Paul.

thanks for your comments john, what with running a business and three small kids its hard to find time to keep up to date with i forge iron. T wash is is designed to be a primer for new galvanising and should as long as the surface is free from grease etc,turn it black. Then you can use any standard paint finish including powder coat. However i have used this as the final finish and am very pleased with the results, it has restored some of the natural qualities of the forged steel so often lost with paint finishes. The work now looks like pewter or lead! The oil was to add a sheen and pehaps more depth to the finish. I used a danish oil in the end which dried almost like varnish. i shall certainly be experimenting more with this finish in the future as Im sure you'll agree its difficult to find pleasing finishes for exterior metalwork. kind regards paul.

hello there everyone, I have just finished a series of six decorative forged panels to be installed outside. They are currently being hot dip galvanised and i then plan to apply T wash/ mordant solution to blacken the fresh galvanised surface,wire brush some highlights and then apply an oil of some such, perhaps jade oil. T wash is usually used as a primer on galvanised steel further to a paint finish. if anyone has any experience with using T wash/mordant solution, and especially as a final finish your comments would be greatly appreciated. thaks paul.

chilis sound hot! the leeks were about 900mm long, or 3ft depending on wich way you look at it.

hello, i recently had to make a metal leek as decoration for some railings in, wait for it, Wales? anybody else had requests for steel vegetables!

yeah thanks for the input everyone. Starting to think maybe jumping the gun a bit! after using hammer a bit am getting used to the 'softness' and actually quite like it. Think i might make a few more and experiment a bit with my hardening technique.

yes, sorry i did mean work harening! but like you say, ThomasPowers, this is the wrong road. The hammer is actually an old lump hammer which i have reshaped, so difficult to give exact details of steel. Before tempering, the whole head was heated to a cherry red then after quenching face and peen I Polished a spot on face and peen edge and at desired colour quenched whole head . Am i being impatient ? should repeat this process until i get desired result ?

have just finished a diagonal peen hammer and would like any tips for hardening. So far I have drawn a temper on face and peen to a light purple But feel this face could be harder. Will it 'case' harden with prolonged use? would appreciate any comments thanks paul.

hello. i have just returned to the area, and am in the process of moving into a new workshop at Flameworks. A creative arts facility in plymouth I would be very interested in anvil and tools seems to close to be true .Please could you give me further details. Am new to this forum lark and so apologise if i am replying to an old 'post'. thanks.