Fe-Wood

I'm not interested in political views in this thread. No name calling, blame or the like:) My question is just about how is it going for you in this economic period. Anyone seeing any light in the tunnel or does it seem like its just getting worse. If you do have a product line, what items are selling? Ie. big ticket items over $1000.00 or small stuff in the $10.00 to $50.00 range. I haven't been in the job market for several years now, so I don't have a clear idea what is going on out there. Are labor prices going down, staying the same or (Huh) rising? My reason for asking is I have been putting together a new product line and am wondering if its even worth trying to launch it given the current times. What price point seems to have good sales? Where are you having success? Thanks to everyone who replies.

Hi all- I've been spinning copper for almost 6 months now. I am beginning to get the hang of it :confused:. So much so that I ordered a bunch of sheet stock, tired of fussing with scrap.... Anyway, somewhere along the way I read .040 copper was the recommended thickness for spinning. MAN is that tough!!!!!! I am trying to spin some big bowls, about 16" across with a depth of about 4". After spinning and annealing about 5 times, I'm about halfway up my blank. There is so much volume in the copper, I had to rob the burner from my forge in order to get it hot enough to anneal, even with that I can just bearly get a dull cherry red. My question is: Did I get to thick a copper and is Revere Copper a different composition so it is less malleable? This stuff seams really tough, even though it is almost twice the thickness I'm used to. Any isight would be great! Thanks-

Oh boy, do I wish I lived in Mass!!!

Twisted for sure but very cool! What kind of scale are we looking at? Looks like the kind of mosquito you find in Alaska, eh frosty?

You go archiphile!!!! my thought and prayers are with you!

I didn't think lanchie was looking for a science project:) But I could be wrong:rolleyes:

I ordered and am waiting to recieve 5 pair of tongs from Glen-GS Tongs...Very nice to deal with and excellent prices . Friends have his tongs and love them. I'm hopefull:D

This is a nice thread but it sure would be nice to see some pictures to go with the uses. As for me, it takes me about six months to fill a 55 gl. drum with trash, non reusable or recycleable rubish. All the pictures I've shown have been made out reclaimed materials.

Check out your community collage, see if they offer a jewlry making class. Casting Jewelry is time consuming and VERY complex. you WILL need a centrifuge or vacuum for casting just one ring. Consider melting the silver on a piece of clean charcoal block or small crucilble (no flux) and pounding it out. Like copper silver work hardens so anneal often and pickle the carbon deposits off each time you anneal so you don't work them into the silver... unless you like that demascus type look.

I believe you will need the pump PSI AND piston Dia. to work out the PSI of the press...I don't remember the formula though.

I would work it cold because you have more time to get the layout right and feel how it works. I would also slit it as opposed to predrilling, just for the experiance. Drilling could be a little faster and accurate, but you also loose that material. I say a "little faster" because once you get it down without drilling, you should be about the same time for slitting when you take drill set up into account. The window of workability hot or cold is narrow, so keep your eye on it for cracks as it work hardens...Anneal often and work from both sides. Maybe do two at a time for the first one. You might try starting the slit cold then finish hot. Remember dull red is hot enough to work it. Good Luck!

What a wonderful project!!! You and your kids did an oustanding job! Congratulations. Makes me happy to see kids of that age being exposed to this kid of thing, so many are not. Keep up the good work!

Good work!!! Was that all hand work? If you can, post pics of the galvy finish. It would be nice to see the contrast.

:DMy hats off to all the people monitering and maintaining IFI. I have said this before and will say it again. Of all the sites I have been involved in, this one is the best/easiest to use. Very supportive too:)

When I was a kid, I stumbled into collecting drill bits. I'm not sure how. I was a flee market junkie then and used to buy "the whole box" if there was something I needed or wanted in that box. Anyway I went through my collection the other day and took some pictures. I'm not sure if this helps you but it was fun looking in on some old treasures- Pictures 4 & 5 are some hand made bits Piture 6 is an early "keyless" chuck, note the patent date of 1806, hard to believe.

I'm with Jocko- double cuts are tough in the beginning but doable with practice and learning how to shape your grinding wheel. best part is set up time... Disclaimer- I'm not using these "hand sharpened" drills bits for precision machining.

Hofi- Nice exercises. I especially like the knotty cork screw. Just makes me sad I can't join you while your in the US!

Correct me if I'm wrong- but I thought this forum was based loosly on a running coversation about smithing. I ignor the post and posters that are nonsensicle but I welcome debate and valid oppinion weather I choose to agree or not is up to me. (butter may not work for quentching but lard may, works as a flux anyway) One truth I try to live by when dealing with other peoples ideas is there are as many ways of doing something as their are people trying to do it, idiots need not apply. If I listened to all that said "that can't be done that way", well lets just say some of my best work would not have happened. There are basic principles that hold true throughout all the trades, its how one arrives at those princables, thats the challenge. For all the posters who feel slammed by this thread, learn from it but don't go away. For anything to be realavent it needs diversity of oppinion, idea and knowladge. If we all talked about the same thing in the same way, how boring would that be? An Artists perspective-

I have forged 304 and found it very resiliant to hammer blows almost bouncy as in tough. SS is my favorite for tig welding. As frosty said, almost recreational. I use straight argon, Mixed gas 75/25 will work I believe, just not as clean. Good luck and show pics....

Hmmm, I got a responce from Jock within a day! Here is a copy of his last correspondance- (my question) Hi Jock- Thanks for the reply! I mentioned this registry on IFORGEIRON.com and the perception is that nothing is happening with it. I'm wondering if the cost to register and the benefit from doing so needs to be reconsidered. I know there are many new smiths with touchmarks out there. (Jock's reply) We register all that are sent in. CSI members are not charged. The cost was a one time fee to cover my time setting them up. It takes about an hour so I am giving away my time. I was hoping to find a maker that would want to be a sole advertiser and that would cover the costs to make it free but none have been interested. I haven't really pushed it. They was one guy that tried to launch a web site that was nothing but a mark registry but I know from our lackluster interest that it was doomed. There have also been folks that collected marks hoping to publish them. One gave me his drawings and list but the drawings were so bad they could not be used and many were not even legible. . It's one of those things that everyone thinks is a good idea but don't follow through on. Jock D. (me again) Maybe it is time to try again? I'm in the process of designing my own touchmark etc. I don't know beans about programming and site design but I would be willing to donate some time if someone could get a site off the ground.

Thomas is a man with his priorities all worked out:D Have fun camping and forging under the stars! Do you plan on doing demos for the other campers?

Steve- I noticed that too, thats why I suggested submissions. I sent anvilefire an email asking what gives.

Ok, all you guys with the touchmark and name stamps, you need to place them in the Touchmark Registry Thanks for all the sources too. I should be getting my makers mark soon as well

I think this is were the concept of what the market will bear comes into play....

I just spent the better part of today watching the 2007 PBS Documentary, "Crafts in America" 3 hrs worth:o If anyone is in need of inspiration or needing to be humbled, THIS IS A MUST SEE! There is a very nice interview with Blacksmith, Tom Joyce in New Mexico and several jeweler/metal-smiths throughout the country. There is also a great nod to the Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood as well as several of the other wonderful crafts that make this country and the people in it unique.