CBrann

Interesting to hear this about Monel. I am taking classes for opticianry, making eyeglasses, and Monel is one of the common alloys frames are made from. The professor told me it was made of nickel and copper, but from being here, I know its nickel and copper, and stuff. Some of the information I have says that dies that can stamp out 50,000 monel frames can only do 500 titanium frames. This stuff sounds almost indestructible. I have read a lot of posts about titanium, it seems to behave beter under the hammer tha monel. I wonder why? Any metallurgists here can expand my knowledge base about why Monel is ... miserable to forge but easy (relatively) die form? Not throwing down a challenge, just trying to see why Cliff

I have tried to solder low fuming brass to steel with lead free (the cheap lead free my own fault) and regular plumbers flux, with NO success. In researching I now know I need to find non petroleum based zinc chloride flux, and be a little gentler on the heat. I can sweat copper all day long, I'm not a plumber, but I have learned redoing several houses. But brass to steel, just not happening. Rich thanks for sharing, it makes me feel a little better that I took a while to figure it out as well. Cliff

Amazing and uplifting. Not words I usually say. It was great to hear them, and great that they would stay together. Doesn't always happen that way. I hope to see more from them.

I rang mine 3 times, along with my brother who also rang it 3 times, and our new brother in law who also added 3 strokes. I thought 3 was sufficient, being one strike for each past present and future. I also think of my dad every time I work, and add a stroke at the end of the day to remember him. I suggest using a number that has some significance . One stroke per year of life could get to be long with Uncle Herb who lived to 112... Also it is probably important to suggest not a super hard strike, a good bouncy anvil could send someone to the ER. I tend to toll my anvil closer to the heel where is "sings", and would probably remove any chain or ring deadening devices for the ceremony. You have my sympathies, Cliff

Thanks much, looked over there, I'm getting an education... Thanks Cliff Who cares how it spelled? Does it protect more with a "U"? Do you spell theater with and "re"? Or color with a "u"? I ask this in a joking sense, not to start a fight. I'm American for whatever that means, I spell armor without a u, theater with an er, and color with an o.... Have fun!

Dropkick Murphys, flogging molly, dust rhinos, almost any celtic punk or celtic tradional, just has to be loud to hear through my earplugs or muffs... just saying,,..remember the bagpipes are one of the original rock instruments,.. they are loud obnoxious and they scare people... you doubt me, get a set of great pipes and play them in Granny's parlor... a great reckoning in a small room... Cliff

If you are in or near Auburn ME, check Aubuchon Hardware. They sell blacksmith coal in 40# bags, with their heating coal. Current price is 12.49 a bag plus tax. There are a bunch of stores in Maine.Check them out at: http://www.hardwarestore.com/ Call first not all stores carry blacksmith coal. Otherwise check Agway or other agricultural retailers. Its amazing what they sell... every spring my local Agway gives me bags of antracite that have been damaged or ripped... because they cant sell them... to other people... I use the aubuchon blacksmith coal, and I like it, but your mileag may vary... Cliff

So I have looked around a little more. Turns out "Dixie Fried Fabrication" out of California did the work..... Who knew...

I may be the only one watching this show, but I like it. I will admit I don't pay much attention to the credits, but I am wondering who made the armor for this show. They claim it is 80 lbs of 14 gauge stainless steel. Made the most modern and safest possible. My question is who made it? There are 16 guys, therefore 16 suits of armor, all custom fit to a degree I am guessing. By who? I figure it was someone here. It good looking stuff. Just wondering if anyone knows anything they can share. I have dealt with TV production. Sometimes your involved with it and cant talk about it. Just throwing it out there......

Marksagel,MAking something that isn't into something to something that is, awesome..sounds like my Dad saying " Ugly made beautiful once again..." I smith because I feel a kinship to thousands of years of history, and I like making tools....and beating the .... stuff into submission helps..... I recently decided to refer to beating on stuff the "Gaelic Solution"... I have a lot of Sots Irish in my geneology .. Cliff

I work with wood and drywall screws mostly on my day job. The 1/4" ply has little "hairs" on the cut edge, and they just stick in my skin, if I wait till I get home, (which is most of the time) sharp knife edge dragged back and forth in a stropping motion, then in a "shaving" motion seems to get them out. WASH your hands first, take your tim, it makes the wood swell and come out easier. Think 10 minute warm water soak.... As for the little bits of steel that I get from the drywall screws.... I give my wife a pair of fine pointed tweezers and she pulls them out, she enjoys it..... How do enzymes in a banana peels help get splinters out? A little science here would be good. What enzymes? What do they do to your skin that helps get splinters out? Oh by the way, sticky tape, like packing tape, can pull fiberglass fibers out your skin after playing with insulation... best of luck Cliff

Don't know about you, but I would need a forged sporan to go with the flip flops..... but thats me.....

