Crazy Ivan

Thanks to all who posted on this thread. With my new tricks for keeping that heart rate down I was able to go and work on something (decidedly silly) for a friend for the holidays. It went well enough that I think I cut a whole lot of time out of my "slump period" that happens after getting mad about something. Thanks a lot and hopefully this thread will help others with this tendency as well! http://www.iforgeiron.com/gallery/image/37866-elephant-bottle-opener/

Woops, forgot there is a search bar, sorry I'm not too computer savvy. Now to answer my own question, it is not a problem forging stainless steel, unless you get it up to welding heat in which case the hexavalent chromium is released. You need to actually melt the chromium to make it into a hexavalent state. Sorry about the redundancy Glenn, I'm sure I will remember there is a search bar now (works way better then scanning the forum anyways!) -Crazy Ivan

I was reading through here and didn't see this mentioned anywhere so here it is. Now as far as TIG welding goes, you are fine as far as I know, but when SMAW welding stainless steel you must wear the appropriate respirator and have adequate ventilation. I do not know how this pertains to forging as I know nothing about forging stainless steel. Just figured I would open this thread to see if anyone else could shed some knowledge on the subject. This is just something I remember from high school and my time as a structural ironworker. Hexavalent Chromium is a carcinogen (cancer causing) and will mess you up if it is something you are frequently around. -Crazy Ivan

Ya, my shop class was similar. I remember the first day freshman year, my shop teacher purged a 55 gallon drum with acetylene leaving a ground and stinger (with 200' of lead) attached to it. He turned the machine on from a safe distance to show us how explosive gasses can kill you by sending the barrel 200 feet into the air. That was one thing I will sure never forget. Pretty sure you can demonstrate that in that way anymore haha. -Crazy Ivan

I don't own firearms anymore but I should definitely look into getting a bow(I may even make my own arrow heads) . I have taken to using slingshots and snares for small game while on long camping trips, but maybe I should brush up on my archery skills to pass the time. Even more difficult and rewarding may be to learn to use simple slings to fire projectiles. The sound of glass bottles shattering is also therapeutic to me :) haha. -Crazy Ivan

I have been shot at before too, so that may actually help as a reference point for my level of anger as well. I also have an 80 lb heavy bag I used to use every day that maybe I should put back up and beat on. Thanks. -Crazy Ivan

Already grabbed a brew. I meant about meeting some local smiths. haha -Crazy Ivan

I'll look into that Billy, Thanks. -Crazy Ivan

My years of pursuing blacksmithing are slightly scattered. I did 4 years in a vocational high school (mainly smithing, but also general metal fab/welding). and then for a while I was a structural ironworker, work slowed down and eventually stopped in boston, then my life fell apart due to substance abuse, and eventually homelessness. Two years ago I got myself back together and one year ago I set up my shop and have been smithing most everyday. Typically I will be in the shop for 6-12 hours at least 5 days a week. I have been dying to get further guidance from another smith but as I am still trying to fix all the debt I accumulated because of being homeless, I don't have any way to pay for it. I just make enough to pay rent, cost of the shop expenses, and debts with almost nothing left to spend on anything else. On that note, is there someone who anyone on here would recommend I go to for classes or more instruction when I do get the money? -Crazy Ivan

I would think if someone could watch the news for a whole day without getting mad, then there would be a problem. haha. Also, I dont have a T.V. But your suggestion did make me think maybe I should go camping for a few days. That always helps and I haven't gone in a few months. I always seem to be more tolerant for a while after being in the woods for a few days. That might just be the ticket. -Crazy Ivan

Ted, thank you very much for such a kind offer (for me, a stranger). I posted this thread in order to see if anyone had ways to avoid/deal with these things that they could share but did not expect such kindness offered on a more direct level like that. I really appreciate it. -Crazy Ivan

Funny you said that Rich because that was actually exactly what I was doing. I try to take time once a week and go back to the basics (forging nails, rivets, tapers, scrolls, slit&drift, scarf welds, and circles). I have done this for five years almost religiously because I consider it general maintenance on my skills. I tend to get rusty sometimes even if I have been in the shop 10 hrs a day 7 days a week. Even if I have made no project altering mistakes for months on end, I practice the basics. For me there is nothing more infuriating then messing up something I have done 1000 times before. It especially gets to me when the only place I find peace of mind and solace (my shop) becomes a place that I get irate and irrational. Blacksmithing is not just a source of income for me, but therapy and self care. It seems like on some days, I should try and find that solace elsewhere until my mood stabilizes enough that I can trust myself not to throw hammers across my shop. Some coffee might have helped as well. haha -Crazy Ivan

