tbrforge

born and raised in central Illinois. Vacation was always Carbondale and such reaches south. Anxious to see the pictures of SIU forge. If I were a younger man I would be there. Love Georgia much too much to go anywhere else for long now though.

I purchased a kit from jay hayes and was happy with the quality and the help offered when I had questions. kit included everything needed and they come in several different sizes. On the other hand, Michael Prters book on gas forges gives you everything you ever wanted to know about gas forges and plans for several carts, forges and different burners. I did it (meaning it ain't rocket science)

turning a mistake into "Art" seems easy, try it. I would suppose this was a concept born onto a clean slate, a concept thought out and executed, not a mistake. That is my read at least

I begin each smithin session with a specific technique that I will use for the object I am working on. Kinda like a musician does scales to warm up. THis includes hammer tech. and a general stretching of muscle groups used in working. then I move into the project. Planning the project out give me an "order of operations" gotta have fun while you work too eh?

If you follow a proven design and starting method your shouldn't smoke you self out of the smithy. My side draft forge will pull a large fire nearly side ways and I am a bit undersize on my flue

bandanna on the head sweat evaporator. Lotsa water,( my daughter the med student said I should pee every 20 min. and to drink more water if I don't.) every job I've had since high scholl has invilved fire. I think I have a genetic predisposition to tolerae the heat. I moved from Peoria, Il to Athens, Ga, I must like the heat. when I tig weld aluminum racing heads, I have an ac hooked up on a cart and I position it in back of me so cool air enters my face shield and hits my back but doesn't mess with my sheilding gas

The military is a serious commitment. Unlike trying a job out, you can't quit if you don't like it without serious results. Try votech, try college, try wleding, try lots of things and work hard at them and see what you like. While it is commendable to be so serious about your future, you've got a lot of time ahead to narrow your field, to find out what really floats your boat. As to your weight, if you can focus the same seriousness that you are considering your future to changing you body to the best it can be, not some image that the media presents, you'll do fine. Get a good physical, ask the doctor, have your bodyfat calculated, eat the best you can. And watch out for those recruiters, they are salesmen. Good luck and keep us posted.

Got my soft coal from the heating plant at UGA in Athens for years, I would spend a whole day coking up the coal and store the coke for later use, I am way out in the country so smoke was not a problem. Actually, because of the smoke a guy found my house and sold me the anvil I now use.

infrared temp gun, not real expensive.

The problem appears to be mine. Hal "computer" decided that the list was spam and during a long overdue maintenance session with Hal I discovered the missing mail. Hope I have convinced Hal.