Black Maple Forge

Oh, did you remove your old rivets in order to put new ones in? I'm not sure the best way to do that. Also, where did you buy your belts from?

Well, the belt I'm using came with it, and loosened quickly. I'm really not sure of the quality of the leather.

I just acquired a fairly new portable forge that is belt driven, but I can't seem to upload any pictures, sorry! Anyway, where is the best place to go to buy replacement belts, should that I need one? Does anyone know? Also, my belt seems to have loosened some since I riveted it. Should I try to remove the rivets and re-rivet, or is there a way to shrink the leather some (I don't need much) without causing cracking? Thanks!

Hello again. I was wondering if anyone here can tell me a short history of the side draft (not blast) forge design (for curiosity more than anything). I have been looking all over to see if I could find the earliest instance of this sort of forge, with little luck. I thought a good place to start my search is the medieval (I know, very vague term) era, but it seems to me that most medieval forges have full hoods of masonry. I cannot find a date for the beginning of the use of side draft forges. Any help? Thanks!

Hi everyone. I don't use it for hunting (just target practise), but it has the potential! Thanks for the kind comments! I do make my own bolts and heads, and also sell them on Ebay in packs of 6.

Hello! I haven't been on the site in a while (because of school and work), so I thought I'd share one of my (and my brother's) newest pieces. This is a pinlock crossbow with a wooden prod, drawn in the early style/ crusader style of sitting on the ground with both feet against the prod, and drawing it back with your arms and back. The stock is oak, the prod is hickory, and the tickler (switch) and pin are mild steel. The prod is bound to the stock with braided hemp, and draws at about 135 pounds at 10 inches. What do you think?

This was made as one piece, and then drilled. I am sorry, I did not take any pictures of me making it... As for firing, I use about 1 and 1/2 TEAspoons ( I figure it to be about 120 grains, but I have not measured in a while- all I know is that when I measured, it filled 1 and 1/2 teaspoons). I fire holding under the right armpit, and touching a piece of matchcord to the touchhole. I could use a "fork", but I have not made one yet. I did pick a nice piece of steel, and tempered it to be VERY soft compared to what it was. I could not even begin drilling before I tempered, because it was so hard. It is much stronger than the last one I made, which I have fired many many times. I will get rid of it soon though, because it is a health hazard. Not yet. I could if you really want! That is the diagramme I based my gonne off of, but I gave more wall and chamber room for my larger bore.

Well, I have not been on the site for a while, so I thought I should post something. What better to post about than the new Mediaeval-style Gonne I got done making not too long ago? I based it off of the Tannenburg handgonne design, with a few minor alterations. This kind of hand cannon has a powder chamber (a section where the barrel is much smaller-where the powder explodes); which, so I hear, makes the gonne much safer and accurate. The powder chamber is 3/8"(~9.525mm), and the barrel in 3/4"(~19.05). I am thinking of naming it Hlud-Lieg {Loud-Fire}. Please tell me what you think!

A simple spark test can tell you the carbon content of the steel. Also, be careful if it is painted black. Heavy metal poisoning is not fun.

It looks good. I like the design on the scabbard a lot, too. :D

Hmm. Since I'm looking for cheaper welders , I thought I'd check out Lowes. They have Propane-Oxygen torches there for a good price. Any opinions on this kind of thing, or should I just save up for a really nice one? :unsure:

Thanks guys! I wasn't too committed to buying this, but I didn't want to let a potential deal slip away.

Try this one: <http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/tls/1564638500.html>. They don't give too much info, but I could always call and find out.

Hello! I was searching for welders on Craigslist, just to see what I could find, and I found a Campbell Hausfeld 110v arc welder for CHEAP ! http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/tls/1564638500.html. My question is, has anyone had any experience with this kind of welder? Is this kind of welder a good/reliable one? Thanks for all replies! :D

$5 a bar then? Sounds like a deal.

Being that I live around 180 miles from your location (~3 hour drive), it sounds like a deal! I would like to know the grade of the steel, though. Still, I can never have enough 3/8" or 1/2" stock! :lol:

I've noticed Cowboy doesn't throw as many forge fleas as Royal Oak, but nothing beats home-made charcoal. Also, I've heard Charcoal has the exact same BTU's as coal per POUND. So, yeah, it will take more charcoal.

I would just call it a "charcoal burning forge". :rolleyes:

I probably would... I used what I had on hand-for time.

Thanks, all. I really appreciate the comments!:D

I got done making this knife for my brother's birthday. I made it from an old file. The only flaw is a small split in the handle.:mad: The blade is (I think) really pretty:rolleyes:. It has a textured back, too. What do you all think?

I have shot it a few times now. It shot very strongly. So far, we have made our own bolts. We put a REALLY heavy head on one bolt so we could see it flying, but after it fishtailed miserably, we put a smaller head on and it shot a lot straighter. I may buy some bolts, but for now, homemade bolts are doing the job. On a different note, I thought I should add his part for people wanting to use dacron strings. I learned that dacron strings should NEVER come into contact with oil. It makes the dacron "gummy" and more prone to break. This is why I ONLY wax the bolt track, never oil it.

-I like that book. It helped in inspiring me to make a rolling nut styled crossbow. About the string touching the stock, that is what my brother said, after we made it. I had not planned on hunting with it, just target shooting (and maybe getting rid of backyard pests:rolleyes:). There is no safety on this bow. Do you have any pictures of a crossbow that you built that you would be willing to share (to use as visual aids to a few things I may be doing wrong)? I appreciate the good advise, thanks!