Safety warning: Some precast concrete bridge sections do not have rebar in them, but post-tensioning (high strength steel cable that is stressed to around 33,000 psi) drilling into one of those will ruin any appendage in the path of the whip (I have seen them snap, its horrifying) You will be able to tell if there is post tensioning used on it by checking the ends of the span (most likely front and back) for holes with anchor wedges in them. As I don't know exactly what you are working with, this may not be the case but in the off chance it is the case it could save your neck. There is a good chance its only rebar in there but for safety sake I figured I should throw that out there. Definitely epoxy coated (the green coated rebar) to prevent corrosion from road salt/water. Epoxy coated rods are used on bridge decks, roads, etc to allow the rebar to be placed closer to the surface (as DSW said, about 2-3") without rotting out. -Crazy Ivan

So, I am gonna guess I'm probably not the only one on this forum who has problems with patience, temper, frustration and perfectionism. That being said, I tend to have a really hard time keeping my head when I make mistakes and it puts me in a bad mood for a couple days. I left the shop today after hurling a 4 lber at the wall and a few choice words the whole neighborhood most likely heard. It was just one of those days when I couldn't do anything right. I have been told many times that I am too hard on myself with my standards for what I produce (I'm almost never completely satisfied with something for some reason). I wanted to open up a topic for sharing what your methods are to avoid acting like a toddler and throwing a fit instead of being more level headed about things. This isn't the first time I have gotten this heated in the shop but I hope maybe some of you may have ways to cope with stress, anger, boiling blood etc that could help me (and anyone else) make it the last time I act so irrationally. Sometimes I can catch on early enough to shut off the gas, put the hammer down and walk away until I gather myself, but I have this point where I just get even more stubborn and progressively more angry until I burst. There are also legitimate mental problems involved which I don't feel the need to specify and would not expect similarly afflicted folks to either, but would love some wisdom from anybody who will offer it. Thanks. -A disgruntled Crazy Ivan

It looks like I will be getting this project under way sometime around next Thursday. I'll try and post step by step pictures of the process. Needless to say I am very exited for this. Hopefully my patience and temper will stay in check haha. -Crazy Ivan

I have done that before for small pieces it worked just fine. It takes a bit longer then running it through your forge but if you would rather use electricity, I say go for it. Heat guns are also really useful when you find a spot you missed waxing and instead of putting the whole thing back in the forge, you can just heat that one area real easily. -Crazy Ivan

I still have not seen anyone disprove a Brooks anvil... anyone? I think I might have been right on my educated guess. not sure but i have seen nothing to prove it wrong. Look at the location of the pritchel hole also. -Crazy Ivan

I dunk my tongs after every heat. They never get hotter then maybe 200-400 degrees for a minute or two and the heat never makes it up the reins. Never had a problem with them getting brittle either. -Crazy Ivan

I've seen those used for separating baled hay and pulling manhole covers.

I don't have any pictures of the exact one I made during this posting, but i do have pics of a similar one made about 9 months ago. I will try and get it posted on here tomorrow or later tonight. (my girlfriend is the computer wiz, not me so its more about her schedule then mine haha) -Crazy Ivan

Divermike, as funny as that may sound, I want to remind you that there are female smiths out there that may not like that too much. If any female smiths took that to heart, your neck might get "upset" haha. But in all seriousness, I personally don't like to see gender bias, even if it is meant to be a light hearted joke. -Crazy Ivan

Divermike, as funny as that may sound, I want to remind you that there are female smiths out there that may not like that too much. If any female smiths took that to heart, your neck might get "upset" haha. But in all seriousness, I personally don't like to see gender bias, even if it is meant to be a light hearted joke. -Crazy Ivan

I'm no linguistics major but, i would assume it is called that because you are forging the piece on end and striking down on it, SETTING the piece in an UP and down angle before striking. -Crazy Ivan