jacobd

That's a cool example of skill mixed with imagination.

Hence the "anode" like beginning to the word, never occurred to me. Interesting.

I am very intrigued now.

I didn't know that's what anodizing was. I've only ever seen the black coating that comes on knives referred to as anodized. Cool! I guess I need to read about it.

This next summer, I bought a brand new 150lb anvil, got a hand crank buffalo blower, and a 12" round pass forge firepot. I'm about to build my new forge. Got some of the stuff together to make a small propane forge for knife making also. Going to make tools first mostly, all the tongs I think I'll need, hot cutting chisels, hardy tools, and that stuff. Hopefully I'll have a decent collection by the time I get to Stephenville.

Ok well maybe one summer!

I know nothing about this at all, so I'm not even going to try and give any advice other than bringing it up. Wouldn't electroplating work? I remember the mythbusters doing it with the clay pot Baghdad batteries. So it seems small scale manageable. Like I said, I know next to nothing about doing it, I'm more curious to hear why it would or wouldn't be a good idea.

I'll be up in stephenville around July, going to Tarelton. You'll be welcome after I move up there.

That is too cool. I want a 30lb-er.

There are going to be quite a few bottle openers and cork screws made. I am planning to make a drifted collar necklace for my wife as worn by Daenerys Targarean in game of thrones. I just have to find a dress that will match the necklace now.

Well kohlswa is know be a good anvil, the other I'm not familiar with. With such an investment why risk it. Especially if the kohlswa is as big and around the same price. Do a lot of research. I did before it dished out the money for my TFS, and it's great, good rebound and hard face, I love it! Just read as much as you can to make sure it's not a decision you will regret.

While I don't own a kohlswa I've only heard good things.

As long as you enjoy it and practice good habits, you will get better every day. There is an infinite wealth of knowledge on the web, a good portion of it here!

I have a stupid question... What is the yellow coating on your anvil? Or why does it look yellow? I'm assuming it's not paint. I know what assuming can do tho.

I've used it once before, kind of a Tim Lively forge idea. It works great. I used an old chain link fence post. It was rusted, so I knew most of the zinc coating was gone, so I just wire brushed it with the angle grinder and capped the end, drilled holes about an inch or so apart, and used bricks to make the "trench". Connected it to my roll film dryer and off she went. It was to re-harden the big section of a concrete buster bar. Got about 18" of 2" square a low orange.

The Kayne and son tongs are made from 8620 I believe, they have lasted me despite beginner mistakes and abuse!

There are a few smiths that live in AZ on here, one with quite a bit of experience if I remember correctly. Welcome!

If you end up changing your mind about it I'll haul it off for you :)

You could probably use an old wheel barrow for the hood, I have laying around I might use when my bigger shop is finished

The trailer we haul our lawn mower with is about 10' long with the tongue. Let's just say it took some practice to USUALLY get it right on the first try.

Iron has small (I guess they are particles) called domains, slightly larger than the atoms. In the presence of a magnet they line up in rows and are drawn to the magnet. When they domains reach a certain energy level (from heat in this case) they are vibrating and moving so much that they won't line up. This also explains why metals becomes malleable and expands slightly. The atoms are vibrating and jumping around so much in their respectivr positions that they actually move enough in distance from one another to weaken the electrostatic bonds (because they distance themselves from one another due to the movement) and their movement away from one another due to increasing vibration also explains their expansion. My guess is (if I remember correctly) the atoms near the magnetic point are shifting far enough away from one another to allow carbon to travel freely through the iron atoms MATRIX. This allows when cooled rapidly for the carbon atoms to become trapped in an iron matrix (called carbides) and form martensite (that's the really hard brittle one right?). That if I remember correctly explains the significance of the non magnetic point. Correct if wrong, I learned this from my chemistry/physics professor, via word of mouth, not extensive reading. I very well could have missed something important. I think that should kinda help.

typo corrected

My tfs is the 150#. I love it. Very hard face, better than my vulcan I used to have. Without the fear of excessive edge chipping or faceplate de-lamination.

That's impressive

^amen, here in Waco most years during summer it's 95-110 and 80%ish humidity

I'm assuming forge work isn't an exception? Anyone have a certain fog resistant eye protection they prefer? I got some, but here in Texas I sweat like an Eskimo in a heat wave. The fogging drives me crazy.

I've even considered $80 paintball goggles that have good reviews.

Are the mesh face sheilds any good? They are a fine black mesh, easy to see through and wouldn't fog up. I'm considering it if they protect well. I could imagine anything overly dangerous getting through the tiny holes. Any opinions?