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I Forge Iron

gote

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Everything posted by gote

  1. Thank you very much Matt. You make me want to start making shamrocks - it has never entered my head before. It will be a nice ending insted of plain leaf. I appreciate both sketch and photo The combinatino is formidable. Göte
  2. Where is the Market for all those Shovels and Hammers ? The Swedish tool makers Bacho said many years ago that their adjustable wrencehes were indestructable (I agree) and that they had made one for each man, woman and child in the country but they were still selling high numbers. The same goes for hammers I think Göte PS I have been told that adjustable wrenches aree the larval stadium of wire coat hangers. They creep away into a dark place where they turn into a chrysalis and eventually emerge as coat hangers.
  3. To be an able artist, be it painter, writer, sculptor or blacksmith. you need a number of things: #1: The will to paint/write/sculpt.... #2: The will to paint/write/sculpt... 3#: The will to paint/write/sculpt.... #4 Knowledge about the subject #5: The will to study. Talent is good to have and might make the difference between an able artist and a genius. Most important is to have enough willpower to make mistakes, learn from the mistakes, learn from others and devote enough effort. Believe me I come from a family of artists. By the way, One of my professors in machinery design was admant that "If an engineer thinks a machine looks beautiful it will work well, if he thinks it looks ugly it will not. Just start doing it Seth Good luck Göte
  4. Thank you Thomas! Interesting link. It seems that it is a common belief that everybody can do anything. This is absloutely wrong. Right is: Most people can LEARN to do most things. I do not rember where I saw it but there are research results that indicate that "every kid gets a price" is bad for them. That means that they get no real satisfaction from succeeding. Göte
  5. Hear Hear! I have once sold the complete know-how to a production line. I used to be an internationally known expert on the subject. The customer, however, who had no knowledge about the subject whatsoever changed proven working design to "This is how we do it here". One of his minions who never had even seen production of that kind even tapped me on the back to comfort me when he deviated from the drawings. Result: Expensive, inefficient and dangerous production. Comissioning took twice the time and was not really completed when production started. The customer soon got into receivership and still owns me (a lot of) money. It is a funny thing that the less somebody knows about a subject, the more prone he is to deviate from good advice. I have never had problems with customers who know what they are doing. It is the ignorant who want to show off their "expertize" Göte
  6. ------one of the most important things you learn about Statistics, ... is that they can be endlessly manipulated, to advance ANY agenda.And are therefore, ... MEANINGLESS----- Anything CAN be manipulated. An ax can be manipuled to kill somebody but that does not make it useless as a tool. Satistics are much better than biased opinions. They can also be checked. If someone says that "Statistics show that Brand A is better than Brand B so you should pay double" you can ask "How much then?" Answer "0.23percent better." Since the sales patter used the word "statistics" you know that there are figures somewhere and the seller is obliged to show them if he does not want to lose face - and the customer. There is a wonderful book called "How to lie with statistics" that is funny reading and exposes the manipulations you refer to. (Still available from Amazon). It is worth every penny since it shows how to expose humbugs. It is really much better to look at statistics with an informed look than dismissing it altogether. Göte PS. I agree that health can become an obsession and beancounters belong to my hate objects. They go to meeting and speak about the value of invention, creativity and research, Then they go back to office and fire the creative inventing researchers because they do not show up as assets in the balance sheet. PPS Blacksmithing is definitely better for you than to sit in a sofa with a beer can in front of the telly. It is probably a real improvement in health for most desk-worker.
  7. gote

    Timascus

    Patent is a word that means 'obvious, visible for everyone' A long time ago (fifteenth century AD) it was a problem that trade secrets remained secret (sometimes even lost) and could not benefit society. It was decided to build a system where an inventor could file for exclusivity during a limited time against that he made the invention available to the public. Thus a requirement for a patent is that the inventor writes a paper explaining the invention so that anyone can benefit. At the same time, this paper defines the invention for which exclusivity is claimed. Another requirement is that the invention is new - most applications that fail do so on this criterion. Patents are on inventions. A Hofi hammer is not an invention. It is a design and could have been protected by registering the design - provided Mr H had been able to define the design as unique and new. The process is similar to registring a patent. Had he done that, he could have sued the plagiators. To put the name 'Hofi' on it is probably illegal but to put 'Hofi style' probably not. This is a legally interesting case. Mr H could claim that the false Hofi hammers are sold because of his reputation; not because of the (unregistered) design. He could claim compensation - not for designing the hammer - but for being Mr Hofi. Unfortunately patent law and litigation today is so complex and expensive that it is much better for a small inventor to keep his invention secret (if possible). There are several cases where a big company has managed to deprive the inventor of his rights (especially if the inventor is a foreigner). In other words: The lawyers have managed to turn the clock back to early medieval times. One problem is that the same unpatented know-how and inventions may surface quite independently at the same time in different organizations. The time for the invention was ripe. When people find out, they suspect theft/espionage and the climate deteriorates. Have a nice day (without legal fees) Göte
  8. gote

    Aluminium?

