DUNSTAN

A little farther along, working on the gas piping.Thanks for the help.

Hello , I am in the process of building a gas forge , have only used a coal forge for the last 7 years. Before cutting into my 10"x10"x14" box, I would like some wisdom on the best placement and type of burner is the best. And what type is also the most efficient.

Hello everyone, If I could pick some brains on this subject,it would be appreciated.
The other day My son and I stopped into a antique/junk shop and we spotted a combination anvil vise. I see pictures of one but could not resist it for only $35.00. Does any of you have more knowledge on it, and can it be used as a small anvil, or will it crack. Also, there was a crank handle on the end of the screw.What was that for? It turned but did nothing.The picture is all I could find.
Thanks

Thanks Bluefeather, it was a new challenge for me as well. I started by cleaning and welding it together in a 4" overlap pattern. Heat and slowly forge weld it together with Borax. Kind of like this video, but with a coal forge and no press or power hammer.

Good job for your first! keep hammering.

That would even be better! I need to schedule a day.

Thanks to all ,Chad,John AND Steve, this has been very helpful. I have been blacksmithing for about 6 years, but just started making blades for fun and gifts. Steve, thank you, I would love to watch you work on a blade.
One more question, after bringing it up to 200C / 400F APROX. is then air cooled to normally?

So if some say tempering and other say annealing, is it the same thing? And which way is the beat to do it, sand?

Thanks Chad, Used muratic acid after finished polish. The question was the correct heat and cooling method used for roller chain blades. Some say to cool the blade after it loses magnetism in oil up to the tang, and others have said only the edge of the blade, leaving the back strap to cool slowly. THIS HOOSIER IS CORNFUSED!

Made my first roller chain knife, garage door chain. Will work good as a patch knife. still question the correct temper process.

Nice work Junksmith, like the candlestick idea, is the candle cup copper or just painted?

This year the green has not exactly been flowing, so the old coal forge came in handy for Christmas gifts. Here are some , but please share other ideas,cause I have more gifts to make.

Here is the sheath that I just finished. Hope my brother will like it, and have a great Christmas.

Sorry JW, too busy with christmas gifts. And old towel racks are easy to get, but R R spikes are get harder to come by, at least ones that are not stolen...UHUM.

Thanks guys, appreciate the kind words. I have discovered a big difference from ornamental blacksmithing and knife making, due to the annealing and tempering processes.
The handle is a open back piece of oak made from an old towel rack.

Treading new waters, at least for me. My brother gave me a R.R. spike with a request for a knife with a wood handle, and this is what the end result was. Still working on the sheath for a finished Christmas gift.

http://s664.photobucket.com/albums/vv9/dunstan88/?action=view&current=ForgeSaturday003.jpg
http://s664.photobucket.com/albums/vv9/dunstan88/?action=view&current=ForgeSaturday011.jpg
http://s664.photobucket.com/albums/vv9/dunstan88/?action=view&current=RRspikeknife005.jpg

Thanks Walking Dog, Big help, gonna try that. And love your bells. I'm going to keep trying.

Thanks guys, The pipe used is from old hand rail pipe scraps. After a long process of shaping on the horn, heat up and cool. It has a nice sharp ding with a hardened forged ball. It helps to have a big anvil horn. This sight has helped me a lot!

This weekends project was a bell made on the anvil horn out of a piece of 1-1/4 pipe. My question , does anyone know another process to make bells,or in less time than the 2-3 hours its been taking just to forge it out.
This bell was a team effort with my son making the handle while I finished sanding and buffing.

Thanks, for now I'm using my shop vac, but I have a small fan that will work well, I think.

In the event of looking for a smaller forge than the first one that I built 8 years ago, that wasn't the greatest, used a semi brake drum...I know now...too big.
Smaller is better, so when we had to replace the brake rotors on the service trucks at work, it looked like the right size. This what I through together, smaller, portable,and uses less coal.

repaceable bottom.

take down.

works well.

Thanks BDF, good thread ref. I think a heat box is a great idea,thanks for the help.

Thanks Easly,stay warm.

During the cold Northern Indiana winters the barn gets pretty cold. At what temperature is too cold to beat on an anvil before having to warm it, and whats the best way to warm it ,or keep it warm and ready?

Hey Sabre,
maybe a vine candle stick holder with a leaf for the handle,I made a couple out of old 3/8 x 4" bolts. The head makes for a good leaf.Pic in gallery.