keykeeper

Exactly what I was trying to say, Glenn. Hmmm...those photos look vaguely familiar to me...he he:D

The coal I burn will smoke black sometimes, but mostly that cool yellow/green smoke when the volatiles are burning off. That is usually from well soaked coal. Sometimes when I'm tending the fire, I'll knock a little too much dry green coal into the heart of the fire by accident, I'll get some really black smoke from the tar burning out (Looks like tar when its burning anyway), but that usually clears up quickly. Once I have a nice fire with plenty of coked up coal, I get next to no smoke at all.

Some things I've seen so far...bottle opener, ginseng hoe, wizards, handles for tools, coat/hat hooks.

And THAT is what we like to hear!! If you are NOT having fun, why bother, right?

Well done, very good start. Forge on!

Basically, you could build something like a rack for a 55 gallon drum, except embellish as desired with twists, maybe rivet the cross supports into place. I think you would just need two semicircles attached to legs to cradle the drum, with cross bracing to make it sturdy. What will the drum be holding? If it's for wine, maybe embellish with grapevine and leaf clusters along the legs. Details, man, details..........what will it's primary purpose be, maybe more ideas would come if we know what you are trying to accomplish in the end.

There was a thread on here a couple years ago, no one knew much about them then. http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/f23/new-here-1874/

Welcome to IFI, Jack. I'm sure you have plenty to contribute here. The broad areas of talent is what makes this the best Blacksmithing website in the world. Peruse the pages, make some new friends, and hang out a while. -aaron c.

Here's an interesting read about cutting into tanks..... The Aboveground Steel Storage Tank ... - Google Book Search Scroll down near the bottom and read about the FIREFIGHTERS cutting into a tank with an abrasive saw!!

I'll have to try that. Thanks, rlarkin.

Sabre: In addition to what everyone said already, yes, they are online and have retail stores. Their tools aren't as good as name brand, but will do if you don't abuse them. Like the others, I have several of the 4-1/2 inch grinders. They work, and are disposal when you buy them cheap as they are. Go to Redirect and at the bottom they have a store locator, this is the website that goes with the stores. The other site is their online sales store. In my experience, you can get better deals on the same things at a retail store.

Hey fellas, I don't know if T-Gold still posts here or not, it has been quite I while since he has made a post. He may not frequent here too often anymore. A search showed he last posted in 2006, so you may not get an answer from him.

Ok, I recognize that I am a forge-a-holic. Someday I'm gonna start a 12 step program for my addiction......by building a shop only 12 steps from my house, with 12 of the most important tools (anvil, vise, hammer, bender, drill press, power hammer, treadle hammer, air hammer, coal forge, propane forge, forging press, and welder) strategically placed so it only takes me 12 steps to move about them while using them 12 hours a day, for 12 months outta the year. Will this work?;)

Welcome Wolfshield, from another wild, wonderful west virginian....Enjoy your stay!

Jr. You and everyone in the family are in my prayers. I wish and pray for a speedy recovery for everyone. -aaron c.

m-brothers, where on fredlyfx's site are the tongs located, I've just spent quite a while and haven't found them yet. How about a roadmap so we can all find them.

I quenched a pair of nippers I had made into tongs for 1/4" round inadvertently when cooling a rat tail on an s-hook I was making. Next time I used them, I tapped them gently on the side of the anvil to knock a large runner of scale off the hook, jaw snapped right off. I never realized I had gotten them that hot. Next pair will be normalized as Thomas suggested. Live and learn, it's part of the game.

There is a seller on eBay named Poorboy Blacksmith Tools that I think sells a set of "quick and dirty" tongs for holding RR spikes. Search under scharabo as username or poorboy blacksmith tools for his store. He is pretty honest, and says they are not for production smiths, but work for a hobbyist or occasional user. Here's one of his auctions http://cgi.ebay.com/Blacksmith-Railroad-Spike-Tongs_W0QQitemZ380047195769QQihZ025QQcategoryZ13869QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1713.m153.l1262 Study the design, and make your own like them, if you have access to a welder, drill press and chopsaw. There is also a blueprint somewhere about making your own, but I can't remember whether its here in the blueprints or over on anvilfire in the iforge section. Oh, How about this thread- http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/f7/rr-spike-tongs-3103/ Hope this helps.

