Ralph

IForgeIron Blueprints Copyright 2002 - 2007 IFORGEIRON, All rights reserved BP0262 Fire Strikers by Ralph Douglass Tonight I will try to show how I make fire strikers. (The Steel part of Flint and Steel Fire Starters.) I start with about 5 to 6 inches of garage door spring, the round coiled stuff. Of course you need to pull it straight first before cutting to length. Heat steel to working temp insuring you do not get it too hot so you do not ruin it. Now slightly flatten the piece, but DO NOT thin it too much. The leading and trailing edges will be slightly curved. You want this. Re-heat it and then taper both ends slightly. And in same heat make a small scroll on each end. Make sure scrolls are facing the same way. Heat again ( with practice you should be able to drop one heat or so). Now once hot, bend into a slightly elongated C shape. Now straighten the long edge carefully. Now have a can of water ( I use a 3 lb coffee can for this) heated to about 180 F. Also heat the striker to the critical temperature ( non-magnetic) I use refridgerator magnets for this, and have one hanging from baling wire near the forge. Bring the stock to the magnet not the other way. When the magnet is no longer attracted to the hot steel, you have reached the critical temperature. Once it is at critical temp then quench the long edge about half way up the arms. Once the edge is cooled below critical dunk it all til cool. Now you need to clean scale off the striking edge. I use a piece of hard red brick and rub off the scale and get it more or less shiney. Use what you have. It is not needed to be a mirror, just no scale as that will prevent spark formation. It is brittle so do not ‘drop test it’ (grin) View full article

I have a 4 foot round half inch thick plate. my plan assuming my cancer alows, is to drill bolt holes and bolt on pipe couplings 3 inch, then use 3 in pipe and flange to hyold up vise. should work. if not try try again. Nice thing is that most stuff was gifted, the vise was given by aa friend who was dealine with MS, Grizz also gifted me with 6 years of friendship a forge,a motorcycle and more than I could ever say cya one day buddy

only way to get good enooguht is to do it. Ask Dr H HOW long he tryied to get as good as he is. better yet work with daughter. RALPH

Ellen I knew you were headed into mor surgery, BUT not as severer as is so to be. YOU GOT ALL PRARERS. hold tough . need anything ask and i will try to help Ralph @ Dawn

so far was in Doc occife for 5 hours and no real results other than no real results. othan that the hosptpitl makes good oatmeal. SIGH sofar be both have good out looks. now I need to remember where I parked. think it was is in the hostpitl visitor parking. but that is for a new day. Unugh on me. how about y'all? Ralph

i can only say I HAD a blast at the 2000 ABANA CONFERERECE especially it only intended for use to visit my Daughters, graduation of Santa FE,which was good. Wife and familily were gracices enought to see all the collrgee stuff, AS WELL AS ABOUT 65% OF THE DEMOS%. YES I DID HELP WITH LORE LIE AND DOROTHY sEGLIER, AS HER DAUGHTER HAD TO BAIL AT LAST MOMENT. GOOD FOR ME. HAH,HAH! GOOD TO HAVE A CLOSE KNIT GROUP. Ralph BTW DOPRYHY ANY TIME YOU NEED OR WANT A Astrriker or back up man j ust ask, i will be ready. Ralph

irn, you hit it on the head. smithing more or less 12 years. usuall as a volunteer at Ft. Vancover . NHS Have a fantastic time trying to learn.Got some folks there that know vmore than I WILL EVER KNOW but I keep tying. Also folks like irnsrg. but just keep ploding along. i might vjust miss the nasty cowpie and find the jewel ralph the hopefull

uh that is rather large claim making more forges ESPECIALLYATy at age 16. just my opinion at age 47.

I have some four foot round that I plan as a base. Plan on usuing a 3 in pipe thread as the base then use a vice 3 inch flange to hold the vice? Ralph

More talent than I will have. Congrats! Ralph

actually miine is not made by them any longer but pieces parts might be had

I have an old DIvillbiscast iron pump, but none of the internal pluming yet. one day. ralph

well I do have a poorlk made leaf to send off. mrbbee later this week. ralph going to have to deal with poor speeling.

NEVER set in water! The water will swell the wood crushing it against the hammer head and then it will be loose. Glue is for folks too lazt to do it right in my opinion. But linseed oil on the other hand is great. Scrape the handle to the smoothness you like and let the whole thing take a bath in linseed oil for a while(a day or so) and after using for a week or so the handle will feel very very nice. AS well as being tight in the hammer head.

To me nut sized coal is still 'pea' sized. I like my coal to about the size of walnuts. less drops thru the clinkerbreaker/air inlet. I know that at Frank Turleys school part of the morning is spent breaking up the large coal into smaller useable coal. Each person does his/her own. Ralph