Admanfrd

Interesting ideas. I can't work with music because my hands work to the tempo, making some songs tricky. I would have to say a tarp or covering of some sort. Utah sun is intense.

I read a heat treatment book section on Nitriding and it said very few select alloys such as the 41xx series can do it. It said that it is a process of creating a file hard case on the metal. How this ruin it? And excuse me, I meant to say that it puts NITROGEN on the surface, not hydrogen.

Double wall will do you best as well as a little hood protruding over the fire to coax it in the right direction. I don't prime mine because it has a good enough draft that it scatters ash all over the place. Prime with a blowtorch or something.

It is ok, but may void your insurance.

Scrap yards and construction sites. I wonder if they would make a good striking anvil?

Nitriding is basically surface hardening on steroids. NH4 fumes put hydrogen onto the molybdenum and this creates a SUPER HARD casing.

Ever thought about nitriding it as well? I have heard that you can with 4140. also, do you anneal the piece you are working on when you carve it?

Very cool, Much better than my first. did you have someone instructing you? good luck and have fun!

Thanks so much! great tools, going to be ordering some 4140 and work on my metal carving skills. do you anneal first?

PLEASE show us the chisels you used and how to make them! this is magnificent!

A few days ago we had some wind that lifted my neighbor's trampolines off the ground... they landed on their roof. We were all thinking about how much power there was.

My first hot cut was an old axe I found. I pulled off the handle, forged the eye closed, then adjusted and viola! Hot cut hardy.

Mine is Halfway up my forearm and works great! When I need some height, I Jenga some 2x4s and make a stand. This is mostly for hole punching and drifting.

Thanks for the book recommendation! I will make sure not to get splashed with molten copper. And yes, zinc fumes are bad.

So, the idea is to be able to use the bottom of the hammer and to ease forging?

This has been bothering me for awhile, if the idea is to tilt the hammer for different radiuses, why fuller and make the hammer longer. doesn't this make you have to turn your wrist more? Is there a reason for the lengthening of the hammer? I have not found anything about this in particular.

Yeah, I guess the wood has to fit the knife... In general, what do you use the most?

Every smith is different, and i want to know your favorite material for knife or sword handles. Personally, I love cocobolo and ironwood. I have noticed cocobolo seems to be big, but have also heard that aspen can be cool. What do you like to do?

side note, how do you affix them? pins, glue etc.

cant wait for your responses!

Pics if you can!

Ironwood: (not my picture) 

Copyrighted photo removed.

I have seen a video of a hammer head exploding from stress. Don't think EXPLOSION as an exothermic reaction, but as a physical stress reaction. a deep crack can make the hammer head shatter and shoot pieces away at near super-sonic speed. (explosion: a sudden, rapid, or great increase.) this is a mechanical failure front. yes, it can happen. I have experienced this FIRST HAND. I accidentally hit the edge of my anvil and the antique hammer i was using shattered. Since it was over the edge of the anvil already, Only my pinky was hit. I am not making this up. Be careful and understand that I actually do know what i am talking about when I post things. mkay? thanks.

Rotors are better as you dont have to build the fire so high. and yes, ash flows perfectly and lets you lift the clinker out with a fireplace shovel no problem.

Beautiful hammer, but cracks can literally make the hammer head explode. if the chip has fallen off, its ok. if there is an actual CRACK, do not use it.


If you want to use it, grind the face to a mirror finish, or close to it. you want it nice and smooth or you will leave marks in the piece.

We encourage children to learn and take part, but please try to post facts, not nintendo game information

If you ever see a picture of an old blacksmiths shop, you will find an entire army of hammers. Each has their place, and you want the most you can get (excluding claw hammers.) but, as some will say, including me, rounding hammer with a slightly more radiused face than bought condition.

Cool! Blow the heck out of it and wet the outsides of the coal. Wash it too. Good luck! PICS!

Very nice! cant wait to see pics! coal, coke, or charcoal? (this can be important for amount of air you need to use.)

Ive looked it up. I have copper pipe that i have cut open, flattened into sheets, then cut up real fine. I just need to know what kind of crucible i need for copper and if i can put the crucible straight into the forge