Well, I would have to say that's the classiest looking marshmallow-toasting jig (for use on a Weyger's style charcoal brazier, see p. 194 The Complete Modern Blacksmith) that I've ever seen, Frosty. Of course, it could be a marlinspike, with a twist.

I agree with M Brothers, leave it alone. Work around the damage, as it is minor. Also, what damage there is doesn't appear to be in any critical areas to me. Maybe dress the sharpness away a little with a file or belt sander so as not to hang up anything you are working on, remove the rest of any paint on the face, horn and table (leave the paint on the sides, it will protect the metal from rust), and get after it. Very nice anvil, with a very nice price, IMHO. Enjoy, and also, Welcome to IFI.

Well, I'll give you the response I got on here a long time ago reference cutting into tanks such as this.... Don't do it, will go boom, you'll find yourself in another time zone, etc. Just passing on what I've been told in the past by the much wiser than I forefathers who will also chime in shortly, I'm sure. (It's almost like they have an alarm to jump in and correct me every time I post something.)

We're waiting, cbl4823. And it has been a couple of days!;)

I guess I jumped the gun, just found some sarcasm in your post about the RPG's. Unfortunately, I do have a little training in proper force escalation and physical control techniques. Hazard of the job, I guess. I wasn't advocating going unarmed into a potentially life threatening situation to anyone not properly trained. Just to know what can and can't be done for the sake of everyone involved. Everyday I go to work wondering which creep or crazy might try to take my life, simply because of the badge I wear or if things don't go their way. Tends to keep one in a heightened condition of preparedness for threats. Unfortunately, that theme tends to spill over into every law abiding citizens lives, at an ever increasing rate. Such is the state of our society. I hope I never have to make that decision either, Quenchcrack. Really, really hope I don't. Hope you don't either.

I only posted to be helpful, but I can tell from the replies after my post no one takes what I wrote seriously. So, get out the Bushmaster, stoke it up with tracer rounds, what the heck, through some flamethrower rounds in the shotgun, shine up those RPG's and give the neighbors a fireworks show next time some creep thieves ya. Might even charge admission to help defray defense costs of the scuzzwad's family's civil suit. Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war, or some xxxx like that. Just trying to give real world advice, is all, but I can tell it fell on deaf ears.

Better watch the flechette rounds. They scream "intent to kill". They are anti-personnel ammo without a doubt. I think the military developed them. Severe liability issues exist with their use for self-defense. rjbrash: #4 is good, as there's more lighter pellets concentrated into the area, creating a severe traumatic would cavity. Penetration will vary with walls, depending on construction, which is something to consider for any self-defense ammunition. 00 Buck can be used if you are experienced in its delivery, and have the proper weapon for delivery. I like tactical 00 buck rounds, more pellets, less powder. Better for up close and personal use. But, what everyone reading this has to remember is that laws on personal defense vary from state to state. Some states have "castle laws", some states have "immediate and unavoidable injury or death to self or others" type laws. I don't think I'd ever resort to lethal force to protect personal property. No one likes being the mark for a robbery, but I'm sure losing some stuff is better than years of court hearings and attorney's fees defending shooting someone over property only or worse criminal charges that could bind you up for life (literally). Stuff is stuff, life is life. Know the laws of self-defense for your state or country. It also doesn't hurt to be able to show the authorities that you are a responsible gun owner/user and have some sort of training to that extent. Hard for an attorney to argue you were reckless is taking some scuzzbag's life when you have x amount of paperwork for a self-defense course or lethal force course, which teach shoot/no shoot situations. Situations vary as to circumstance of the threat. In my home, if the perpetrator is coming down the hall, I, nor my family, have nowhere else to retreat. IF I can't take them down by hand (assuming they are unarmed) then the worst may come. "I Pity the fool", to quote Mr. T!;)