trying-it

Flood updates Iowa river has swamped 400 city blocks - Weather - MSNBC.com

Steve (Ten Hammers) is so right about a Henrob torch; I have to thank Garey Ford for introducing me to it. All the other A/O torches are great and I still occasionally use mine, but once I added a Henrob rig to my shop I noticed a massive reduction in tank refills. Just another handy tool with its own niche area. For those not familiar with a Henrob, consider checking this link: Henrob 2000

Ed, Mapquest shows you are about 150 miles north of me; I'm north of Pinckneyville, IL. on State Rt 127. Be glad to give you a few hands-on lessons if you ever want to make the trip. The tool steel bits can be welded on (I have many times here), but there is a good chance the tool steel will shear under heavy cuts. 2 better options are: #1 braze the bits on #2 make tool holders for the bits As I said I will be happy to help you any way I can and I am not afraid to share a few shop tips & tricks used here.

Pocket knife, short piece of round soapstone, short piece of flat soapstone, short piece of chalk, Sharpie black marker, stubby pencil.... and last but not least..... a length of the infamous baling twine. Back pocket has a couple of paper shop towels at the ready.

Attaching copper to glass - You may want to research a little on "Stained Glass/copper foil method". Copper foil is sticky on one side; you just peel off a paper backing, fold around glass edges and a little of both sides, burnish smooth with a wooden stick. All pieces with copper foiled edges are then lead soldered together (just like a Tiffany lamp shade). For the curious, yes I dabble in stained glass too. LOL

Andrei that's a real nice lamp and artsy too. As I was told in SIUC artist blacksmithing classes, modern methods (like A/O, mig, tig, and arc welding) may be utilized, but should never be seen in the finished item. At SIUC, if any modern methods were visible it cost the maker a full letter grade being subtracted from final project grade. Another SIUC tip was to make something that leaves the viewer pondering as to just exactly how the piece was made. I think you succeeded quite well. A+

They say a picture is word a thousand words; yours is a keeper for sure. Let's all be thankful there is but one Monday per week.

If you properly prepared the billet materials before welding was attempted, then the fault has to be somewhere within the welding process itself. "Now what to do with the remnants?? :-)" Flat rate box? Mailing zipcode 62274 I once wrote a paper entitled "Experience is the Best Teacher" and presented it at a professional conference. The title fits in so well regardless of the individual paths taken during each of our own lifetime's.

Too many undisclosed variables in your first post. Some billets may be repaired with proper procedures and some luck. Some portion of a billet can be salvaged by cutting out the bad spots, re-stacking remaining pieces, and weld again. Others could have all bad parts removed and remaining pieces used in a "canned" billet. "Make other stuff" as you suggested; --- I once showed Jens (at his 2007 hammerin) how to use some out of the ordinary materials in a canned billet. After welding, a short section of the can was found flawed, thus cut-off. Consider little items like this necklace Jens made from that small cut-off section: Pattern_welded_Pendant - Blacksmith Photo Gallery I do not know if your posted question is reality or hypothetical. If reality, some stage(s) of the billet making process went wrong. Trick is to determine the hows and whys. Hope I helped to shed a little light!

Another blacksmithing gal, but this one I know: [ABANA] Holly Fisher - Dec 2007

Real nice work Jose. It does seem to make an individual feel real good inside after doing one of those "special projects". I was always taught that entrance to Heaven cannot be purchased; but I do think brownie points are still considered. A link to a "special project" I once was a major player in: http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/f7/santa-blacksmith-2193/

Superior - Anti-Borax #2 also has Boric Acid as active ingredient. The MSDS for this product

Boric Acid is an active ingredient in Forney brand brazing flux and labeled as such with its own dedicated warning area of the can.

Regional news talked about some animals doing strange things just prior to main event. My horses have been all wound up lately, but I blamed it more on flirting mares and isolated studs. On a follow up note, there were 22 aftershocks through early Monday morning. They predict these aftershocks could continue for yet another 30 days. Last time this particular fault line showed any major activity was in 1968.

Many famous names and places can be credited for the resurgence of pattern welding of ferrous and/or nonferrous materials. Just thought I would share this link with everyone. I find it especially interesting since I too am a SIUC graduate, with multiple degrees. See how many names you recognize within the confines of this text. L. Brent Kington Oral History Interview Conducted by Mary Douglas for the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, 2001

Ron, a mapquest search shows that the distance between us is: Total Estimated Time: 2.0 hours 40 minutes Total Estimated Distance: 154.89 miles You are more than welcome to visit anytime! I am NO expert bladesmith, but I think I can get you started in some of the right directions. Stan

Thanks Chris, yes that is one of the possible sites. One has to keep in mind that a hotlink today may be dead cold tomorrow. Good Lord willing IFI will live forever. I was trying to post a road map that would allow other futuristic searchers to follow the trail and find a copy too. Other sources, cheaper prices,etc...... but same highly instructional package.

Glenn when BigFoot stomps who knows what the indirect impact might be? Dang I just designed and built for direct impact variables.