    Many years ago I remember a senior person at Carlfors Bruuk (Who make aluminium flake for paints, explosives and aerated concrete) saying, when somebody came up with the question of danger "Sure we recently had two guys who had been working here a long time die..........Both over ninety years old" Aluminium in itself is not harmful. The alzheimer scare was a mistake. There are no fumes. However, welding electrodes contain some kind of flux and that could be a problem. One should avoid inhaling any kind of fumes or dust - they are a load on the lungs but not many are very harmful in limited quantities. Cigarette smoke and zink fumes are probably those that cause most problems. We have an inherent warning system in the throat that tells us to cough or even to get XXXXXXX out of the place. This is why we seldom have accidents with ammonia. The gas is so obnoxious in small concentrations so people keep their distance. One danger in Aluminium is the low emission factor. Even molten aluminium radiates practically no heat so there is no warning before the burn occurs. Cheers Göte
  9. That one oxide of a metal (There are three different Iron oxides with various amounts of oxygen in them) is harder than the metal does not mean that another oxide is harder than the corrsponding metal. All elements do not behave in the same way. Aluminium has a lower melting point than Iron Thus the can melts but Iron turns into oxide. A cutting torch does not cut by meltiing but by burning the steel with the pure oxygen stream (the initial melt is to heat the steel enough to start the burning). The Iron oxides have lower melting point than Iron (thus it is possible to forge weld without flux) and will be blown away. The Aluminium oxide has higher melting point than the aluminium. Aluminium is highly reactive and there is always a very thin layer of oxide. This layer is so thin that it is invisible but so tight that it stops further reaction. This is what happens to stainless steel as well. Aluminium is used as a replacement to copper in electric wires so the thin layer obviously does not prevent electricity from flowing. As someone pointed out, the crystal form (if any) influences the properties so there can be different properties even if the chemical composition is the same. Cheers Göte
  10. ,,,,,,stands a surprised woman
  11. The horse is perhaps not dead but it seems to be heading towards the stable. The question was "why do some people call a hammer a die?" It seems that they have misunderstood Mr B's attempt to explain what he is doing so successfully and believe that the correct word (or the word used by pros) for a 'rounding hammer' is 'die'. My own conclusion of that, is that it is better to stick to generally accepted words and be very careful when explanating to avoid misunderstandings and confusion. You will need to learn new words and new uses of words in all trades and arts. I think the newbee will accept this gladly but it is important to teach him the words that are generally understood/accepted in the trade/art. Blacksmithing is one of the arts where the eager newbe easily will see the master do or say something that is correct in a special situation and then believes that this is the only accepted way. Somewhere here it is said that if you ask two blacksmiths how to do something you will get five different answers. Problem is that some people will pick one of the five and stick to that with religious fervor. Have a nice weekend Göte
  12. Wikiedia has the requirement that the contributors give references. Also that "original research" which would include "opinioins" are not allowed. Corrections and rewrites are also recorded and possible for all to read. Also I think that we should stick to blacksmithing and avoid calling contributions "dribble" and making depreciating remarks about contributors' personality. Have anice weekend Göte
  13. Excuse me sir but what is wrong by giving a correct answer? The answer is not a collection of opinions. They are facts and since the quoter even gives the source as a wiki he is not trying to look learned he is trying to be helpful. Cold drawn or cold rolled steel has higher tensile strength. This is why piano wire is so strong. The effect of course disappears if the material is heated so it is meaningless for a blacksmith to use it. Cold rolled steel also has a smoother finish and better tolerances. Razor blades are made from reams of cold rolled steel. In dollars per load that a rod can pull it is cheaper to buy hot rolled and then reduce it by cold drawing (provided that the operation is big enough to pay for the equipment). Cheers Göte
  14. OK we are talking about a tool. This tool can be used to hit nails, it can be used to move Iron, it can be used to kill someone, it can be used as a wall decoration, it can be used crush stone, it can be used to .... All these things can be done using mr B's rounding hammer or mine German style smithing hammer (a carpenter's hammer can also be used to pull nails). So I see the forensic expert standing beside the corpse holding the tool with fresh blood on it and says "the weapon is obviously this hammer". The lawyer says: "My client does not own a hammer he only owns dies so he is not guilty. Besides your honor this is not a hammer it is a 'blunt instrument'". We usually name things as things not as what they do. A car is a car not a "carry me to town". A family sedan is not a school bus even if I drive kids to school in it. Mr B has himself a video that explains why he prefers a "rounding hammer". Dies are used in blacksmithing and they are referred to as swages. I refuse to believe that the newbies ar so stupid that they do not understand "This is a fuller I use it to move the iron crosswise by hitting it with the hammer" Or " by hitting the iron with the hammer tilting it it will move the iron in the direction of the tilt" Or (my preferred) "This part of the hammer is called the pein. When I hit the Iron with it I move the iron icrosswise to the pein". I do think that it is confusing, however, to call a tool a hammer and the mext minute call the same tool a die. Most people know what a hammer is most people do not know what a die is. Those who do know, know it as a kind of mould and would consider a "round die" to be a round hole in something. Cheers Göte
