2ballcain357

The crosses look good!! Are the other items cheese cutters?

Hey Tom looks good to me...that'll make a nice Christmas gift

Charles, I am going to mess around with that... Like I said I have really only seen and tried upsetting on the ends of stock. therfor have never really gave it much thought till know, thanks

I am fairly new at all this but i am wondering as well how the ball was formed... Seems to me there would have to be extra material in the center of the round bar before using a swage. And that brings up a question as well..... I have never seen a piece of stock upset in the middle..only on the ends. Is that even possible? Might have to try and find out. Awesome find by the way. Large pieces like this one are always fun to dig out of the ground. Were you detecting around an old house elmo?

I love the quick and dirty tongs!!! Have nothing but good things to say about them. I bought the beginner pack of six tongs...$175 shipped to my door. I have tried in the past making my tongs but it's kinda like the saying "it takes money to make money".... Well in my opinion " it takes tongs to make tongs" and these are definitely a tongs tong.......sure why not.

Folks might also Google foundry supplies in your area.... I am from the Kansas city area and just bought 50sqft (had to buy the whole roll) for $72.88 after tax... It is about $1.34 per sqft. Place is called Canfield & Joseph.. Really nice folks... 1" thick 8lb density

Hello folks! I finished my first forge today with putting a side draft on. However it dosent seem to be drafting that well. Was hoping I could possibly get a few pointers from some folks. I am using lump charcoal for fuel. The side draft is 23" tall 24" wide and 10" deep with a 6" diameter stack that is 10' tall. I apologize for the looks of this thing... It's not the best looking but it works (except for the side draft) and all parts were scrounged. The fire pot is 13" x13" and 5" deep. I've seen some other pics that have a "hood" over the opening going to try and put one on tomorrow. If anyone has any words of wisdom I would appreciate it. Thank you

Thomas, I am not sure how you got that out of what I said....??? I found this information out after I posted the original question and was just telling what I had found out..... Honestly it seems like I have offended you by asking this question............. If that is so I am sorry sir. I do plan on this summer heading down to Oklahoma to buy coal... Thank you

Frosty, thank you for your kind response. I have actually called several "blacksmiths" and farriers within about a 50miles radius of me... know these where folks I could find on the internet. I know of none personally. I was only able to talk to one fella, he was the only one that would talk to me. all the others either were rude or did not call me back. he told me to get in touch with the blacksmiths association of Missouri. haven't had any luck there. the Central States Metal Artisans same boat. however I posted the same question on another forum and got in touch with another newbie smith who has helped with the coal situation. he pointed me straight to the mine. the Phoenix Coal Company located in Vinita, Oklahoma has a mine that is only about a 3 hour drive. they sell to the public @ $125 a short ton with no min. buy. Thomas, I did not mean for the question to seem odd.......I was just running out of places and people to ask, I apologize. both the BAM folks and the CSMA folks are ABANA affiliates and both groups meet at locations that are about 3 to 4 hours away from me....im right in the middle of both. thank you both for you responses

Hello all! Would anyone happen to know if there are any places in or around the Kansas City, Kansas or Kansas City, Missouri are to purchase coal? Any info would be much appreciated. Have been using homemade lump charcoal which works fine..... But would like to try coal and can't see paying between $45-$60 a bag to have it shipped to me. Thank you