hot enough" **As an Admitted Newbie and certainly low confidence in my own knowledge of smithing I needed to ask about the heat, still knowing full well it was me. Thanks for for the info and the corrected /proper phrasing of the situation. It is appreciated and I will certinly keep trying. I would like to know more about the afore mentioned aspirated gas forge. While the ability to turn billet steel into a pool of liquid steel sounds neat and fun to watch! And even though I am sure ( as a newbie) I would only get myself into vast amounts of trouble and make a terrible mess. I would like to know more. The word aspirated leads me to believe or a least question, there being not just a simple jet or jets of flame but also a varient forced gas/air at work. Is the gas forced in, at a modified or greater pressure or volume thru different jetting. ie.. as an improved venturi of a carburetor vs the high psi jetting of fuel injection or like the blower assist forcing in volumes air to facilitate a better fuel burn. Please let me know more, Like with most of life, this could be real fun or real dangerous Again thanks for the valuable time and Information

Gentlemen, I read the posts and threads they are very detailed and informative. I am Amazed at the info tucked away at this great site. Thanks for the tip about the metal shavings, I will do the next without the shavings just the borax. I have a question about the heat. Everyone and the forums refer to the need for yellow almost white hot metal, which makes pefect sense. Call me crazy but It seems like a coal fire gets hotter than the gas forge gets could that be true. or maybe I'm just impatient and don't allow the metal to heat properly. (most likely me looking for an excuse! grin) Thanks Again Cheftjcook

They say the only stupid question is the one not asked!! So here goes. I am new blacksmithing and am confused about forge welding. Or confused about how to due it with any confidence. I try to practice different skills, Taking my time to learn them correctly and be fairly adept at tapering or making a fluid scroll or any bit I can gleen from others of skill willing to share...some stuff looks pretty good from distance, if you squint alittle and its dark in the garage....But enough of my metal mishaps ... I read some one say to try and due a forge weld every time you start and you will eventually get the hang of it....Well.... going at this rate i could be older and grayer than I am now and still not get it right. I have actualy gotten one realy good forge weld , many thanks for the helping hands from the folks at peters valley on a coal forge during a class. But feel I must be a dope, To here others speak of it almost common place and my One Good Weld, sits in a special place in the garage like a "buddist shrine". My wife still asks me why I have a hand made unused Iron beer bottle opener hanging on the back wall of the garage?! big grin I know I must work at it and be persistant. And Am sure most of you gifted Smiths I read of here have been putting in hard time to be accomplished. So I am asking quit humbly for advice...to at least get me pointed in the right direction. Also tired of friends offering to loan me a "mig" and be done!!! Grin The Setting: I Have now in my little corner of the garage a Whisper Daddy (3 burner) gas forge,with front door and side ports (neighbors do not like the smoke of a coal forge and I can roll this out doors for working) Even filled the Tank. I have steel to hit, an Anvil to hit on, a hammer to hit with and have metal shavings and "20 mule team" to flux (for all the good it has done me) Again any help would be great! Thanks in advance & God Bless cheftjcook

New Member here at the site, Just wanted to drop a line and say Hi to all. I'm here in Wayne, New Jersey with my wife. I am an Executive Chef by trade, love to work with my hands, wood working, Lathe turnings etc... I do Ice carving and other "Garde Manger" carving as part of my work and thought metal might be fun and it is!!! I am just getting started but it realy is fun and rewarding. The Mrs encouraged me to take a couple of classes at Peters Valley and I Loved it. I am now setting up the garage as blacksmithing area, my wife just shakes her head and smiles, but she is very supportive. I always try to make gifts for her and she shows em off to her friends and family and that makes for a great feeling.(even if they don't look like musem pieces) Well enough yakking. Hope to be making new friends and learning alot from the forums, blueprints & tips & tricks. God Bless have a Good One. Tim