CBrann

Brian, I have found it is often about the tooling. I don't do enough forging for it to be worth while to make a great number of tools. I don't know how many times I have said .. "If I just made a tool to do that i could take out this many steps/ heats/ hammer blows.. and frustration. One of the best things I have built myself was a guillatine/ fuller... love your hammer design by the way. One of the funniest things I ever heard was "I'll bet I could do that! If I had the tools and only knew how...." I has laying a hard wood floor at an orthopedic surgeons home. I am a carpenter by trade. The doctor was talking to my boss. The least funny moment was when I was working my forge one day and said the same thing... You give me encouragement with every picture and project, Cliff

Do yourself a favor.. look up the elements nickel and chromium. See what the facts are about melting point, burning point, toxicity, nature. I say nickel,. because it is often plated before chrome, to make the chrome stick better. Hex Chrome or Hexavalent chrome, chromium (VI) is a whole different animal. Search that as well. I asked this same question about 2 years ago. I have a 7 foot long 1 1/2 " diameter hydraulic piston I wanted to make things out of. The long and the short is, the answers I got were mixed, mostly "I wouldn't mess with it, but I don't really know.." I cut a piece, heated to yellow, gave it 2 flat sides, annealed it, gave it a grinding and filing, (WITH RATED RESPIRATOR!! AND SAFeTY GEAR!) and now have straight pein I been wanting for a long time. Not a recomentdation, just what I did.

and .. how much time and sandpaper do you have that you have been checking the brands? and sorting... (said with laughter)

I imagine the Minnesota mining and Manufacturing would turn into 3M.. the other I'll leave for someone else.. but what do I know?

It does not coke... thats been covered.. but it needs a little air all the time or it will go out... mixing is a good way to go with bituminous. I have both, hard and soft coal in my shop.. the hard is for when I run out and can't get to my coal dealer.. Antracite put out plenty of heat!! it took me a little getting used to to get my heats right.. i melted a few things... It comes down to going with what you got.. and doing the best you can good luck Cliff

I see I was unclear in my looking for comments. I am curious to know: If anyone has ever used or abused it. If it might make good tools.. texture, sets, etc (if a large piece would make a good small portable anvil) If there are "off market uses " for it. How it responds to blacksmith manipulation. Comments of that nature.. I did a search and came up with a data sheet.. but do not know enough to understand it http://alta-steelco.com/Hardox/Hardox%20400.pdf (the hardox website itself was down) or is it not worth my time to think about? from the data sheet it is .14 to .32 carbon, and does say that its properties are from being quenched, and that temps over 480F (250C) "may then lose it good properties" thanks for looking Cliff

couple of things ...for what its worth.... they are not made for torsional loads.. so the bearings are eventually going to give out.. the spindle may or may not have a left hand thread.. depends on how the saw is built... for lefty or righty and motor orientation... but not made to take a blade much over 3/16" thick... so it needs a thin buffer or pulley to run something else... also the motor probably not made for continuous duty... and how are you going to hold it steady to something? how do I know these things? I have blown up 1 thrift store saw that way... fire extinguiser and electrical fire blown up... but if its what you got .. go with it and be careful!! remember not to let the smoke out of the motor .. good luck and post pics of your finished "machine of doom" Cliff PS like the pantyhose trick.. will have to try that...

I was looking for something on my steel dealers website today, and there was a link for the Hardox steel plate. It seems to be wear resistant and durable... from Sweden I think... the videos are good.. they show guys tryihng to demolish a container made out of this stuff. I am not a huge consumer of steel, so I am a little hesitant to ask my dealer about it.. here is the link for the videos... http://www.midcitysteel.com/hardox.html also the url for my dealer... ideas? comments? Cliff

Sounds good.... I was expecting a picture of an iron bloom.... Cliff

Being unable to get to videos right now... how do the petals come together?? welded on a core? good work!! I kept looking to the pine cone made from iron.. and I am originally from Maine.. and I was fooled... (yes there is a joke there.. but leave it be) Cliff

how does one use a scorp/scarp?? is it really as simple as pull towards you and control the depth with the handle angle? I been thinking of making a bowl adz and a scorp for finishing... I know I could make the tools.. but it is easier to get them right when you know how to use them... I use a lot of hand tools in carpentry and wood working.. and never know when it might be important know how to use an "obscure tool" to accomplish something faster than a modern tool... quick and dirty ... looks good.. did they work?

