IanR

Shouldn't it be up to Phil and Corin to organize dates and numbers etc :)

Thanks to all involved at Moonys and thanks to Glenn himself for letting us use his workshop and equipment, another excellent weekend. Wow, a chance to build a gas forge and to spend a weekend at Phils, thanks to Phil and Corin for their generous offers. Keep us posted on how these events unfold as I would be very interested in both. Thanks for posting pics Corin, I didnt take any this year Cheers Ian

Aussies may be interested in watching this http://www.abc.net.au/tv/guide/abc1/201110/programs/ZX1262A003D2011-10-20T180016.htm?program=Mastercrafts . I just watched a recording of last weeks show which was on thatching and if it was any indication this one should be worth watching Cheers Ian

Thanks Jeremy, heating and quenching the corners did the trick, sounds heaps better now. I too am incorporating a leaf at the other end....gum leaves and gum nuts as part of a theme for a range I'm putting together. I like the tendril hook on yours as opposed to the standard hook. I will post a pic a soon as I get round to it DE2,thanks anyway but it was a known fact, I'm using 5mm round leather thonging, works just fine. Cheers Ian

First of all let me say that I have no idea what type of steel I have here so that may make it hard to answer my question. I have 4 identical pieces 5/8" diameter about 4' long bent like a shepherds crook with a lug stamped at the end they are some form of carbon steel and make a fantastic "clang" when struck which is why I decided to make a dinner bell from one of them. Trouble is after forming the triangle and forging a hook I have altered the temper and it no longer "clangs". Any ideas on how I may get that sound back again? Cheers Ian

Looks good Dave, your posts are always informative and full of great pics. I was wondering if the large radius bends could be done before the forge welding then just bend the legs up or would it be too hard to keep them bundled?

Thanks for the comments Old N Rusty, it's only posh English types that drink tea like that, I actually use a stainless steel mug. Cheers Ian

Thanks Dale, here's hoping. Ian

Great project Dave, has certainly inspired me to do something featuring all those types of joinery. I had been thinking of doing a wood trolley, every year I get older the firewood gets heavier Cheers Ian

Well it's on again and this years theme IS a cup and saucer. This years sculpture took a bit longer in an attempt to better last years entry, with the time and materials put into it probably far exceeding the prize money. As my wife said I have followed an idea through to completion and to win would just be the icing on the cake. The design on the cup is based on the Willow pattern china and I have used the following elements - the apple tree, the willow tree, the two birds, the temple and the three men on the bridge. I have included two photos, one with the cup before painting and one of the finished sculpture with a hand I included to add another dimension and to bring it up to the 1 m minimum height requirement. Well I've got to say I dont think I will ever attempt to make any part of the human anatomy out off steel again. Even though the cup and saucer took longer the hand nearly sent me round the twist trying to get it right. Like last year the entries stay on display for a month so people can vote on them.

Champion idea Thomas, I will give that a go. Cheers Ian

Thanks Frosty, I get great enjoyment out of making items that aren't the norm. Cheers Ian

Eric, I did my test cold and found it very easy to control the stock because I could guide it along. I also tried a hot run and found it not as easy, because I could not hold the stock against the fence (some sort of pusher or guide would help) and the stock tended to curl up. I think careful use of the check nut and not having the stock to hot would help. Thanks for the compliment Andrew,I think a man of your talents should be able to knock up some tools without any dramas Let me know how you go with the new counterweight, the theory sounds good but I'd hate to hit my head on it :wacko:

Thanks for the comments,its going on a beam above the entrance,Mark and the pergola is in a garden that is open to the public a couple of times a year so I'm hoping many people will see it,WmHorus I can see why it got you thinking ,IronAlchemy thanks for extra info. Cheers Ian

Forgot the photo :unsure:

Made my first tool today, a veining chisel. I was able to get 1" cold rolled for the shaft, but 1" machine collars haven't come in yet so I made one from 10mm square and used a bit of old wrecking bar for the chisel. I tried it out on some cold 20mm x 10mm mild steel bar and it worked fine. Next comes a new touchmark and some formers for rings

This is an Eye of Horus I made as an adornment for an Egyptian themed pergola I'm building for someone.Unfortunately it's the only metal piece, everything else is timber, including 24 Sphinx corner brackets.

Thanks for the fantastic photos Lyle, excellent work.I like those hammer tongs, are they just made from mild steel? Cheers Ian

Thanks for the comments fellas, as Andrew says, Rusty, we breed our flies big, I had to make fire doors for our 2 fireplaces not to keep sparks contained but to stop flies coming down the chimney and carrying the dogs away . Thanks for that info Andrew, I'll check it out. Cheers Ian

I've been trying to buy a Fly Press through online auctions for about a year now,but never really had enough money to bid successfully,but I kept trying regardless. Well my patience finally paid off, for total price of $61 plus an hours drive to pick it up.It has an 1 3/4 " screw stands about 80cm tall and weighs ?, well my son and I think it weighs more than my 450 pound Peter Wright.It came with a fabricated stand which I'm going to use as a stand for my bench grinder since the press now sits where the bench grinder was. I painted the handle and counterweight and check nut and cleaned the rest up, now to make a clamping plate and tooling.

I've been trying to buy a Fly Press through online auctions for about a year now,but never really had enough money to bid successfully,but I kept trying regardless. Well my patience finally paid off, for total price of $61 plus an hours drive to pick it up.It has an 1 3/4 " screw stands about 80cm tall and weighs ?, well my son and I think it weighs more than my 450 pound Peter Wright.It came with a fabricated stand which I'm going to use as a stand for my bench grinder since the press now sits where the bench grinder was. I painted the handle and counterweight and check nut and cleaned the rest up, now to make a clamping plate and tooling.

Congratulations Matt, we had four of those follow us home, now aged 17,20,21,24 with one soon to be married, you'll have all of that to experience, enjoy it while you can they grow up very quickly. I picked up an old spike harrow for free recently, which, apart from some repair work, is mostly wrought. Cant wait to make something from it! Cheers Ian

Thanks for the update Strine Cheers Ian

Thanks for the replies,it seems all is not lost so I might have a go at it, But you know what online auctions are like, the price looks good till the last 5 minutes when all these blokes come out of the woodwork with a flurry of bids . It's only about an hours drive from here as it is pick up only, but I'm amazed there's a bloke from a town in Victoria bidding, who's about an 22 hour round trip away!( He must really want it). Cheers Ian