Paul B

There was a test done on this recently. It was on TV, I don't remember the name of the show, but they took two hammers and slammed them together at forces way greater then a human could develop and not one broke. They did this with hundreds of hammers ranging from ounces to several pounds each and the only failure was the handles breaking. Just some nice to know info. Paul

Actualy a Monkey wrench did not have teeth and a stilson wrench does.

This is red antracite (sp) I think, I called them some time back. Is this good for blacksmithing?

We used to use minwax poly on most everything wood. We now use a laquer called magna max. This is a great product. We only use poly on wet areas now, such as the front edge of oak countertops. edit: left out a word

Steve and Kasper, your flues are square? Are they steep pipe or flue liners? If steel pipe which I would think it is, are they just duct? Paul

Very nice, that give me some ideas. Paul

I didn't know folks used corn either, I know they have corn stoves for heat, similar to pellet stoves I guess.

What is a HF ring roller?

I believe I read somewhere that lift truck forks make a pretty good hitting surface if you don't have an anvil. I hope this is true because I have access to a couple of bent ones.

Why would you want to wreck a craftsman ratchet? I would look for another piece of suitable steel. Just curious.

your a fine one to talk

Thanks for the links, they sure are helpful. Paul

A removable tuyere is a very good idea, I wish I had thought of it. Thanks, Paul

I am thinking of a 4" square at the bottom of the fire pot. I am going to use a three inch pipe welded to the bottom. I am figuring 4 - 1/4 inch slots in the 4" square about 2" long for air the air supply. Do you folks think this would be adequate?

My brother always burned his potatoe peelings in the wood stove, said it removed creosote.

So are you using the steel or the nickel as the solder? Which melts first, I'm guessing the steel.

I have a craftsman drill, 1/2 inch chuck, turns 400 RPM. It gets used about four or five times per week. It has never failed me. Lives in the trailer with most of my other construction tools. The kicker is I bought it in 68 I think. In those days sears had as good a tools as any one. I still buy all craftsman hand tools, prefer them over snap on and the rest. I have never had a problem returning any tool to sears. You do have to insist on a new replacement, they will try to give you a remanufactured or repaired ratchet. I have even taken back bars and ratchets where you could clearly see the marks from the presuader and never questioned. Paul

Frosty, I was thinking along the same lines as you. I hope I can find some nice size pieces like that when I get started. Paul

Compressed air is very expensive, between the electric and maintenance and the initial cost.

Okay I have never forged anything. I was a machinery designer for twenty some years and have done a fair amount of machine work. I am a long way from a tool maker. I am getting ready to start to build a coal forge. I did visit one of the members from here and look at a forge he is in the process of building, this helped me with a concept. I am going to build one similar to the one hammer kid shows on this forum. Here are a few basic questions.1) How large should the bottom of the fire box be, length and width? 2) What are the dimensions of the top of the fire box, length and width? 3) What is the angle of the sides of the fire box? 4) What should the depth be of the fire box? This maybe dependent on how big a piece I am going to heat. I'm guessing that the largest thing I will heat til I know what I'm doing maybe something like 1 inch or so square by maybe 8 or 10 inches long. Any help would be appreciated. I am planning on going to a party put on by the Blacksmith Guild of Central Maryland in a couple weeks, hopefully I will pick up some more tips there as well. Thanks Paul edit: spelling

Now that is what I call "Calling a fellows bluff". Ha Ha

Are those plates from your Velocipede. edit: spelling

Thanks, I am learning more every day.

Man I got tostarted on a forge, I'm tired of everyone else having all the fun.