Charles R. Stevens

Easy there, Samcro. Remember the rules for playing in Glenn's sand box. No throwing sand.

I think Jeremy has an exilent solution. The arch doesn't have to be a full 180 deg. Arch. 90 degre would be sufficient. I have shaped fire brick with an old rasp before. If you do a bit of math, you can make a jig to hold the rasp and work the edge of the brick back and forth untile they fit together. Then a simple frame to hold them in place. I'm a belts a suspenders kind of guy so a thin bit of stove cement just to fill any irregularity might be in order.

Price of tools isn't the problem, it's the feeling of working with a tool you made. Be careful, you'll start out a wood worker who wants to make a few tools and end up a blacksmith that works wood. I really wouldn't wory about the fancy steel edged tools, it's more a marketing gimmic. Old tools were made that way because steel was expensive, old tools were better because they were made by craftsmen not by steeling the edge. There are good shock resistant steels that will hold a fine edge. Welcome to the addiction, enjoy yourself.

Liamh, I assume your asking after the spacific technice for the pattern. Sorry I can't help, just not my area of study. Hopefully one of the knife guys will chime in.

I would agree with Jim. I've broken one or two of them, and that's what the guts look like. You might be able to reperpis it if the nut block isn't cast

You may want to look in to tin. Tin platter steel vegetable cans, tin lined copper cook ware,, tin cups... Besides it would have a nice contrast.

Ethelien glycol is also a neurotoxin to cats and some other animals ( treatment is booze) check out the MSDS to se what the vampires will do to you.

Beth, I tend to concur with the body at large. The plain, institutional character if the seats and seat backs framed by the graceful and whimsical vines and leaves works well. I think the people that new her will apretiate the contrast, and the generations to come will simply enjoy the seat and the art. Often our "mistakes" are the best testaments to our art.

Try filling the base with sand, ash or clay. You can then form a bowl to contain the fire . Depending on your fuel you at need 6-8" under the steel. You'll probably have the best luck with fire clay, or adobe (15-30% clay 70-85% sand or grog) some folks ad ash as a stabilizer. You only want a small fire, say 3-6" across. Hard to work much more steel than that before it cools. If you are using coal you can store fuel on the table, using water ad air to control the fire, dot work so well with charcoal.

Rebar is very incansistant, Kay other steels I've difrrantly. Now that you have her up and running, might want to build a set of legs. Set it at anvils high.

I find that using an anvils discourages Peaple from pearching on it.

I type to dang slow!

Looks better than my first, what do you think Frosty? I see you lurking around.

Lol, we are blessed with a very large population of the "cronicly ignorant" hear in oklihoma.

Scrap pile? Surly you not talking about my material stash? Lol, I only have 4 seperate stockpiles. Scatters over 3 properties.

Steel prices, the drought and the druggies and drunks looking for quick cash has sent a lot to the scrapper. Fools in my neck of the woods send running cars and tractors to the scrapper for $.10 on the $1.00

Next you'll be dressing up your anvils in funny costumes... Oh, wait that's already been done... Now we're is the thread with the alligator anvil cover?!

Yes sir, if your looking for weed eaters go for sheep. They actually eat weeds. Don't climb trees and fast good too.

Absolutely, a SS table will work great, look if you want it upside down for the lip, or go dumpster diving foe bed frame for angle to bolt to it for a lip. When you cut out for the pot, don't make the hole to tight, the pot will expand when hot. Legs can be made from bed frame also, or pile and floor flanges even salvaged two drawer filing cabinets. We'll make a scrap hound out of you yet..

A 32" hunk of rail set on end works well, as dose a 20# sledge hammer head set in a stump (striking edge up) stay away from I beam it will flustrate you to no end. The little can or two brick forge is fine for all the 1/4" starter projects like "S" hooks, "J" hooks, drive hooks, "tommy" stickers and such. May or may not get to welding temp so 1/4 chain may or may not fly ( 1/4 chain is a bit advances as it cools fast)

A classic look can be achieved with a 32" square table, with a 1 1/2 to 2" liip, apropriatly cut out to mâch the Natchez in the fire box. This table can be steel, say 1/16" if supported underneath, 1/8" if only supported by the legs. Or brick, granit tile, or such inflammable material that won't be easily damaged by drooping your work or tools on it. A second 32" square table next to it at the hight of the rim of the forge, of inflammable me material makes a great place for tools and materials. By no means is their a "right way" or a "best way" it's what you have and want. As Most Peaple don't stay on one place more than 5 years or so (your family is an obvious exception) I tend to discourage masonry forges. Place the forge table and the anvil at about the same hight, say fist high. If you plan to do a lot of work with a sledge and striker, you would go to the classic first nuckle high. Don't forget to research side draft hoods and vent stackes. You really want the forge under cover as rain and fly ash will eat your fire pot up.

Charcoal works well, infact it has worked for a few thousand years, no smoke. But if you have your heart set in gas, by all means. Be carful tho, I had a deputy come buy last year wanting to play twenty questions about my propane can colection ( only have 8 20#) aperiantly the local meth cookers where steeling anhydranis ammonia from the farmers, storing it in propain cans. Thaught I was goin to have to run every can I had to satisfy him. The old proforge fixed I'm, it popped back and then roared to life. He lost interstate in me as a drug dealer.

Don't discount tables, benches and desks. Some of those old steel monsters are lurking in basements, carafes and junk shops. A big steel desk would take a min. Of work to set the fire pot in. As wood a food service table or cart.

The motor can be sevicesed, brushes, bushings/bearings and commutator and cleanup. Often there is a electric motor shop in town.

Yep, for the real renagades and out laws I recomenned smoking. They make great BBQ. As to orchards, sheep are actually recommended for weed and grass control in vinuards and orchards. The will mow down young treen it any thing over 6' is generally safe. They prune the lower leaves but don't eat the bark. Other wise it's the "horse cage" 4 each 7 1/2 foot "T" posts and rap in sheap and goat wire. I use an 8' section of fence. If its just weed control and possibly meat, a lot of folks bread "hair" sheep. Linda is a spinner so we have woollies.