  15. So why can they not bring a piece out and sell ouside of the yard? If you ask for a busted truck axle they should be able to get it out to you. Besides, A smith is not "The Public" a smith is an enterprise. Bad news anyway Göte
  16. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet (Shakespeare) A hammer by any other name would hit as hard (me) A hammer is a hammer is a hammer (After Gertrud Stein.) ”First rectify the names!” Confucius. To my understanding, and in blacksmithing, a die is a piece that is used to form iron and which is hit on by a hammer or used in a press or sits on the anvil. A search for the word ’die’ on the net gives similar definitions. The die is not the Press, not the Hammer nor the Anvil. A die is usually convex i.e. something the steel is forced into. A fuller is thus not a die. To stretch material one can use the pein, a fuller, the edge of a hammer, the edge of the anvil, the horn of the anvil, a guillotine, a... you name it. All better than using the flat face of a hammer onto the anvil. This does not make them dies. To call a’hammer’ a ’die’ is only confusing. Of course if one wants to confuse bystanders one can change the meaning of words. Call the hammer the die, call the die the anvil and the anvil the hammer. Lots of fun – until your helper gives you the fuller when you need a chisel. If we call the hammer die, what do we call the die?? Cheers Göte
  17. Cut holes at the bottom end and they make excellent "furnaces" for burning twigs and branches from the garden. The fire is contained and it is easier to burn moist wood since it is being dried as it sinks down to the burning zone at the bottom. Three holes 2"x6" are enough. Do not cut the piece away. Cut the hole at the bottom and sides and bend inwards. That helps a little in keeping the air supply open. If you put a small srum filled with wood upside down in the middle you have made yourself a charcoal maker. Göte
  18. This is why it is so valuable to be able to build new or restore old tools that are not on the market as new. Göte
  19. I am afraid most of this post is repetitions of what has already been said but I justify it on the grounds that I try to systemate the answer (-s) I think the question could be framed as ”what is the value of blacksmithing to society”. There is more than one field. Blacksmithing is a set of skills and knowledge and the collective skills and nowledge is what makes the human race great. Blacksmithing is an art/craft and has a cultural value just as other arts. Blacksmithing can restore and recreate historical artefacts. Blacksmithing creates value out of scrap Blacksmithing is a survival skill after Harmageddon. However in the small society: Family neighbours etc. It has the value of creating individual objects that make people happy. I make a kind of gardening hand fork that is superior to anything that can be bought (but looks awful to the smith since I am an awful smith myself) and a weeding iron that is nearly as impossible to buy. Both have handles turned from wood that has grown on my own soil. It has the value of doing things together with family members and neighbours who may come and look and perhaps do simple things like hooks and skewers. It has the value that things can be restored that the neighbour believed to be destroyed. On the individual scale: It makes me happy to be able to create, restore and invent things. The above also applies to two of my other hobbies, woodworking and gardening. Our one foot of snow is already melting. I will soon be able to start the fire again. Göte
  20. I have the round horn pointing towards the nearest pre-christian place for sacrifice and worship and that works quite well. :) I certainly agree that it depends upon what you do at the anvil but also what type of anvil you have. Someone said that you should have the square hole to your left so you do not risk hitting the hardie with your hand. I put the round horn to the right since it is easier to bend something over it that way. Bending over a horn pointing left means standing where the anvil already is or bending the body in an uncomfotable way. Incidently I have the square hole to the left. I use a north-swedish anvil. Conical horn and round hole on one side, square horn and square hole on the other. For the type of anvil most of you guys use it might make sense to have the heel to the right since it is possible to bend around it. Charles. You must be a strong man. I would never be able to put my 250 pound anvil on the side like that. Interesting you call her her. Think I will adopt the idea that anvils are females. In south Europe, there used to be a proverb: "Beat your dog, olive trea and women to get good results". Cheers Göte
  21. Yeas of course but I mean that before it is used as a flux, it is likely to be carbonized to calcium carbonate (CaCO3). In itself it has a high melting point but it is likely to react with the other ingredients to form a glassy substance with lower melting point - especially it will lower the melting popint of pure silica. This is why it is used to form slag in blast furnaces. One obvious disadvantage with wood ash is that it varies a lot and if CaCO3 makes up most of the ash, you are probably right. Göte
