HWHII

Looks like a fun job. Hope you made some money on it. Their is a old saying, that goes, " You make your money in the shop and you lose it in the field. " I have had this happen to me before. Working on site like this can take twice as long to get something done. Hope it worked out all right for you.

I called a couple of my friends in Anchorage who are not involved in your group, and told them to keep a eye out.

Yes!

Looks like it will do the job. Happy hammering!

Looks like a very nice saw Dave! Becareful it won't be long and you will be thinking, ( Now where am I going to put this? :unsure: ).

:D :D :D :D I like this!

I don't think 180 amp machine will get you quite there. I'm thinking 225 amps for a fillet weld on 3/16 myself. May be your machine is to small. You can try to preheat with a torch. Be careful because it's hard to judge the temp. If you have any blue layout die spray it on it and it will burn of at about 450 degrees and that should be enough preheat.

Their is a posability the tube has a anodized coating on it. It would be what they call a mill finish and be gray in color just like aluminum. It has a higher melting temperature then the aluminum base metal. It won't flow and if you try to add filler it will just ball up on top. You can sand or grind this coating off to reveal the base metal, a wire wheel or brush will not do it. After you grind or sand it you will need to use a stainlees wire wheel or brush then to clean the weld area. Then weld it. Your weld might still be a bit dirty though. If you are using a square wave machine move you balance more to the DC+ side and this will help clean it up. Make sure you use a 5356 filler metal on it.

Got your number. I hope to be in Traverse City for the Cherry festival. Thanks!

Thomas, I was born and rasied up there. Live there for 20 years. I have a cousin who lives in Black River just outside fo Escanaba. It is a great movie, ( You know Eah! ).

Thanks Steve! I might pop in. I will be in Goshen on the way out and on the way back.

Frosty, Where I am at I am just off the grid barely. I have electricity but no cell service, phone or satellite dish. Would be nice to hook up with you again too. Sorry I didn't get up north to visit you last summer but ended up the whole time down on the Kenai. Just leave me a message some where I'll get it. I'll be checking in from time to time.

Great video! Thanks for posting! The blacksmiths helper is a beautiful piece of work. I am curious why they felt the need to cover all the modern machinery in the black ground?

We have friends and family in you neck of the woods. I sure would like to bang on your door some day. ;)

The question you ask is not a simple one to anwser. In fact you may get alot of different opinions on this subject because it has been asked many times here. First, do you have any welding experience? If not, stick welding requires some skill and a bit of practice to be able to use it. If you are going to be welding alot of thin gauge tubing it might even be frustrating for you. I would recommend a MIG unit for you. It will be easier to learn and find a friend or take a class to help you learn how to use it correctly. A good welding supply store will help you get it set up and they will even give you some pointers. I am Miller man myself and would recommend a Miller 211 unit. It is a great power source and will run on either 110 or 220 volts. Good luck!

Dave, my forge area in my shop is 1/4 minus crushed granite. I really like it. Just spread it evenly, tamp it, water it and it firms right up. I have no problem rolling cart or welders on it. It is hard yet easy to work on. I will rake and water it ever now and then. Mill scale just disapears into it. I agree with you about concrete around your welding area. I have the same too.

In a few weeks I will be heading to Northern Michigan for the summer. I would like to check out some smithy's and make some new friends! Anyone up for a visit?

I have wondered the same thing my self. I have a 385lb Peter Wright with a anchor stamp on it. For years I did not know what type of anvil it was because some one had cleaned up the side with a mill where the trade made should be. When I bought Anvils of America I read about the diiferent stamps and found it on one foot.

There is a coal mine in Bowie Colorado. I have been told they will sell coal buy the truck load. It is a low sulfer type. I have not used any, but it might be worth checking into.

There is a coal mine in Bowie Colorado. I have been told they will sell coal buy the truck load. It is a low sulfer type. I have not used any, but it might be worth checking into.

I have been looking for one just like that one. I would buy it!

Those look very nice Frank! How long did they take you to forge?

Here in AZ you must have a registered business to get a tax ID number. You do have to pay taxes. I choose to pay them monthly, even if I have a month with no income I will still file the papper work. It is worth getting the tax number.

What you have there is a BIG BOMB! :unsure: Something that will put you on the 6 o'clock news or may be even national. Be careful with it, if you decide to try and use it. We had one,not like that one, where I went to college at Ferris State University in Michigan. It made gas for our oxy- acetylene stations which there were 20. OSHA made the school take it out the first year I went there because of how dangerous it was.

I'm not sure I could pick just one. Everyone has so much to offer. What about the ones you have never heard of. Like Tom Bredlow. Thats why I like to go to as many conferences, hammer in, and demos I can.