SteveW

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00qnx50/Working_Lunch_02_02_2010/ Just to rub a bit of salt in the wounds, a quick bit of Blacksmithing turned up on Working Lunch you can see it starting at about 07:30 on BBC I player linked above.

British and Smithing ( in a vey loose sence of the word at the moment) :)

Just been told that the case is plastic and that the motor is 480W no CFM rate unfortunately.

One to look out for in February, Mastercrafts, looks like it could be a good one. http://www.bbc.co.uk/tv/comingup/mastercrafts/ http://britishcrafts.wordpress.com/2010/01/

Hi again I’ve asked the seller if the casing is metal or plastic and what the CFM rating is, I’ll see what he says. As I plan to have the blower well away from any heat I’m guessing the casing being metal isn’t too critical, but we'll see. I know that Westpoint runs 12ish forges from one big blower’ John did you need to do anything special to get it all to work? And what was the blower? I meant to look but forgot.

Hello Chaps I was wondering if anyone has used a bouncy castle style fan as a forge blower, something like these from e-bay and if so, how well did they work? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Electric-bouncy-castle-blower-pump-new-with-box_W0QQitemZ120512612118QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Toys_Games_Outdoor_Toys_ET?hash=item1c0f1c8716 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ELECTRIC-BOUNCY-CASTLE-BLOWER_W0QQitemZ320475552912QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Toys_Games_Outdoor_Toys_ET?hash=item4a9dd4dc90 I’d like something that would service a double forge at least.

Great event John, but such a shame about the weather, we only stayed for a couple of hours, a whingey seven year old with a broken coat zip made sure of that. No stamina the young these days.... I remember when.......

I'll definitely make this one, after failing miserably to make it last year. No Gurning for me though, unfair advantage....:rolleyes:

Well I got it.... Pictures below. Marked 3.2.13 so 405lb or 184Kg if I got the maths right. The anvil stake and the giant tongs came with it. Overall dimensions are Hight 14" Width 6 1/4" Length of Face 21" Overall length 34 1/2" Well I'm not sure what's going on with the images, I can't even get imageshack to work properly, but it gives you an idea.

I so hope this is a mistake. I have never met or spoken directly to him, but he frequented a number of forums I use and always had interesting and knowledgeable advice he would freely give. I'm a bit lost for words to be honest..... My thoughts are with his family and friends Steve.

Just managed to get him on the phone, and we are good to go tomorrow....probably :rolleyes:

It's a bit of a long story so bare with me... About ten months or so ago, I was flicking through the local paper and noticed an advert for a chap selling a "Large " Anvil. I called and arranged a visit. The Anvil was a good one forged not cast and with a couple of giant tongs and an Anvil stake included. It had been used as a garden ornament for a few years, but apart from some surface rust was in very good nick. However there was a problem. I was the second person to see it that day and the first guy had just phoned to say he would take it. The chap selling it offered it to me anyway on the basis that I was there with the money and the other chap was just a promise on the phone, but I said no let the other guy have it as he was (1) first, (being noble) and (2) I could have put the money to better use ( being practical). I left him my phone number before I left and off I went. Last week I had a call. The guy with the anvil had found my number after all these months and called to say that the anvil was still there and as he was about to move house and didn't want to take it with him I could have it if I wanted it. The first chap had never materialised with the money and the owner hadn't bothered to try selling again. He also cut the price from the first time. I told him I'd make arrangements to collect in the week and started making plans for how we were going to get it home. I got an answer machine message in the week from the Anvil man. He was so sorry but... the people who were buying his house really wanted the Anvil in the garden, so he had given it to them, hoped I understood very sorry... :mad: Yesterday I got another call from "Anvil man" house sale fallen through Anvil available again if I want it :confused: I'll let you all know if I actually get it this time

I have heard and read a number of tales regarding the quenching of tools in an Apple or a Potato. The idea sounds a bit potty at first, but on reflection maybe the stories are not so far fetched, though the idea that potatoes impart extra carbon into the steel during the quench make me wonder if its just a wild Blacksmith story handed down to mock the gullible. Any wiser heads than mine want to tell me if it's a likely method of quenching or just a tall tale?

