keykeeper

Hammerkid, Dave Custer, Or M-Brothers, take your pick. They all are deserving and don't wanna make swords, they're all about blacksmithing.

Bentiron: I think the punchline to that joke was:

Cop: I thought you said you shot someone?

Citizen: I thought you said it would take 30 minutes to get here!

C. J. Products Inc.
Attn: Jay Hayes
100 Christmas Place, Weston, WV 26452
(304) 269-6111

email: jay@hrea.coop

"Everything needed to build Gas Forges; Ceramic Fiber Refractory Blanket & Board by the foot; ITC-100, Super Duty Floor Bricks; Industrial LP Gas Regulators, Hoses, Valves, and Fittings; High Performance Burner Kits, Valve Manifold Kits; Machined Burner Nozzles & Orifices; LP Gas Forge Kits in many styles and sizes to fit your needs and budget including our new Super Wide Oval Forges and Clamshell Forges. Custom sizes available, Technical Support"

This is from an internet classified ad, I copied the material over to here for you. I know Jay from our state blacksmithing organization, very nice fellow, very good to deal with and highly knowledgeable about forges. Shoot him an email or give him a call and he can probably help you in short order.

Quad-State rocked out! It's hard to take in everything going on, but well worth the registration fee and drive. I got to meet a few folks that frequent IFI, like primtechsmith, yesteryear forge, and ptree. I think I even saw Irnsrgn, Jymm Hoffman, and Thomas Powers there, although didn't get to talk with them. Even picked up Lorelei's book (signed by her, of course). There were several of my brother's from the ABA in attendance, really enjoyed talkin' with them as always.

Definitely in my plans for next year, also. I snapped a few pictures, I'll try and upload them to the gallery as soon as I can. I'm sure others there from here (if that makes sense) got some photos, also.

I'll have to say, it's everything it's said to be. Think I might even join SOFA, that's a great group of people.

WD-40 stinks, literally. Then you have that smell soaked into your skin. Personally, I want a handle thats not too slick, slick handles make blisters in my experience.

Wow, I feel fortunate. Probably have 1/2 ton or so coal in reserve, slowly making my way through it, one fire at a time!

I think there is, Harlequin. I'm not sure off hand of the amount, but Jet-dri for dishwashers can be used. I'll have to get back later with the amount, if someone else doesn't jump in with the info.

rfdecarter is right, check into an idle cicuit setup. Basically, the idle circuit allows a very limited flow to the burner(s) to keep the forge hot, but allows the forge to return to the established pressure you are working at by just opening a ball valve back up. Do a search on idle circuit for gas forges, I'm sure there are diagrams available to explain the components needed and setup. If you can't find one, I have a picture somewhere of one I'll send you.

-aaron

Peyton, count on it. I might have to hang out a while and learn something!

-aaron

"And look, it's TOTALLY DWYYYY.........Are you gettin this camera-guy?"

I use a Nordic 2 pound, paid $22 for it a couple years ago at a farrier supply. Favorite hammer for getting busy on the steel, great for just working out the day's frustrations. Moves metal nice, too!:D

So, what's wrong with those, Larry. Look pretty nice to me. Your friend should be pleased to hang those up!

Woohooo......this is shaping up to be an IFI member-rich get together. I'm starting to get shaky just thinking about meeting all the good folks from here!

I will be the husky guy with the Urban Camo boonie hat or the oil-cloth outback hat, depending on the weather!

I Googled Phoenix State University...they have all kinds of "certifications" you can get.

Did you know you can be a certified "reloader"? I clicked the link, and it's set up the same as the "Become a Bladesmith" site. Matter of fact, the whole PSU site is set up like it. Frauds. Plain and Simple.

Dr. Jim, best of luck taking these guys down!!!!

KYBOY,

Try farm auctions, there is usually a few going on any given month. Use auctionzip.com, put in your zip code and search radius, under keyword put in "anvil" and get busy. I've found a few auctions coming up I'd like to hit near me, but the cash flow isn't happening right now to do that.

Here's one coming up within hour or so of Eastern Ky, I'm might try to hit this as it is not far from here, either. http://www.auctionzip.com/cgi-bin/auctionview.cgi?lid=509013&kwd=anvil&zip=41143&category=0


Anvils are out there, you just have to dig a little deeper.:)

Look pretty good, Longhunter. You'll find that the wife will never find anything wrong with your work. I have several embarrassing pieces hanging on the wall, because they were some of my first pieces. She won't take them down! So everyday I'm reminded of my progress.

