Ron Hicks

I made these today from a old crowbar - no handles yet maybe tomarrow.
I tried to make a drift from a RR spike it did not work so good.
I had a big tappered punch and used it to make the holes round
then use another drift I had tried to make & narrowed - lengthened the holes.
Thought I would harden and temper to spring temper?
They are pretty rough lookin
Hey could some one show me a drift so I might make one that works:)

The punch is 1/4 in on the end
The other ( not sure what its called) not a side set but the thing you start to neck down with ?
I dont know what Im doin

Tell me what you think
Ron

BP1001 Holding the hammer
BP1002 Swinging the hammer
BP1004 Woop Tongs
BP1006 Tong Clips
BP1007 Hot Cut Hardie
BP1010 Forging a point
BP0372 Handled Punch
BP0382 Offset Bend 2

Sorry habu
figured it out "Full view books "
Duh
Ron

habu
Ive found a few old books on Google that I would like to download but can not.
Im sure they are out of print - the books you have posted are downloadable am I doing something wrong?
One of the books Im talking about is
Oxy-Acetylene Welding & Cutting by Burrows
Can you help me?
Ron

Ive been looking for the edit myself - whered it go?

Where are the 400+ blueprints - I would like to see them ?

"It sounds like yours will coke properly so that's a good start"

Im going to get some good coal but what I using isnt good coal.
Its some stuff I bought years ago - its chunks that looks like layers kind of like shale, has yellow gunk on it , some turns a funky birck red when it turns to coke, I clean out big clinkers about every 30 min. or cant get any heat, hard and heavy.

I think I have the cleaning part down mainly wanting to know about making the coke and keeping a big fire mound going.
Really want to see a good rake and shovel also.

When I do get some Good coal "hopefully a good amount" keep it in a pile outdoors OK? or maybe like a bin of some sort?
Ron

Hate to ask , I know this is a beginer ? but just started working with coal.
I have read about building the first fire & about making a cave.

I guess the kind of fire I want is a lose mound where I can silde the bar through the mound.

I build the fire ,the coal cokes and sticks in a big mass. I bust it up with a poker and mound it up. I pile wet coal on each side of the coke.

As the new coal cokes I bust it up and pull it in the middle and repalce with new coal.

Should I let the new coal flame up and burn or keep water put to it and no flame?

How should my poker/rake be made ?
I made one its good for clinkers but not much for a rake.

Also made a crude shovel

If you wouldnt mind I would like to see some fire tools
Thanks Ron

Ron---where do all the *OTHER* smiths in NW AR buy their coal? There is a passel of them and a lot of knifemakers up there.

We used to buy ours from the Stone County Ironworks but that's been about 30 years ago.

Do you go to the local ABANA chapter meetings?

Thomas
I havent gotten with any local Blacksmiths I guess I thought I did know enough to be buggin them.Ive just been on my own & reading books.
Tell me about the ABANA chapter meetings.

Ron

Do you go to the local ABANA chapter meetings?
No I havent- but I guess I should
I have emailed Tom Upton he is near to me.
Ive went here but did not look like anyone used it
BOA Home Page

Can you tell about the ABANA chapter meetings?
I really want to learn
Ron

THanks Ed & Mike
Ill check it out ED

Archie burnin corn? I like charcoal but goes to fast, think I want good coal. Have you ever tried good coal? Its hard to beat If you ask me
Thanks Ron

Hi my name is Ron
been hangin around and readin some good stuff here.
Ive been beatin out knife blades for a few years but want to get in to
Blacksmithing.
When I started I did not know anything and bought a pickup load of coal in Kansas. Thats stuff was junk, it made loads of clinkers.
I ordered a 50 lb. bag of coal from Centaur Forge to see what good coal was like. I started messin with a gas forge and used it for a few years switched to charcoal ( which I like but $)and never tried the coal till the other day.

Hey thats good stuff I forged for 5 days with that 50 pounds & I havent any experence with anything other than knives - not even real sure Im tending the fire right yet.

I think I may order more from them a 50 pound bag is $22.00 and my shipping be another $ 20.00 guessin aroud $42.00 for 50 pounds.

Thats not to bad is it ?
Im sure If I could find some good coal with in driving distance it would be less,
at least I know what good coal looks like now.

Anyone have a clue where I might find good coal
I live in NW Arkansas
Thanks
Ron

habu
Thanks for the fine Christmas Gift just found it Christmas day
Im still reading but I think everyone should read

#1 Forge-practice (elementary)

#2
Hand-forging and Wrought-iron Ornamental Work

#3
Practical Blacksmithing

Good Stuff Manard
Thanks
Ron

Man that thing is a bigun
I wonder If maybe it was used like as a "back up " you know like when you hold a hammer behind one end and some one hits the other.

The size of the hole just doesnt look big enough to be used to strike with unless it was iron- I sure wouldnt want to mess with the ol boy that could swing it

Ive been forging knives and this was the first stuff I have made other than a few things for to help with knives.
I like making knives but I really liked making the Candle Sticks & Cross.
I think Im really hooked and hope I can learn more Smithing

Have a look , the first Candlestick I burnt into it was my first time to use some really good coal. I like good coal
You will see me hangin around
Ron





Ron

FredlyFX
I started this monster back in the spring this is after HT & Temper

It was so big had trouble getting an even heat for HT but finally got it.
This is after cutting some mild steel with it

I drove it through with a hammer.
This is the guard I was working on

I said was working on I got tired of working on it and laid it up.
It made from a BIG truck spring really tough stuff it was a real bear to work
very tough it killed 3 files. Oh yea I did it forging files & blisters.
I dont like much I need to file the false edges ,guard & handle.
Heres another pic. of the knife


That looks like it might be like a spring tooth thingey - I bet it will harden just fine- get her red stick it in warm oil

Good luck lets us know how it turns out
Ron

You did say Bowie Knives?
How about some of the knives from the guy that invented Bowie Knives
James Blacks

Tyler
I might be worng I think its for knife fighting, to catch the edge of the blade ?

Some swear thats one of Bowies knives- I think they did some testing on it . Cant remember for sure- its old but likes a few years being old enough made after Bowies death.

Rich yea I would like to see him touch that thing off myself.

Sorry worng picture
Ok check out this knife I allways thought it was a good looker

It might be a tiny bit large but why couldnt you scale it down?

Nice ax
Ron

I could use a knife to spread cream cheese with a big gut hook on it :)

Good lookin knives are they all RR Spikes?
I have never use a Spike seems like the only ones I find a LC
You know way back when I dought knives had much carbon
I think Im will try one I have and just see what I get
Did you harden in water?did you heat the water?
Whats the hilt thing???cant see from the pic.

I havent ever ground or anealed the file before forging but thats me.

Not sure how you do it but when Im finished forging I Normalize & sometimes I let it slow cool beside the fire in ash but not very often most of the time its soft enough to work.
Talkin grinding belts/discs I dont usem- I use a sen ,file, sandstone all hand work .
You can aneal its OK -
This is a blade I made from a file I tempered it the old way (my first time tempering this way) . did not get a very even color



Ron

I pounded out a few knives from files.
I have only used the new Nicholson files - they get hard and with tempering will make a good knife .
The files are thin to begin with , its easy to get carried away with forging and getting to thin.
I havent ever ground or anealed the file before forging but thats me.
If you watch what you are doin you can remove the file teeth after forging when you clean it up.

Do U really need a grinder to make a knife ?