I have to admit, I've been thinking about pimping my press into a part time cider press...shame to waste all those Apples :rolleyes:

Sorry Matt, I'm not much help but have you tried the BABA website for members near Canterbury? BABA - British Artist Blacksmiths Association and give google a try for blacksmiths in the area. Also try the Blacksmiths Guild for members in and around Canterbury. Blacksmiths Guild Home I hope you find something that fits the bill soon.

That looks like a serious bit of kit there Dale. I think the Tinnie should become the new international size standard for Fly presses :D

:D I did have a Roy Scheider moment when I first saw it lying there "We're going to need a bigger boat" Dale "She'll be right mate" er maybe :o

Quick update... I went yesterday to pick it up, by the time I set off, I'd managed to convince myself that it would be a number 3 at best and it was probably not even worth taking the trailer at all, I almost didn't bother..... Fast forward 3 hours and I'm standing in a huge barn looking at a beast of a press the guy had managed to take a photo, not only without much in the way of visual reference to size, but also from the only angle that didn't show it was a deep throat! There are no numbers or names on the press I could see when we loaded it (on the very small looking trailer) and I took it very slowly home. We put the press in the trailer and the cast stand dismantled in the boot. Its sitting outside now waiting for me to take it to it's new home later today. Pictures when I can, I have a feeling there will be some questions I'll need to ask about as well.... :)

Well boys and girls my luck is running true to form, a quick update. I decided on the off chance to pop into an old friends garage today to see if he had a suitable trailer that I could borrow, but his are massive and on call 24/7 for breakdowns etc so no good for me. He asked what I needed it for and I told him it was to collect a Fly Press, " what one of those blinking big things with an arm on top and ball weights, weight about 3 to 400 kilos?" "Yep that's the thing" "oh dear...er did you buy it?" "Yes why?" "Some bloke came in here a fortnight ago and gave me one, huge it was, I had no use for it so I turned it in for scrap" :o I'm off to weep into my Beer.....:(

Plans! plans! I'm a man we don't have plans we just need things on a primeval level....tools, stuff, food, beer that kind of thing It would be nice however if, with a bit of DIY tooling I could bend, fuller, punch and whatnot. I know people who use them to make pattern welded billets for knives or Mokume-gane. With the right tooling you can repeat the same bends, say for a fire basket. Punching holes in thick stock should have the Donkey work taken out of it. I've seen some very nice Bowls made with most of the work done on a press and even very delicate things like veining a leaf. Best of all they're quiet and a good deal cheaper than a power hammer. OK, I'll forgive you the free press , but I really do want a Landy Steve.

Tom you're in central New Mexico, ain't nothing out there but Vultures and Longhorn skulls. I will be travelling through England's green and pleasant land where traffic police and on the spot fines loiter behind every bush. Listen out for me in the wind...if you here a voice yelling "The trailer willna take it Captain!!!" in a terrible Scottish accent that will be me

You were given a number 6 and you have a Landrover Grrrrrr!!! Actually I have a bad feeling about this, I've just chatted to the chap on the phone and he was very circumspect when it came to trying to estimate the size and weight. I have a feeling I'll turn up with the trailer expecting a size 5 or 6 and walk out with a size 2 under my arm. But hey ho! the joys of buying sight unseen.

Thanks Ed, It has a stand and both weights, but as I have an estate car (station wagon) I was thinking put the stand, bar and weights in the back and the press on the trailer... I should try and persuade my wife I really need a Pickup truck Seller wasn't much help regarding the size of the press, all she knew was it was about six feet tall on the stand :confused:

Hi, sorry John I didn't make that very clear... only one press is involved but it has no numbers or makers name stamped on it according to the seller. From the photo I have I'm guessing a size 4,5 or 6 any smaller and It's not a problem any bigger and I'm in the poo.... My trailer has stutzlast 75kg ( max pressure on towing bar, I'm told) and Zuglast 600kg max weight? dunno..... so I was trying to get an idea of the kind of maximum weight it's likely to be... I'd rather not hire a van if there is no need. Steve.

Sorry if this has been answered before, but I need to know the approximate weight of a number 5 and 6 fly press. I just need to know if my small trailer will handle the weight or if i need to borrow a bigger one. Many thanks chaps.