Yellow Hammer

That is really a nice piece of workmanship with details that show your craftsman skills. I have several really quality built hawks, but I would be really proud to have that in my collection. As Teddy "R" would have said. BULLY !!!

Sorry,

I'm in Illinois, here in the good ole USA.

My ceiling in my tin pole barn is 12 foot flat metal ceiling, then the slant roof where the chimmey will go thru the tin roof is 6 feet above that. 24 inch centers on the roof trusses.

Guys, I have my forge built and need to build a chimmey in my pole barn. I have a 12 foot flat metal ceiling, then it's another 6 foot to the roof and I want to go 5 foot past the peak of the roof. I have a chance to get 12 inch dia.x by 10 ft galvanized spiral wound pipe, 3 sections with connectors for next to nothing all being brand new. It is 20 gauge pipe. What is your thoughts on using galvanized for a chimmey? I could use some carbon steel up to about 5 foot straight out of my super sucker hood if you think there is a heat issue. Please let me know your thoughts.

Thanks in advance....

RJ

I'm a training instructor at an electric utility. I was teaching a piping class and bought some 1/2 inch black pipe and fittings from Grainger. We had multiply issues with cutting the threads on a  new Rigid 535 threading machine with new cutting dies. We changed the cutting oil, we re-adjusted the dies, we changed the dies and still had problems with the threads being broke, and chipped. I did a full day’s work and still could not get proper threads. I contacted Grainger and took examples of the bad threads to them. The pipe was made in China. They quarantined the 4 lengths of pipe I bought and sent them to a lab for evaluation before selling more of that batch. Grainger was more than willing to correct the problem. We bought American made pipe the next day and had no problems with the machine or the threads we cut. It was night and day difference. Be careful to what you buy, especially for gas fittings. All the elbows and 90's were China made and we tossed them out because of poor quality and oversized threads. Grainger did make good on the products, but you do get what you pay for. It's too bad we have to dance around to get quality products... Whatever happened to good Old American Pride and quality American made products?????

About a year ago I begin working with Collodion Photography from the Civil War era. As I grew in this hobby, my interest in Blacksmithing soon grew too. I have be able to us the two side by side. I have included some projects I have completed for myself. I hope you enjoy the photos of the two hobbies. They go hand in hand because of the time in history they shared.

Thanks Ron

That is a lifetime tool for sure. I know when I use a small hatchet my friend made for me, I always think about watching the process start to finish and the pleasure knowing it was hand made here in the good ole USA made by a craftsman for a craftsman.

Keep up the beautiful work.

I can help you if you need information. I teach Mechanical Maintenance class. I have lesson plans on OX-Ace classes with all the latest OSHA and approved information on the subject from Weld Star one of the suppliers of welding equipment. The lesson plan is about 95 pages long and I would be happy to send it to you if you send me a self addressed and postage paid padded envelope.I would put $3.25 in stamps for the weight of the copies. The pages are 8 1/2 by 11 so get a padded envelope large enough to handle that.  
PM me

Jeremy,

That is some beautiful minature work. I just started playing around with all this Blacksmithing and really enjoy it. Maybe small is the way to go, it may be good for my carpel tunnel in my hand. Smaller hammers and lots less blows.....

Nick,

Since we both have the same moustache, we must think alike, I started this quill pen a few weeks ago and I'm looking for the perfect turkey feather to cut down and put on the pointed end of this rod I forged. I really like your hasp hook. good work

Ron

I was thinking the same and may still mill a "C" slot on both sides If I need to do a side job. Great suggestion.

Nick, That is one awesome stach, Mine is just like it only grey, I'm 61. That piece you sent a photo of is incrediable.

Rich, I really like the idea of leaving the top longer and rolling the chain channel into the cross one piece. Great tip, I'm gonna go make one right now.

You guys amaze me with your knowledge and talent.

Thanks

Ron

I did allow .020 inch clearance on the sides when I milled the steel for side and face clearance so it should not stick. It actually feels a little too sloppy right now. I will try to mill the new leaf spring dies so I have .010 inch clearance and tighten up the slop.

Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it. Being new to this I appreciate all the help you guys can give me.

Ron

I really like the style of the blades and the handle is killer for sure. Super cool pieces, you should be very proud of your craftsmanship. Keep up the good work. To the gentlemen who wrote the post above me, ( 2Tim215) I was in your neck of the woods 4 years ago on Safari, I brought my son down to South Africa for his graduation gift from college. You live in a beautiful county and I hope to get back there for a 3rd visit some day.  

Ron

I just read an article about making open center cross and tried it yesterday. Has anyone with a jewerly saw ever made one out of 1/8 key stock? I used 1/4 inch key stock on mine.

Also I included a picture of a Mule head door knocker I made for my tack room just for fun.

RJ

Here is the fullering tool I made last week, I am milling the radius on the leaf springs right now and replace the lower carbon trial dies as soon as I'm done.

Also here is the forge I'm building and waiting to find a suitable 12 inch chimmey.

Thanks Guys, I found a large truck leaf spring that will work perfect. I have enough length to make three sets of different styles. I did already make the tool and just needed the die material. I made it very heavy duty out of 1/2 inch plate steel and welded it together after I milled the slots down the side. I ordered some mill cutters for my radius and will machine them when the cutters arrive. I will post a picture when complete.

I have made a fullering tool out of 1/2 inch cold roll steel plate and was needing help on what type of steel should I make the actual dies out of ???? I will need suggestions on how to harden what ever type of steel is suggested too.

Thanks in advance guys.

Ron

Thank you so very much. I just bought a 8 year old Mule over the weekend and I started pounding out a "Mule Head" door knocker yesterday. I will post a picture of it tomorrow. I love to make things with my hands that are different. I have learned so much from these post already, thank you guys for all of your years of knowledge.

That looks really good. I did a piece for my wet plate photography cart that reminds me of that.

RJ

Thanks Guys,

I bought half a dozen old hammers about 20 years ago and they sat in a coffee can under the work bench. I just found them again about a year ago. That is what I used. I have played around with bending some metals and pounding out some simple things years ago using a rose bud for heat and then I bought an old forge got it working again and started making leaves, etc. This was my first real project. I teach Mechanical Maintenence class for the power industry and I have had the chance to build a good forge at home over the last few months. Since we have horses my hobby of blacksmithing is going hand in hand around the farm. I have read many topics on the internet and have to say I have learned so much from you guys and I appreciate your help.

Thanks Ron

Under a watch full eye, but no intervention, I used my friends forge and his guidence to make my first attempt to turn a 32 ounce ballpeen hammer into a Tomahawk. 4 hours of pounding and about 15 heatings. I used a belt sander to do the final shapping of the head and tiger stripe maple handle. Total time was about 8 hours. I'm just completing my hand made forge and super sucker hood. I need to find a chimmey and assemble everything. I hope to have my set-up completed in a few weeks. I'm hooked on this Blacksmithing for sure.

RJ