Rob Browne

They look really good but after all the cutting and grinding would they need some heat treatment?

For me its making identical pieces in a set. Easy enough to make a one off but when you need multiple copies the same it really gets difficult.

My advice would be to sit on your wallet and keep looking. Cast iron instead of steel, no hardy or pritchel hole. Pretty limited to what you would be able to do with it. Your rail iron will do for quite a while till you find a beauty.

Ya know Thomas, depends where you live but cow pattie charcoal could work but, gee, you would be busy on the shovel to keep them up to the fire They sure would be light!!

Mercury is very dangerous but its mainly the vapour that gets you. Its a heavy metal and really affects your central nervous system when inhaled or absorbed through the skin, to a lesser but still significant extent). Its use in laboratories is strictly controlled and any spill is treated with great respect. Sure we used to roll it around in our hands when we were kids but here we are hittin hot steel instead of sending rockets to Jupiter. Take all the warning seriously!

Charcoal can do it all. It was the fuel used for centuries before people learnt they could burn rocks - coal. Its very good but has to be handled differently to a coal fire. Cheers

For now I would be sticking one piece of railway iron vertically in a bucket of concrete so you will be using the end. This will be your main hitting anvil with lots of mass under the hammer. The other can be used in any orientaion that works (lots of different curves and angles on it) and for straightening iron. Edit: Just had a look at your posts and knives come up. If they are what you want to make a 4x4 piece of iron end on in a bucket of concrete will be more than suitable for a LONG time.

I would have to agree with Countryboy. A name that describes what you do in general and your location is very hard to beat. Afterall, you are not trying to show how funny you can be but let people know where you are and what you do. Otherwise, you could just call it "The Shed" like I do...........

Sounds like a beehive fire. Some swear by it for welding, others never use it. Just do a search on beehive and you will get lots of info. Cheers

Glenn, You may have dug yourself a hole with that idea. One with the world map idea is perfect. When will they ba available???? Cheers

Ironfest was a great show. Great to put a face to two names - Dale and Moony. Cheers

Dave, That tyne (plow part) you were talking about is spring steel and is great for almost any tooling. Use it a bit like you would a leaf spring. Cheers

Some great advice given here but don't forget how to clean a BBQ plate. Heat it and pour water on it to boil off the crud and fat. Same will happen to your work if you quench it, the finish will be boiled off. Cheers

Think it will take a bit more than a Fossies to drown my sorrows...... Now I have to wait till the collector is ready to sell it and make his profit :)

What else to say? Very nice work there you should be proud. Cheers

Looks like a seriously nice forge. The burner is David's design from the look of it. As for setting up a coal forge I would not hurry. Get to know your gas forge first then add the coal forge for the little extras it afford the suer. Cheers

Looks like your next project is at least one set of tongs suitable for your most often used stock. As for odd shapes and gas forges that is why users often have one side made up of fire bricks so they can change the size and shape of their forge as they need. Cheers

He'll sell it. There is always a "collector" out there. The same reason we can't afford to buy anvils, etc. More money than brains those collectors have. See ya

Adding oxygen to a professional setup that is doing large work is one thing BUT not for a backyard setup. Its not necessary for normal size work and can be positively dangerous as well as expensive. Cheers

For what we want there is plenty of oxygen in the atmosphere and its free. Pure oxygen and fire arer a nasty combination which should be generally avoided. Cheers

First thing I would say is check if they are the right size for your stock. If the stock is too thick or thin the jaws will not hold properly and the work will eventually escape or it will force you to hold it too hard and hurt your tong hand/arm eventually. Most of us end up with quite a collection of tongs for different stock thicknesses and shapes. BTW, welcome to IFI Cheers

There are some really noxious chemicals in coal smoke, that is why we try to get it out of the shop so well. The odd breath will not do any harm but if you were in a room full of the stuff for half an hour then it will be causing you problems. Best advice is not to breath it and test your flue setup with a small wood fire next time then, if it is OK, use the wood fire to get your coal burning. Good luck and keep safe.

My coal tends to stick together if I coke it quickly on top of the fire so I use that when I want a hive fire. When I want a lose fire I just push the coal in from the sides slowly as I need it and if it sticks together I just give it a whack with the poker. Come to think of it I give it a whack even if it does not stick together because its about 1" coal and I like to have it smaller in my fire so when it cokes I break it up with the poker anyway. Cheers

Had a look myself a while ago with no luck. Looks like a direct purchase from the States if you want pre-made. Cheers