  22. Maybe this should be in the alchemy section but: If there were no oxide layers on the steel surfaces, welding would be very easy and could even be performed at room temperature. Unfortunately there is only contact in points since the surfaces are not absolutely flat. Normally we need to raise the temperature to a level where hammer blows will give total contact. Then there is always an oxide layer even if it initially is invisible to the eye. We have to get rid of that. Iron oxide has a lower melting point than steel so very high temperatures will melt the oxide so it can be squeezed out from the joint. Unfortunately that temperature is close to the temperature when the steel is overheated. The carbon in the outer layer may also be oxidized away which is a nuisance in blade smithing. By managing our fire we can make sure there is no free oxygen in the area where we heat our steel. (This is what we do when welding with Acetylene). Instead we may have carbon monoxide which actually can give off small amounts of carbon to the steel surface. Making sure the oxygen is consumed, is probably a very (the?) important factor. Borax is a helpful material since boron trioxide will combine with many different metal oxides to form a kind of glass that is liquid at relatively low temperatures. The Borax-Iron-oxide melts at lower temperatures than Iron oxide does and thus it facilitates the welding. Obviously we must get some of the borax into the joint for this to happen. Fortunately the borax itself melts at a relatively low temperature (743°C) so it can be sucked into the joint by capillary action. The borax will also form a cover that slows down ingress of oxygen. Borax thus helps us in two ways: #1: fluidizes the oxide at a lower temperature #2: stops oxidizing by forming a protective layer. Silica sand is also useful since silicon-iron compounds have some 100°C lower melting point than iron oxide. Thus a very fine powder of silica is beneficial to get the oxides out of the joint even if not quite as efficient as borax. Silica in itself has a very high melting point so it will not suck into the joint. Because of the high melting point it will not alone stop the oxygen but perhaps form a kind of iron silica glass. If we mix fine silica with potash and/or soda and/or limestone we will create a glass which has a melting point not far from that of borax. How quickly that happens depends upon the grain size of the mix. Sand is rarely pure silica. (Even when sold as “silica sand”) There are usually other elements as well. These may explain why sand can be used as a flux – or does it combine quickly with the iron oxide? Rice straw ashes contain some 75% silica and 15% potash both in very fine state and I think that this is important. I would thus assume that it quickly forms a glass (melting point 760°) containing surplus silica that can be sucked in and probably also fluidize the iron oxide. It seems to me that the Japanese method of coating a cherry red billet with ashes will immediately form a thin cover of glass. The content of silica in plants varies a lot from species to species so one cannot assume that any straw ashes will work. Ashes of horsetail (Equisetum) would probably work well but who burns sufficient amounts of horsetail? Wheat straw ash varies in silica content from ca 35% to 60% Some types of wood ash contain up to 35% but most types contain small amounts. However, wood ash may contain calcium oxide (quicklime) that will transform into calcium carbonate (limestone). Wood ash typically contains potash and some soda and so heated together with fine silica it may also form a glass but it will be difficult to find a source of sufficiently fine silica to get even near the speed of rice straw ashes. The Japanese also use clay slurry. Unfortunately we do not know what it contains. Clay is predominantly Silica-Aluminium-oxide but it can contain other elements like potassium and sodium and there is a large number of clays that have different high-temperature properties.. Clay is very fine grained and the grains are platy; thus the slippery consistency. As we all know clay will fuse into ceramics when heated. Japanese raku ceramics is burnt at only ca 800°C. A suitable clay (maybe with added “agent X”) may form a glassy layer that prevents the billet from oxidizing. If we first dip the billet in the rice straw ash, and when that has formed the glass, dip it in something else, I assume it will act as glue for the next layer. My conclusion is that the smith’s best use for wood ashes is annealing. Should he have rice straw ashes they are useful in welding. If he can use other types of ash depends upon what the species is and where it grew. Only experiment will tell. Cheers Göte
  23. I use a drill press stand with a hand drill that can be removed. I taped the key to the cable. As soon as I let go of the key it jumps away. My previous lathe had keys with a coil spring. they also jumped out as soon as I let go of it. In the future I will only buy keyless chucks. Göte.
  24. Did you not know??? Tape measures are a kind of larvae. they creep away into a corner, form a chrysalis and eventually emerge as wire coat hangers. My sliding calipers are migratory birds. They go south for the winter and come back in the spring.. Göte
  25. A dozen of years ago or so I had a jaw operation. The jaw swelled and became blue, green and yellow. I looked as if I had been beaten in a brawl :( . I preferred to look unshaven so I stopped shaving. I now have a full beard trimmed to 1/2". Considering my being a grandfather and hobby blacksmith I am going to stick to it. Have a nice new year by the way Göte
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