forgemaster

Its a hook we made a few years ago, about 45 ton SWL if I recall, mild steel. Phil

I would hazard a guess that its a 3cwt, not small enough for a 2 too small for a 5cwt, I would be more interested in the one in the background though. Phil

We used to use 2 45kg bottles manifolded together but even they used to ice up even in Aust we now use 3 100kg bottles manifolded together for a better gas price, fill up on site, no icing even in winter (where we are we can even get down to 5deg c on a cold winters day brrrrrrrr) Phil

If you need to straighten leaf springs, the method, is take them apart, lay each leaf one at a time on top of the forge fire and take the whole leaf up to a temperature where a hickory hammer handle feels greasy when rubbed on it, this is the temperature where spring is tempered to. This is also the temperature that we set springs at. Do not go above this temp. The spring should now be easy to "unsett". The spring can be unset by laying it across a big anvil swage or using a swage block with a large hollow and hitting in the middle. The size of the hammer is dictated by the size of the spring. Alternatively a hyd press could be used. This is how we set everything from car springs to locomotive springs, by using the greasy stick to guage the right temp, never failed in 30 odd years of blacksmithing. Phil

And a Aussie carton (a slab) holds 24 cans or bottles at 375ml each unless, you're talking long necks then they 750 ml at 12 to a carton. Phil

We still have a steam hammer in our workshop still conected to our boiler, but we have not used it in about 8 years, since we installed our 5cwt massey. The steamy is still servicable, just not cost effective to run. it takes a boiler attendant (the boiler is oil fired automatic) I am qualifed to run it, but that means I have to stay there. Steam hammers are great machines but really need a constant source of steam to make them viable (ie in a steel mill with plant steam available 24/7 anyway) just go over to the valve turn it on and away you go (basically). The general rule was 10 horse power of boiler for every cwt of hammer at between 40 to 80 PSI. We used to run our hammer at first on air, a 3cwt hammer required a 250 CFM diesel air comp to run it for any decent forging capacity. It is fed with a 2" pipe and exhaust 3 inch pipe. Before we move to our new workshop I have promised the boys that we will run it one more time for old times. Cheers Phil

You furriners may laugh but to an Aussie, that much beer is just not enough. Remember that has to last you 24 hours per person. Thats only one can per hour! Then you have to take in breakfast, 1 can of beer on your cornflakes, instead of milk, cause the milk as gorn off, (cant keep it in the esky no room for the beer then) no milk for coffee or tea, another beer. Then you probly want to brush the teeth, use beer to rinse the mouth out, and on it goes. The kids get a dirty face, beer to the rescue again, not the whole can but, oh well seeing as its opened I cant let it go to waste. As I quote a famous person (Homer Simpson) "Hmmmm Beer, is there nothing that beer cannot do!" It's just an unAustralian thing to do, ration beer.

You could use a pilot operated check valve, whereby you have a valve mounted somewhere on your press that is accuated by an adjustable length rod. This valve (normally closed) when opened allows hyd pressure to flow to the pilot operated valve which is in your main hyd lines going to the back of your pushing cylinders. Opening the pilot operated valve allows the oil to dump straight back to the oil reservoir. There are other ways to limit stroke such as using wobbly plate variable stroke pumps controlled electronically as we have installed on our Davy press, but these sort of components cost in the $10000s/$100000s. The Davy works by having a sender unit in end of the hyd cylinder that senses where the piston head is and sends that info back to the control console which is all electronically actuated. The press speed and direction is controlled by the electrics varying the stroke and direction of the pump.

What do you mean we'll be roughing it, there's going to be ice for the drinks right? and theres even running water (only you have to run and get it). All jokes aside I'll phone Glen when the time gets closer to see if he needs anything bringing down, (oil, coke, steel, tools, beer, scotch)

Hey Dale We have three coming from Newcastle, there may be a vacant seat going down if anyone else wants a lift. may be able to pick up as we go down the highway. Cheers Phil

That shop looks way to clean for a smithy dale. What sort of work you been doing in there, basket weaving or painting eyes on china dolls? Phil

If you plan to head north from Sydney give us a yell I'm sure we can work something out. Our workshop is about 2.5 hours north of Sydney post office (at Kurri Kurri) Phil

I would recomend you attend hammered at Moonys to get the lie of the land. See the thread in calendar of events. Phil

If you can't be there we will have a beer for you in your absense Grant, don't worry! I normally have at least one shower a month whether I need it or not. Phil

My old boss told me when I was an apprentice. "son it takes two thing to be a farrier, a strong back, and a weak mind". I belived him. Phil

Sixty Minutes (Aust version) did a feature on the ship graveyards of india I think, where it showed these ships being cut up by oxy, dragged ashore, cut up smaller, then rolled via a rolling mill into bars and section. These bars could be anything from crankshaft to hull to conrod you would not know or as Grant suggested rail. Mild Steel is not always mild steel despite what it gets sold as. I've even seen towbars for pulling horse floats that some nut has made from bed iron. Now that was just like cherynoble powerstation, an accident just waiting to happen. Phil