wolfshieldrx

Actually he was a baby, about 15 pounds or so...I'm sure some of you guys have a pair of tongs that can be modified to work (heh, heh, heh).

Not as fancy as some, but here's one I made a few weeks ago... http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/attachments/f51/11997d1236196896-my-first-friction-folder-100_3334.jpg http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/attachments/f51/11998d1236196896-my-first-friction-folder-100_3333.jpg

My "day job" is a hospital pharmacist. One of my duties is to review the allergies of patients before dispensing any medications. It is important to know what type of reaction the patient had and this information is recorded in the computer by the nurse performing the admission assessment. A patient was admitted this evening who was allergic to penicillin. The type of reaction said "Turned bright cherry red all over". My immediate thought was "hit before you lose forging heat"! I know...sick, Sick, SICK! You might be a blacksmith if... Have a good one...bart

I have a very similar blade ready to make a handle for. I might have to steal...er...borrow, yeah thats it, BORROW your design. How's it feel in the hand? Great job! ps...i have a weak spot (no...not my head!) for friction folders. bart

Like I said, I'm a newbie! Not sure why I anneal first??? Will try forging without annealing first next time. Thanks...bart

Thanks for the kind comments. Not sure of the type of steel in the tire irons. By the way, what I am calling a tire iron or tire tool is one of the "L" shaped tools with a screwdriver end for popping hubcaps and a socket for lug nuts. I have found several at flea markets for less than a dollar apiece. Steel may vary from one manufacturer to the other. Anyway, I have found them to work well over a fairly wide range of heats. To use it for knife-making (total of 4 blades so far) I aneal in ashes overnight then forge to shape. Then do file work, shaping edge to within 1/32 inch or so, polish bevels to 220 grit, etc. Then normalize in calm air x 3. Harden in oil. Temper by heating back of blade on red hot chunk of steel till edge runs to dark bronze. Then quench in oil. Hope this helps...I am really a newbie at this although I have learned a lot from you guys. thanks a bunch...bart

Tree project? Please refresh my memory on that one. 1/4 inch stock. Textured by running central vein with chisel then hammering in side veins with small cross pein hammer. I created some depth and dimension by hammering in depression in block of wood with old hammer handle. Thanks for looking...bart

re my wife...not a craftsperson, says she doesn't have the patience. Of course she does do "projects" with the children's bible class she teaches at church. re shop height..."ceiling" is just about 8 ft. I am 6'2" and this has not presented a problem so far. Of course the "attic" is open, but there is a joist just over my anvil. thanks for looking...bart

re my wife: She is the finest woman I have ever known...Christian, hard worker, goes out of her way to help others and cute as a button. She is my inspiration, my psychiatrist and my best friend. I am indeed a lucky man! re the 55 lb aso: bought it on sale at Harbor Freight when I was still outdoors with a break-drum forge. Actually, as I used it, at first it dented then seemed to work-harden. Not ideal but better than nothing...and worse than a piece of rr rail. I am thinking about grinding some shapes (depressions) in the top and using it as a poor man's swage block...whaddaya think?? re flu size: Everything I read said to use at least 10 inch pipe. The biggest I could find locally was 9 inch. Everything I read said it had to have a smoke shelf...so i put one made of sheet metal in. I used the 9 inch pipe, took the smoke shelf out because it just would not draw with it in. Now it will suck the buttons off your shirt after it is warmed up...just a wee amount of smoke when starting out. I will try to remember to get a picture or two of a fire being sucked up the chimney. thanks for the comments...bart

Comments welcomed and encouraged...bart

12 ft x 12 ft "pole-barn" construction with metal roof and t-111 walls. Brick forge with Centaur fire-pot and Champion 400 blower. Anvil is a 100 pound Columbian (or so I am told)...post drill is a Buffalo Forge single speed model. Everything came together this past year...paid off house and son graduated from college, so I had a little more spending money. My wife insisted I splurge a little. Hope you enjoy sharing my forge as much as I enjoyed building it and, even more, working in it. bart

A small fixed-blade pocket knife...tire tool steel, spalted cherry scales, brass pins and braided leather lanyard. A "blacksmith" knife with twisted and scrolled handle, also from tire tool. I am starting to like this...someone please stop me before I butcher any more innocent tire tools... thanks for looking...bart