Hazmat83

my thought process was if it takes 15 secs at 6000°f with no effect other than soot. how long will it stand up to much lower temps. like that found in a single burner propane forge. sorry no more stupid questions.

I learned the hard way that you shouldn't try to "resurface" your anvil. apparently the best way to bring one back to good condition is by using it. it works surprisingly well. after I all but ruined my early 1700's anvil I figured what could I hurt so I started bangin away. so far so good. there are a lot of good ways to save your anvil face if its like mine. it has mushrooming and chiping on the edges of the face. I read in the forums about saddles, plates, and all kinds of other options. I've kinda stopped asking questions and just search the forum I can usually find what I'm looking for and you avoid the smart comments. you can find anything on the forum through a Google search with ifi . good luck I hope this helps.

I can't find anything to support his 6000° claim. just a YouTube video with a propane torch somewhere around 600° at about 3"away for 15mins. everything else is just environmental impact and construction info.

I picked up some magnesium oxide hardy board (it looks like sheetrock and is supposed to be the new replacement for hardy) from a guy that builds outdoor kitchens he said it will withstand 6000°F for 15sec. does anyone have any experience with this stuff? I was thinking of using it with refractory cement to build a box inside of my propane tank forge.

Man I need a welder! that's cool. I'm finding all kinds of stuff today. turns out the Southern Railway yard is just 3mi. from where I work. bet they got some fun stuff.

If you look at Glenn's post vise in blueprints I think you could put a large base plate on one and have a very useful tool.

Bill the biggest ones are from class A road tractors ( freightliner , international) they're about 3 1/2 , 4' long and 2" dia. with a flange/plate on the end, the hub, with 8-10 holes for lugs . they're solid probly 45-50 lbs.

this morning I found out the new business next door has used heavy truck axles. not exactly cheap but a big chunk of steel for less than $100. could make a post anvil or nice stand for a vice. I'ma put back some pennies and see what I cam come up with.

this is my charcoal forge. the rotor on top just sets on. its lined with home refractory and I'm using a blower from an old pool heater. it has a gate valve to choke the blower. the legs are rebar (don't look at my bubble gum welds). it gets yellow hot pretty quick. I have built a fire box that drops coal through a grate as the fire burns I just scoop it out and pile it in. sorry if the video is sideways it was taken with a phone.

http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid779.photobucket.com/albums/yy75/hazmat83/VID_20131123_131402_zpsaaac0925.mp4

I have a box of RR spikes that my uncle gave me proly 30 or 40. I'm saving them till I have a little more experience. don't want to waist them. I have been reading and studying for about 2 years mainly YouTube and internet. all the while collecting any and everything that may possibly be used to make a knife or tool. I hit steel for the first time about two weeks ago. and made what appears to be a prison shank from a cheap wrench. I thought I was doing good till.I found this forum. there is so much information and things that other sites don't tell. So I figure the best thing I can do is start from scratch. it seems all the things I have done so far are exactly what not to do. its discouraging but I'm addicted already . tomorrow I'm going to bust all the home made refractory out of my forge and start on a charcoal retort read about here once I can built a good fire I'll try some rebar. this forum is full.of great advice and tactful criticism. thankyou for your patience.

nevermind the rebar comment I found an article from a few years back. sorry.

yea the guy said " I think my dad got it at the junkyard for $15 you can have it."I had no clue. I'm not going to use it till I get some experience. I found some old weights I'm going to try to use. also is rebar good to practice with? I have a ton of it.

I have the old gimme now disease. I'm learning very quickly the virtue of patience. in all aspects of life. the Lord is slowing me down for something. hope others can see my screw ups and avoid one of their own.

I work at a pool supply warehouse. we sell chlorine shock by the pound so I had toyed with the idea of putting it in a large bucket with an open pack. but I'm afraid of unknown chemicals on or in the anvil and potential reactions.

I'm afraid the damage is done. I started on the horn before I found this wonderful site and its wealth of knowledge. if I could kick my own butt. it seems the more I learn the less I know.
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thanks for the input guys I'll try to post my results and lessons learned.

My fiance has asked me if i could make our wedding bands. this is waayyyy over my head. but by nature i cant not try. she likes mokume, and i would like to try it. i have always wanted a Carbide ring.

So all that was to ask can carbide be forged? could i use a carbide drill bit? and if so what other materials could i fold into the carbide to make the mokume patern? I have a large scrap of brass, some copper , stainless , and some of my grandmothers old gold jewlery.  

you could get tie-rod ends and ball-joints from a local mechanic just split the socket with a grinder and smack it on good time and you got ready made pritchel tools. they already have a round stalk, and they are hardened. tie-rod ends are usually anywhere from 3/4" to 11/4" and ball-joints can be as big as 21/2" (heavy equipment and truck shops). i have a steel weight from an old window is about the size of a baseball. I drilled a hole in it and welded a piece of 1/2" rebar in.

I'll try that Mark. I really like your quote at the bottom of your post. is that a scripture?

I have looked for an answer to this question in some of the other threads, if I missed it I apologise.
I have been starting a small fire on a grate in a burn barrel and collecting the coals that fall to run my drum forge. does the coal you get from a retort burn better ie. longer , hotter , cleaner? is the method that I am using worth the time and efforts? if the answer to these questions are elsewhere I'm sorry I scanned for most of the day.
thank you for any input.

I found 4 of these weights (think they came from a basketball goal) they're 7 1/2"x 5 3/4"x 3" and 32#each not sure how I should go about makin them into am anvil. but its gonna happen. I beat on one with a crappy hammer here at work. just to see how hard it was. don't know why I wouldn't know what to look for, I smacked the crap out of it a couple of times. no dents or dings and the hammer had what was to my knowledge a good rebound. any advice would be greatly appreciated.

cool thanks Eric. I have a family thing after church, how long do these meets usually last?

there is alot of info on here. I have some studying to do Glenn.

thank you for the info gentlemen. I hope I can make one of the up coming meets there in Mooresville Mr. Pierson.
I found a piece of rail so I think I'm going to put that anvil up for awhile. so I don't do anymore damage. the guy said I could have the rail just come get it. its 10' long. so I'm going to try a few different ideas.

did you build the stand ?