Paul B

I to only know something about wood stove and fireplace chimneys. You would never go horizontal with a wood chimney. The size of the flue is dependent upon the size of the opening on a fireplace and the size of the port on a wood stove. The height does come into play. I have some tables on this somewhere. I think a google search would bring more info then you would ever need. The problem with wood chimneys is the coolin and condensing causes the walls to built up creosote. This is what causes chimney fires.

What do you use the moly lube for?

I don't know if you use a lot of blades but I send them out and get them sharpen all the time, 10 and 12 inch. I get them back much sharper then the new ones. I have some 12 inch that have beem sharpened 8 or 10 times. Cost is not that bad. Paul

I don't know what you plan to weld. I have a Lincoln buzz box that I have had for about forty years. Get used a few times a month. Has held up well. Will go to 200 amp @ a 10% duty cycle. Using 6013 can weld up to 100 amp @ 100% duty cycle. I weld very few thing that require more them 100 amp.

So is this a drop hammer where the steam would lift the ram and drop it, or is a hammer that the steam powers the ram in both directions? A 100 ton seems like a lot of tonage but it really is not. edit: typo

What is a tire hammer?

That must be for some serious work.

House hold vinagar is good for removing rust. Use it all the time.

I don't know about the HVLP compresser working or not. I would like to add that different type fans have diferent characteristics. I don't remember the ins and outs, but some types only develop a specified CFM at a given static pressure. Others will not move air and will start to cavitate is the pressure is varied too much. Also the suction head will make a big difference if you put some type filter ahead of it to keep it clean.

Just curious, about how much does a power hammer weigh.

I have designed quite a few foundations for equipment, mostly power presses, up to 2000 ton machines. The foot print is usually 2 x the foot print of the machine providing the earth beneath it tested OK. Most times we drove piling to bedrock. I don't think this would be necessary for a hammer. It looks like there is foam under the base, this could be a problem. The foam around the edge is to isolate the base from the floor of the shop.

Anything free is always good.

I got ya, never thought about thin metal objects, that makes sense.

Just how fast does the hunk of steel cool? I can't believe an extra step would make that much difference. Of course though I really don't know I have never done it.

So are you implying that the cast crank is just as strong as the forged item. I think GM would disagree with you along with about a half million racers.

Well I'll just throw this in because I know it from my racing days. You could get cast and forged crankshafts for chevys. The forged crankshaft was the prefered because of its superior strength.

I would say it definitly ain't copper, wouldn't be there.

Put your location in your profile so folks know how close they are to you.

In my area no noise before 7 AM and after 10 PM. No noise at the property line above 65dB. Nearest house is about two hundred yards away, I think I will be OK. Getting kids in the neighborhhod interested is a real plus. I am a trapper and skin critters outside when the weather is nice. Folks would turn up their noses when they realized what I was doing. I got a lot of the kids around interested so the parents left me alone. This was a lot of years ago and the kids are grown and gone but I don't get any complaints.

I don't much about anvils yet but SS is often soft compared to most metals. You can get some SS that is tough, I think 440.

There is a railroad near my house that everyone thinks is a dump area. You can go there and find most anything, leaf springs, brake drums railroad spikes, etc.

Thanks for the replies. I do now have an understanding of both the pattern weld and the damascus barrel. edit: typing error

What is this? I have seened or heard of Damascus barrels on old shotguns, is this what you guys are talking about?

I'm from central Maryland. I have numerous hobbies. I youngest son is interested in bladesmithing. I'm doing the research to get him started. He is twenty. It will most likely go the same way as with everthing else my sons get me into. They hang in til I get everthing going and then they abandon me and I'm hooked. Happens alot. There is a Blacksmithing group here in central MD which meets at the Farm Museum. They offer a beginers blacksmithing class fro $175, I think I will sign us up soon. Anyway I will be asking a lot of elementary questions I'm sure.

What is a sucker rod?