Mighty work... clean and elegant, and the right amount of solidity and mass... that has got to be a big house and room to support that size and scale of fireplace... beauty! cliff

Nine hammer heads.. they all look almost alike.. except for size... I have found, due to insufficient practice.. the first looks of a series looks ok, the second looks better ... the third gets thrown away forth is ok and the fifth gets thrown away... yes I have gone 1 at a time or in pairs.. Brian, great work as always! Cliff

I may be simple... but 15 minute 2 ton epoxy works for me... I spend a lot of time fitting my scales.. drilling "glue rivet holes" throught the tang... I file/grind my tangs so they are parallell on the scale sides, but leave as much tooth as I can.. I also use brass pins that I rough with coarse sand paper on the belt sander... and I use plenty of glue... its relatively cheap.. .. and scrub with acetone after fitting before!! gluing!! .. both tang and scales.. unless the acetone will bleach the wood.. glue.. peen rivets a bit.. wipe up squeezed out glue... and leave somewhere warm for a day.. then go to town finishing the handle..

Had a moment.. forget they come in a bunch of sizes.. different parts of the US and world have different weights.. I worked a place where they still had lead weights... you have choices.. an I beam will be loud and heavy ... a tree stump or trunk would do fine, ... depends on you portability factor.. if you have access to a welder.. a couple angle iron ears for bolting to a tree trunk or 12 by 12 ... or whatever POST PICS!! Cliff

forging with coal forge... nothing.. I work outside and upwind of my forge... grinding and wire brushing a OrGanic vapors respirator (also rated for fine particulate), 1/2 face, w/ face shield while brushing, gloves for a lot of things, safety glasses always!! earplugs as necessary....

Being that they are often flame cut steel or cast - cast iron... they will work fine, just a little grinding to take off sharp edges and the cut slag... at 50# you must work in an old school counter weight house.. most modern weights are 18 or 36 lbs.. have fun with your brick, Cliff.. starting my 11th year in the entertainment biz.. 6 th as a rigger..

Not being snarky but have you thought about a grocery store where they sell meat? Slaughter house? (Not my favorite, but a thought) one of those wacking big grocery stores where they sell everything.. with the meat section ... any place they cut meat or prep wild game for freezing... or look up "Butcher" or "meat cutter" in the yellow pages... In Iowa.. maybe ask a beef farmer where he gets his cattle "processed" .. then call that place to see what you can work out... If it works out, bring some work to show what you can or will be doing with their product ... good luck, Cliff

Also your local butcher shop could supply you with large bones from cow, sheep, whatever.. you start with raw bones, and clean and treat them yourself. ...

Blacksmithing can make a small fortune... out of a big one.. just like horses... I love it.. would do it more.. but nothing from nothing .. s welll... you know,..

Having horses myself, I know they are hard on everything. Tack, stalls, the bodies of those who ride or care for them... nerves ... the list goes on... If the rings are to be for cross ties ...I usually put a couple loops of baling twine between the tie and the rings.. a weak link so the horse does not pull down the barn... .. the same horse on a different days may be fine with the green water hose on the floor... or very frightened of the very same green snake hose monster monster on another day... 5/8" may be over kill for strength... but it has a larger cross section radius ... which will allow a rope to hold more weight before parting... that may be part of the idea... also in winter.. larger ring/ larger diameter stock.. you can tie with gloves on... I like the suggestion of contacting the farrier... or local blacksmith group... hands on rules! good luck, and I would love to hear the end of this story... Cliff

Let me see if I have this right. You are pulling 35,000 lbs with a forklift rated for 15,000 lbs lifting. You have a pin that is 1 and 3/8" in diameter. And it got bent? I am not being wise, but a little more info might be needed here. Like: How did the pin you already have get bent? Why can't you order or buy one from the/a forklift manufacturer, dealer/ distributor, repair/maintenance? If you get one from a reputable source (not saying you are foolish or anything) if anything goes wrong, and someone gets killed or injured, then you are not responsible or more importantly legally liable!!! I would stay away from the bolt idea. Not that it wouldn't work, just that bolts are made to have tension on them end to end, and not shear at the holes under the proper torque. They tend to bend in the middle when subjected to a load in the middle with the ends supported. Just my opinion, take it or not.. be safe Cliff

I'll ring my anvil next time out... Cliff

So far so good.,.. gonna give the vinegar a try... ever have those day where you don't want to poison yourself for fun?? I been having those days for a while... figured I would tap into the brains, experience and creativity of you all for some backup. I was hoping NOT to get "NEVER DO THAT !!!!" .. or something if my plan was exceptionally stupid.... under exceptionally stupid would be combining potassium permanaganate and glycerin ... in a full gunpowder storage room... with a door locked from the outside.. now for thermite.. tha is a whole different thing... thanks... will report back.. Cliff

Water knife.. anything can be made out of almost anything... ya can't build a sky scraper from jello... that being said.. I am interested in how you guitar comes out.. I have a Yamaha acoustic and Ibanez electric... The first one you make may not be great.. but keep at it till you are happy with the result... Shakespeare said in "As you Like It" ... "It matters not the tune so long as it makes noise enough... " In my opinion as long as it looks good to you and sounds good to you then it is a success.. good luck Cliff