double_edge2

im still waiting for the calcium carbonite to turn up........waiting waiting,,:confused:

lol .....ratel10mm mentioned vinigar to me a while ago too... i think if i was just doing damascus id have gone vinigar if id have thought of it.......lmao thats the trouble with being a pre school dropout....lol

lol....like a virus...

my prefered method is, table spoon of salt per litre of water, a lead or stainless st. electrode ( i use s/s), a car batt charger, and a resistive coating or blocker and some time, for name etching or stensil cutting, but for damascus no blocker. it will eat the softer materials quicker. and i have an adhd kid so didnt want the hcl around. need the current so i use the biggest peice of electrode i can fit in the bucket. ive sent you some links for the process and what you can do with it. althogh you dont need to chemicaly etch tiny machine arts some of the photos and the depths acheivable with salt water and a battery, sold me. its not quick, and hydroxy is the byproduct so a ventilated area for safety. the lower flow makes it not so dangerous but just be aware of a closed room, 100 projects overnight, and walking in lighting a smoke the next morning! its not the chemical answer you wanted but this may help if you get ....no other solution.

what kawool?......got nuthin sez that on it....:)

you are more than welcome to borrow and pick up the stump for your anvil, and some of the gear on the weekend if you are wanting to take your anvil, but not wanting to come up early on the day.:D

thanks ratel10mm for the offer but i cant, do without all my primary forging tools for a few days.

also have a couple bags of charcoal and a couple of anvils. it should be noted, bush bugger (ifi member from mt isa) has offered me a $50.00 fuel card to help with my fuel, cos he cant be here in person, which i will accept with thanks.

cool , i need parking for 2 cars, ill have the gear in two vehicles on the day at the moment. and need some power for the other forge. im prettying the plough disc hand crank forge, and steel leaves are no prob.

hi and welcome to the collective, im in brisbane queensland. drop me a message or email if you make it to this side of oz.

what stock do you need ?

go the bucket of salty water, 1 stainless electrode and a battery charger?

awesome, nice to hear success. i agree , even if you only did the mod and repair of brackets, it makes a forge an almost essential tool. apart from 5 or 8mm steel (using an ally back plate, fill weld redrill and tap or similar with a rivet and forge weld to fill), ive only ever done the deep chaser thread thing with ally, and only once, didnt want to test it just left it and sneak away.....lol. did try the ally fill thing to fix up a thread gone wrong, i was trying to repair my imatience...re drilled, patiently cleaned and drilled the little holes so the new slug would bite and hold, poured, redrilled, tapped, then it let go..:mad:

you ...you...lost..what? when he finnishes kickin himself... somebody slapim:D

oi, dont knock the plough disk....i got one too. good work, well done, nice setup.

actually, im not a queenslander, but i understand that you cant read the symbols or string them together vocally:D

nah, youve wasted it. it will now appear as as a scar, maring a shiny line of posts. unrecoverable.

me again, those near brisbane, eagle farm wanting a look or a bit of a learn,(forging mainly, but, fabrication, casting, stick mig tig oxy yada yada) or stop for a coffee, only a bit of a backyard setup., drop your number in a message or email to organize a time.

awesome response, thanks to all for the info. nice share.

good advice from frosty, just do it and have a go, ( safely ) you will learn more from the doing.

yep as rmcpb, said cut your slots to get the job down to the fire, is what i used to do,or use more coal, and shape a fire with water. i use charcoal now so have a shallow pot for that exact reason.

worst comes to worst, hire a new helper?:)

yes, good on you, learn what you can.

yeh....all we need now is a couple of blacksmiths and youre away!:o

i agree with Beth, and type in a search for pictures on the internet for ideas for not just forges either. and a small gas forge can be made to run very efficiently. i have a hand crank and an electric blower for forge wind sources. look at all options. and enjoy!