Occasionally I get the feeling I have true friends that really do care! Clara and I both send a big thanks to all. Glad everyone else faired well too. Remember: Shaken dishes and rattled nerves only prove the fact that: As we may think we are in constant control of our lives, we need occasional reminders to verify the fact that many times we are not!

Only a suggestion, do a web search for "HOW TO MAKE A BASIC SCAGEL SLIP JOINT FOLDER KNIFE" Some usually available on Ebay for start $14.97 or Buy-It-Now for $19.97 I bought mine the from Seller: ohojim 61112 Feedback Member is a PowerSeller Feedback: 98.9% Positive

"I need to cut a piece of angle iron, but do not have a big saw, so I though " Why not use thermite? I have iron oxide and aluminum, and Ill use magnesium from a fire lighter to light it." Maybe a foolish question to ask this late in the game, but just how big is this beastly sized section of angle iron? If you lived closer I would cut it here for free as a goodwill gesture! As you do not, I would suggest contacting a machine shop, weld shop, fabrication shop, etc. near you and see if one of them would be willing to cut it at a reasonable price. Another option (if size permits) is a good old fashioned hand-powered hacksaw, a few extra blades, and elbow grease. You also state need to cut, but offer no indication of angle piece's use after the cutting. Rumor has it a wise man once said that it was a lot harder to remember the initial goal was to drain the swamp, after you find yourself surrounded by alligators. If you can cram it into a flat rate box and mail it here, my offer to cut it free still stands.

Rawblacksmith, Game plan is to go inside and fix both at once. Doctors are great for others, but I guess I don't fit into their busy schedules...yet. I live each day with one foot in the grave and the other on a bunch of banana peels. To really know me is to know I just keep trying-it and I have so many things yet to try!

trying-it A little autobiography: Took 2yrs of Vocational Machine shop training during high school graduated 1971 Worked in a dozen different factories and most had massive lay-offs or plant shutdowns. Opened my own general machining/welding shop in 1984. During the boom years, ran a 3-shift/day operation with 5 machinists and a couple after school cleaners. Regional economics depressed this region so bad that by the mid 1990's I was back to being a one man band (shop); but I was still supporting my family. December 1996, just before Christmas I had another appointment with my cardiologist. What I have not stated, until now, is that I was born with a defective aortic heart valve. I have a two-flap (bicuspid) instead of a normal 3-flap valve. I have been visiting docs since the late 1950's. I was heart catherized at age 7 and 10, old style, up the arms with 10-day hospital stays each time. Back to 1996, my cardiologist had requested a new heart test, a CAT scan. January 1997, a new year and might just as well have been a death blow to me. Seems the CAT scan showed a 2" (5cm) ascending aortic aneurysm. In lay terms, a 2" bulge in my main heart artery, right beside the bum output valve. (A little more medical trivia) The aorta is the main artery out of the heart. It ascends for about 2" then drops down to lower belly (abdominal cavity), thus I have an ascending aneurysm, not the abdominal variety. Doc gave me the bad news and issued a few orders; "Go home, sit on the couch and watch TV, or read a book. The book should not exceed 10 lbs in weight". I also have neck and back problems from an auto accident in 1970 (C4 & C5; L4, L6, & S1). Geeze I could right medical transcripts by now I think. I applied for Social Security Disability Benefits (SSDI) but somehow don't qualify. About to pull my hair out, my phone rang and I was offered an opportunity to go to college and retrain for a "brain-type" job. I tested into engineering and that is what I pursued. I was introduced to internet and email just to name a few modern technologies college offered. My first email addy was iamtrying@engineer.com 21 semesters and 4 degrees later (2005) Today still no job and no real income. However during my university days and roaming the corridors of both the colleges of Engineering and Education, I stumbled upon the College of Fine Arts & Design and took 3 artist blacksmith semesters. After graduation I returned for one more class in Pattern Welding. (BTW: Same school & class where Daryl Meier once attended back in ancient history). 2008 still jobless, but taking my frustrations out on some poor undeserving piece of metal with a hammer & anvil, my BigFoot hammer, and hopefully a full battery of mini hydraulic presses soon. BTW: St. Peter is so confused with me; I have not been good enough for Heaven, but he sure can't send me down there with machining abilities, engineering degrees, teaching degrees, a few 'smithing skills, and an endless fuel source, etc. I am NO quitter, I just keep trying-it (you may replace "it" with any word you see fit)

Tornadoes in Jan, full blown Thunderstorms at 18 F in Feb, 18" of rain in 36 hrs period in March (and a lot more rainy days followed), and now earthquakes in April. I attach a link to a regional TV station for those that want to read about the events. The Official KFVS12 and Heartland News Web Site | KFVS12 Home These shakes and rumbles were generated within the Wabash Fault line. The neighboring Woodlawn Fault line is highly visible on our property. Let's all thank the Lord that this was not the nearby and infamous New Madrid Fault fault flexing its muscles. We are all fine here and wish to thank those that showed real concern for our family's wellbeing. It is nice having friends! From our home to yours, hoping everyone else faired as well.