Ralph

Assuming grade 8 bolts are hardened as recieved, then my chisel did cut one shortly after I made it. It was made from car coil spring. 5160 I think? I will try it again as soon as I can get out and get stuff. Now wasn't part of a machinist's final test to take a chunk of steel and chisel it into a 1 inch cube? Who all could do that now? I know I could not. At least not yet..... Never had a reason to but now I think I might be talking myself into this test, assuming my arm will let me.... 8)

OK, I am an idiot, but why can't you use a chisel on a grade 8 bolt or nut? I have used my chisel ( that I made) in this way. Not harm done other than cutting off a rusted nut. I also use grade 8 bolts for the inserts in my nail headers. BUt I do anneal them first. 8) Ralph

For some reason your post was locked ( Glenn?????) and so I could not reply directly to you.. Welcome and hope that we can share our experiences with you and I hope you will share yours with us. If you have not looked around this site be sure to look at the BP ( AKA Blueprint) section, lots of good tips and how too's. If you have querstions please ask. I promise that we will do our best to answer you, or at least try to pull your leg. BTW there is a link on the home page for a map showing many smiths locations. no registration is required. Just put your name ( or nickname) and town. And for the 'shout out' just put a few words that you want us to see. Once you go there you will see what the rest of us did. And if you need more help or your 'profile' needs changing or remval I am the one who can do so. Oh yes, I am not the owner of Iforgeiron that will be Ntech( or Glenn) But I do like to welcome folks if I can. BTW I have done hobby smithing off and on for about 13 years now. Started as a volunteer at Fort Vancouver NHS in Vancouver WA. Just across teh river form Portland. Lordy I can sure be verbose... 8)

Ed you mistake what I am saying. NOt trying to say live in a bubble, but there is a bit more to suspension work for auto than forging nice smooth transitions. As it is most here are not as experienced as you. I just wished to caution that doing this type of work yourself IS risky unless you really DO understand the engineering behind it. But ultimately each must be responsible for their own actions, including advice to others. Ralph

Tim short answer is yes. BUT, I repeat BUT why risk your life on something like that? There is actually a lot of engineering design to suspension parts. Plus the proper heat treatment ( you did say you knew little about metalurgy) I can not see being so cheap to risk your life over something that should be readily avalible. But this is just my 2 cents worth. Ralph

One-rod, So are you planning on using this thing onehanded? I ask as about the biggest sledge I use when striking is maybe 8lbs and it moves metal quite well. But then again my regualt using hammer is only 2 1/2lbs. If used one handed then be careful as the shoulder and arm really are not going to like this.

The unsupported stair is near the Cathdral in Santo Fe . Well worth the time. Ralph

Well what ever works for you. Each to his own I suppose. Ralph

I thought as much but had to be sure. :lol:

Actually if I remember correct brewing yeast will die for several reasons. One is that there is not enough food (sugar) so it may not be 18%. If you add a wee bit of sugar water it might re-ferment. YMMV Ralph 8)

Tyler when it comes to tools, espcially tools you are going to try and make a living from you get what you pay for. Just my thoughts on it. Ralph

insulators make nice door handles too

BTW in answer to the original question. I personally would anneal then grind off all the teeth before forging. If not then you may have a issue with cold shuts. Unless your first few heats are welding heats. Just my 2 cents worth

Have no idea about soaking before quenching. ALl my good sparking strikers have I suspect a very find grain. I say this as I have broken one or two ( ones that sparked well) by accident and they both had very fine grain structures. Ralph

I might add that a center punch will mark the spot so you know where to drill afterwards. :lol:

Bryan, I am sorry for you and your families loss. Prayers to you and your brothers family.

Actually if you take an old dull drill bit of the correct size you can spot aneal. All you do is chuck it up and run it backwards and push down on the tang with it. It WILL get hot and remove the hardness in only that spot. Ralph 8)

Don, I get whatever stone I need form a local ( once or twice a year) gem and stone show ( sorta like a gunshow type thing but with gems and stones) The agate I get is sliced into thin plates. I can get one about 8 inches acrtoss and 1/4 inch thick for about 3 bucks. Take it home and drop it on the floor. instant striker stones.. Once an edge gets dull a wee tap with a small hammer and you have a new sharp edge. ALso since they be flat they fit into fire started kits ( flat cans) real nice. :o