Keep on forgin'

-aaron

Trollhammer, I agree. But the earlier post was pretty lopsided towards skaters and not property owners. Skating is a sport, and like all sports should be sanctioned and proper facilities provided. I have nothing against skaters, however I do have a problem with ANY criminal behavior blamed on a law abiding property owners refusal to cater to said parties demands and trespass.

I for one think a skate park in every town there is interest would solve a lot of problems. Sidewalks are for walking off the street, in a safe area, not to get run over by a skater that thinks he/she owns the sidewalk. (yeah, it's happened to me. No excuse me, no sorry, just a smirk with attitude. A few years ago, a well planted shoulder took one "thrasher" right off his board after he challenged my right to walk on a sidewalk big enough for both of us, but that was in my youth before I learned patience.)

Really, if people would just be courteous to one another, we would not even have to have these discussions. Everyone would get along, nobody's property or landscaping would get trashed, and the world would be a better place. However, my observations over the last 15 years or so tell me that won't happen anytime soon.

And to stay on topic, maybe alternating shapes and profiles could lend beauty and bumps to avoid the "grinding".

Blafen:

So, basically, the church is to succumb to the trespass of the skateboarders?

And excuse any vandalism the skaters might do, if the church does install 'stoppers', as they (the church) "took away" the skaters place to skate?

Where's these kids parents? Maybe they should build them a skate park. My mother would have made me repair the rails, apologize to the congregation, and gave me what-for when I got home.

And we wonder why our society has gone down the tubes.:rolleyes:

I have a hamburger press that is an original tupperware, NEAT LITTLE TOOL!!!!!!!! I'll see if I can get some pictures, let's you make as THICK a burger as you please.

Yeah, Tupperware rocks, Sam!


On another note, I like to make burgers with these additives, for about 1 pound of ground meat ( any red meat will do!):

-one tablespoon or so of Worcestershire Sauce
-healthy dose (teaspoon or so) of Garlic powder
-some dried minced onion (tablespoon works well)
-couple shots Tabasco sauce
-dash of black pepper
-teaspoon or so Beef bouillon powder or soup base powder

measurements are approximate, usually I just fudge the amounts until I think it looks good and will taste good. I very rarely measure when cooking.

mix all ingredients thoroughly into the meat, make into about 3 big ole honkin patties, grill until cooked through.

MMMM, MMMM, MMMM,

I love being a carnivore!

You two fellas need to head on up to Ripley, WV for the ABA Fall Conference, since you're both within a couple hours of here. Mark and Mindy Gardner will be doing the demo on Chasing and Repousse this time. Should be a great demo. Oct. 11& 12 Details are here Appalachian Blacksmiths Association if'n your not already members or coming.

Don't know if they show more, but I've watched some of the episodes. Wasn't really impressed with some of what they showed, in particular the episode with the "medieval" swordsmith using what looked like to me charcoal briquets as fuel. Not real charcoal, but BRIQUETS like Kingsford or something, complete with the little pillow shape and rounded corners. And to make matters worse I stayed up late to catch this episode. Very disappointing, I thought. Haven't watched any of it since.:mad:

ptree,

Look forward to seeing the Fold a Forge trailer in person. The pics I saw couldn't do it justice, not like live and in living color. Will be good to see the only other Vanadium Steel anvil like mine I know of, also.

I'll be roughing it somewhere in the primitive area with one of my smithin' buddies. I think we'll be tent camping.

Frosty, I had little luck finding dies for that model punch. I picked one up last year, had one die in it, looked everywhere but none of the other dies available seemed like they would fit. Someone told me at the conference I sold it at that dies were still available, but didn't know where or who to call. But, someone else had to have it, so they got it for a song.

The one set in it, 5/16 inch if I remember right, still worked like new though.

But, keep a watch on eBay, the tools and dies for them show up every now and again. Then you could have two tools set up at any given time.

hey, just found this, better hurry!! Goes off in 6 hours! Don't know if those are the right dies or not, as it's a Whitney/Jensen.
Whitney Jensen Model 7 1/2 Medium Duty Portable Punch - eBay (item 140262250292 end time Sep-06-08 17:25:00 PDT)

Bentiron,

There are a couple engraving sites you might want to check out for their forums. There are some stone setters in there, some do tutorials.

Sam Alfano's Tip & Tricks for Hand Engravers

Hand Engraving Tools and Hand Engraving for Jewelers and Artists ~ Steve Lindsay

Get past the front pages and get on the forums. Right now the Lindsay site has a tutorial contest going, some fine work going on there.

-aaron

Rob and Peyton: I'll be looking for you. I plan on getting there Fri. afternoon, and leaving Sunday morning sometime.