Ron Hicks

Champion made a bunch of the 400 blowers This is what an old add says: 1909 Now Over 374,000 No. 400 Champion Steel Blowers and Steel Forges in the hands of their very happy users. The Blower for first Quality -First ,Last and Always. The No. 400 Champion " Whirlwind " Blast Anti-Clinker Heavy Nest Tuyere Iron is furnished with all No. 400 Blowers Without Extra Cost No. 400 Champion Steel Blacksmith Blower. Fan 12 inches in dia. with " Whirlwind" Blast Anti-Clinker Heavy Nest Tuyere Iron and Piping Complete. Weight 160 lbs. $37.00- year 1909 I see more of the 400 Blowers than any others. I dont really know what the blowers is worth Are you looking to sell?? I might be interested in the Blower You say it works good , can you see the fan blades are they in good cond.? Let me know Ron

The S7 forged good at an orange heat , kinda slow not much time.I planned on making knives from it when I bought it years ago.I will make more chisels & punches from it. HWooldridge I havent tried the 1 in. rd bar (tungsten bar) . Long while back I forged a little of it, Im pretty sure its air hardening . Ill watch my heat really close, I bet it will make very good tools Ron

Where I buy metal they use propane for cutting . I guess you need a different hose and tip? I use my torch all the time cutting & heating every day. A torch and welder is very handy for sure Ron

Ed I made a punch,slitting chisel,& straight chisel from the S7. I tried them out & seem to work real good. I quenched in water every 2 licks. Not sure If its the right thing to call it - Red Hard ?? any how this S7 you get it above a orange heat and hit it - it cracks. I got lucky and was able to cut off the cracked part. I forged it at orange and it was OK. Maybe its called Red Short ? Ron

Browser Level Verification The Harris Products Group - Classic Outfits Im not a weldor but trying to learn The address on top is the welder they are talking about, I have one & think most people that do any welding has one or had one. The second is the Torch I have "Steelworker" Harris doent cost much and mine seems to be a good torch. If I was buying a torch I would buy new.Im guessing $ 300.00 Im not trying to tell you to buy anything & sure we will hear about every brand under the sun. The welder & torch dont cost much and work. Ron

Ive made one from coil spring - guess Im letting it get to hot. I have some 1 in. bar that at one time printed on them Tungsten Bar thought about using it?I also have some S7 5/8 bar . Im slitting and drifting a 3/8 hole through 5/8 round bar, is this to small for a hot chisel?

I need to make Hot Chisels & Punches What do I need to make them from that will take the heat and not deform? Is there a good & easy to get junkyard materail?? Thanks Ron

I think theres a difference from what this guy told me, but I havent used any of the coal from Stigler. What little Ive got to use seems good Ron

I think I had a little more weight on my pickup than I should, but it wasnt bad . I just took it easy and took my time. I was told by a local blacksmith it was good stuff but he had not tried any yet. I have looked on the net. trying to find some info. about NE OKlahoma coal havent found much other than its "High Volatile - Middle Pennsylvanian age bituminous coal ". THis came from NE Oklahoma Phoenix Coal Sales - Vinita Ok Kelley Mine # 4270 It was $ 75 a ton - 1580 pounds was $ 59.25 I read some where they sell it by the bag but the price was like 4 X higher than bulk. They had different sizes , I liked how the stuff I burnt last night coked and broke up. I might be a good idea to have like a Coal Suppliers List:) Im going to try it out today I had a good trip and seen some new country Ron

Made it back from Oklahoma with the coal , It came from Craig County. I think the Kelley Mine , man was that place busy. I forgot to take my camera , mountains of coal, one after another trucks haulin coal, I had a hard time getting on the scales to weigh. I dont know much about coal,this is what I picked out. I had a good load on my pickup 1580 pounds. I burned a shovel full - cokes good but havent forged with it yet Hows it look Ron

I dont think they would deliver - Im 78 miles from Vinita OK. Im headin over there today I hope- Ill let you know how it goes Ron

Maybe I did it worng but it worked & I think the fit is pretty good- it works opens and closes easy and not sloppy. I made the Hofi tool for the leg vise (BP1016) - and use 3/8 round for the rivet 1 1/2 X thickness each side. I clamped the 3/8 in the vise jig leaving 9/16 sticking above heated with torch and made a head on one end. I split & drifted the hole to 3/8 then drilled just to make sure. I went over the insides of the bosses with a file to make good & smooth. I put the rivet in the tongs and line up every thing and fit the bit to the stock. I placed heavy paper between & heated the very top of the rivet and made the other head. I heated with the torch right on the rivet heads to free it up. It worked slick maybe I just got lucky.

Irnsrgn Ive wore out a shovel or two in my day,I dont usem to lean on:) Im thinking about 1/2 ton - but you know how the guys runnin the loaders are they like to pile it on. Ill take a shovel so I can unload some if they poor it on me. Barrels sound like a good way to store it , did not want to pile it on the ground. I was told this coal was good stuff Thanks Guys Ron

Finally made a pair of Tongs that works. I know the material I made them from is not thick enough and mild steel may be the wrong steel . They hold 3/16 X 3/4 on edge for one of my next projects. I made the Tongs from 3/16 X 3/4 X 11 in. long mild steel. I planed to make like a V bit but wasn't enough thickness so arc welded pieces to the sides.They ended up 16 in. long They seem to really hold well. I had to make a 6 tools to make them slip on jaws for my vise, bolster block, chisel, drift, Hofi header tool, cutting plate. Thanks Ron

Looking for Advise End of last summer had to have some work done on my 4 X 4 pickup- replace rear end- wheel bearings and front end work,It wasnt cheap. I found a place in Vinita OK. " Phonix Coal Sales " -sells Coal $75.00 a ton . I sure dont want to break my pickup again and wondering what would be safe weight to haul. Its a Dodge 4 X 4 short bed 1/2 ton with the 360 motor. Tires 5 ply side wall. Just so I have an idea how big a pile is 1 ton of coal:confused: Thank You Ron