I use garage door sping as well. Here is how I do it. ( Glenn mebbe a BP?) Cut off a piece about 5 or so inches long. SLIGHTLY flatten. Taper each end and make a scroll end Then 2nd heat I bend around the horn so that it is an open 'C"( with the long edge slightly flat, big enough for my hand. BUt I do not put whole hand in but I hold with finger tips and use a quick wrist action, more on that later.. I then heat a CAN OF WATER TO ABOUT 180 DEG F . Also heat the piece to non-critical ( AKA cherry red or better yet non-magnectic) then quench the flat edge ( the long one) then throw on floor. ( dirt floor) Oh yes I also file the striking surface to clear off the scale ( scale doen not spark) Or some times I rub the quenched piece with some soft red brick for the same purpose. Then the trick to getting sparks is a quick snapping action with the wrist and using a hard sharp edged rock. Agate, flint and others. Obsidion works but the rock flakes more than I like. Just my nickle's worth

Leah, Can not tell you how envious I am. I have had the chance to visit with Frank a few years back and see his school shop. I am certain you will have a great time. Mebbe if I have enough time and if my arm and shoulder get back to reasonable useage I can also go to his school. Have fun and do not worry about the cost to get there. Remember folks like Frank are few and far between and it is up to us to get as much learnign from them as possible. Ralph :mrgreen:

Howdy all. Just got back from the radiologist. Seems that my last 2 MRI's showed a new spot in the brain. The latest one confirmed that it is melanoma. It is in the left temporal lobe so the surgeon does not feel good about doing cutting there as this is the speech control area. But the radiologist said he would recommend stereotactic radiation. ( Sorta like pin point radiation surgery. ) Few or no side effects. ANd it should kill the new spot. The original spot has not changed, so I will continue on with the CHemo and in the next week or two will do the Zap on the new tumor. All in all doing well. Despite the fact that it looks as if the Winter rains have started in earnest. 8)

Dan, I think I might suggest to you what my student is doing. He just started college last week. He is taking metal working and jewelry making. I say this as it will give you a very broad base for all metalworking as more and more of the 'pro' smiths are more than blacksmiths. Also you may think of looking into metalurgy as that can only help I would think. Also some business classes would be rather helpful as well. While most smiths would like a powerhammer you have to ask yourself if you are producing enought that the cost would be recouped. For myself the answer is no. But I still want a pwr hammer. It is also my firm believe that a smith should not get a power hammer until he or she is WELL versed in hand hammering. A power hammer is not going to make you better. Or even faster if you do not thourghly understand metal movement etc. But this is just my own opinion. Good luck

Looks like I will be starting Chemo once the Doc can beat some sense into the pharmacy about what to give me. They called tonight and said they need to talk with him about the strength of the dose. As if the prescription did not say. It did as I read it first. I am told that the 'Temodar' is a fairly easy to deal with chemo. We shall see in time. Everyday for 3 weeks and then one week off. for up to a year. Otherwise doing well. 8)

Easiest way is to buy new steel from a reliable vendor and then mark it. BTW if marking with paint NEVER, I repeat NEVER cut from the painted end. Or allow others to do so, as now you have a new piece of mystery steel ( after it is put back into the metal rack/pile. The grinding wheel way does work. But you first need to learn a few things about it. My copy of Machineries Handbook ( the 14th Edition) has a section on this very thing. Explains and has some B&W drawings of the different spark patterns. If you can get some low carbon steel, say like a nail which should be 1008 and some plain jane bar stock ( mild steel) and perhaps an old cold chisel, then you can spark test them all and pay close attention to the spark color, the shape or pattern of the sparks. How bright as well. Then you have a fair seat of the pants gauge. Also it would be best to apply about the same pressure to the metal with the grinder. There are other publications that show the spark test info, but I can not remember what they are

Ralph is doing well. In fact other than my right shoulder/arm area I feel pretty good. Cancer in the brain but so far it is on a cellular level and so is not detectable. How do I know? After they removed the clot in my brain a few ( 13 to be exact) random tissue samples of brain were removed and biopsied. Only one had melanoma in it. The cancer was all the way to the edge of the sample so that means that some cancer is still lurking. My oncologist here is talking woth the Docs at MD Anderson to develop a plan for me. Chemo for sure, all in pill form, but it may have one or more different chemical types. Most likely more surgery to remove the cancer that is known. But since they can not see it I am not sure how this will be done. I suppose a few samples and a quick pathology then removeal of bad tissue. BUT, I repeat all if good so far. Also Nathan our son got home last night. He is here on emergency leave and is supposed to attempt to get re-assigned to this area. If so we understand that most likely he will get a discharge sometime next year ( compassionate discharge I think) Be nice to not have to worry about him in Afghanistan. Tho we will worry about his friends who will be there. Ralph