Just to add a little legality, in the northeast the rail roads are cracking down on any activity on or around railroads, starting in the northeast. This is because of the plans they found when they got binLaden. Just trying to let other folks know that waling the rails, or bringing home a spike souvenier of your walk is a bad idea. Also there was an incident up here, New Engand, USA, of someone trying to derail a train by messing with the switches. The RR cops are not kidding anymore. I don't know if everyone here knew this, but I just hope someone can benefit from this. I personally like turning rr spike into things, forks and knives are my favorite, Best of luck, Cliff

You can also search for gaff tape in 4", 3", 2", 1" and 1/2" widths, in a wide array of colors. I prefer it to duct tape, less messy, easier to work with.... go to rosebrand.com search for cloth spike tape, 1/2", comes in a lot of colors. Check it out, wild stuff. Cliff

RIGHT WILD STUFF!! Well done. I like the simplicity, and lack of fussyness. Tools that look like they will do exactly what they are supposed to do for a long time. Best of luck, Cliff

Where does one learn to use a straight razor? I imagine it takes a lot of practice to get it right.

Really just trying to do my due diligence, and make sure I won't get screwed. I am trying to by a used laptop from the UK, (long story and good price) and I am just wondering if anyone here has used the service of Parcel2go.com Just trying to make sure they are not a fly by night outfit, and that they stand up behind their promises. I looked on their site, they don't seem to accept Paypal, and that worries me, but maybe it is not listed on their list. Let me know, and thaks much Cliff

been known to start to forge... do a little work... then cook bacon in a frying pan... watch the air... and tasty tasty bacon on a fork is a nice breakfast to fuel the rest of the day.... also been known to park my coffee cup in a place near the forge where it will stay warm for a long time... cliff

so many good ideas. I would go with either the cylinder and a cut out or applique.... I have seen some that had long slits up the sides to add resonation, the longer and larger they are the lower the tone, but I think the freer the movement will result in longer reverberation. or a round gong with reposse.... I would suggest a high copper alloy, most instrument, or bell brasses are higher copper alloys. ... I have tried something like this, I found that hardening/ tempering only changed steel items tone.... I would really like to see what this turns into Good luck Cliff

I have made a froe from leaf spring pieces.. from a spring shop. I forged down one end, slit and drifted the eye so it had a slight taper to hold the handle better, then forged out the rest of the froe. To start the bevel, I bent the blade towards the side of the socket that was larger, then worked down the bevel carefully. I have never had luck welding high carbon steel....the piece I stated with was about 3 1/2" x 6"x 3/8"... forged down to about 1" square.. then forged out to about 16" long The I let it cool slowly, then filed and ground the edge sharp ish, basically to make the edge even, and convex like a samurai sword for better splitting action .... the guy I made it for uses it often... and hasn't had to sharpen it yet.... Good luck and post pics.... Cliff

If you have a hard time with rivets.... try brass rod or brass brake rivets.... or copper rivets for leather.... stainless will be mighty to head over.... Put up pictures when you finish it... don't be afraid to make more than 1...

Well done, like both patterns

I wouldn't worry about calling something hand forged if you use factory pieces to make something. Items like rivets, bolts and other hardware were often made by specialists. If you are doing period correct work, then you have to worry about such things. And make the tools to make the tools to make the item. Just keep in mind the difference between "IN the style of...." as compared to "Historicaly correct for...", the first one is the looks of, the second is made and used exactly as it would have been. I am also a carpenter, and have started with trees and finished with a product. It is a big PITA, I have access to a sawmill, and other powered tools, but the amount of work that goes into that kind of project is either so massive that no one can pay for it, or must be discounted so much that my time and skill is nearly valueless, and pretty much invisible. By the way, making your own chain, and deciding it wasn't right, then getting some other chain, modifying it and cooking it in the forge till it did look right is ok, and a necessary part of what we do. Having the determination to say this isn't right, and fixing it goes a long way. Good luck Cliff

Don't worry, its Art, and he'll be here in a half hour to explain all about it..... Cliff

.... don't forget that old stones need water for cooling and cutting effeciency... I have used the scrap from leaf springs to true up my stone. ... they do tend to get a little cupped in the middle if you are not careful with you grinding... and they will take off skin if you are careless.... good luck cliff