rockriver forge

The box ideas should wor out fine. But let me put a little diferent spin on it. Note I've never shipped an anvil anywhere, but if your worried about a long trip, could it be possible to fill your crate with that great stuff foam that they use to fill cracks around windows & doors? Or even the packing peanuts would work to give it extra padding. just a thought

Fix the spring & staiten the leg. Your a blacksmith.

Great job! Feels good to get paid for something you like to do, doesn't it? I hope your girlfriend likes your smooth legs. lol

that blower should work. You can put a slide gate on, or you can wire in a light dimmerswitch to control your air flow. I used one rigged like that for years. Roger

I have used hairdryers. Then I used a tank style vaceum cleaner with the hose hooked on the backside. ( that worked better) Then I hooked up a small squirle cage blower hooked up to a Light dimer switch for adjusting the speed. (that worked the best) You can get these blowers at garage sales, flea markets and 2nd hand stores pretty cheap. I just looked at Glens post. I do have to admit that my champion blower does work the best. And it does make sence to have the pressure needed to blow trew the fire. But when I was first starting out and had little money, that squirle cage worked fine for what I was doing. The way I see it is if you have something laying around use it. Then keep an ear out for some thing better. (THIS DOES NOT WORK FOR WOMEN!!!!!!)

Hi TJ I like your web sight, looks like you have fun doing what you do. Now about the weather vane. I personaly have not made one, but let's just look at the basics. Your grandfathers vane mounted ontop of the barn was more than likely an arrow. you had the point for the direction of the wind and the feathers (virtical) acting as the sail. The wind would push against the feathers from the side until the arrow was pointing into the wind. I'm thinking that you have 2 problems. 1st your balance point is going to be closer to the back end of the vain, I don't think that is bad. 2nd it looks like they are going tobe top heavy. So when you mount them on a rod you are going to have side friction from it wanting to filp down. One simple way is to put a counter balance on the frount, downside, close to your mounting rod. just for an example. You can think of ways to make it decrative. If you use a bearing I would use one like they use for the deck of a lawn mower, for the shaft. Graffite impregnated metal rings. I hope I might have been a little help. Good luck! Roger

Well like doge said, machine shops are a good source for brass, stainless.alum., ect. Get in good with the owner( make him a trinket of some sort). If nothing else you may have to pay scrap price for it. Good luck, And the other ideas sound great also.

Thanks for your quick reply, (it is Christmas ) I do have a price for Insurance, and it runs about $925 per. year. Is that about right? Is there a better rate? Thanks again, Roger

Hello everyone & Merry Chistmas; My question for everyone is, does anyone carry any insurance to cover themselves for having people working in their shops, or for going to fairs and other outside the shop activities? I have done these things, but with the way things are these days I'm thinking that I need to cover my backside. Thanks for your input. Roger

Hello everyone, looks like I'm the new guy on the block. My name is Roger, I've been blacksmithing for about 5 years now. I started under my Sugar Maple tree in the back yard. I live in town and thank God I have great neighbors. As I'm sure everyone knows how starting a coal forge can sure fog a neighborhood. I was waiting to hear the local fire department pull up to my front door. Since then I moved my shop to the edge of town, to an old cinder block building with brokenout windows (great ventalation) and snow drifts on the floor. But it suits me fine. I have alot of fun out there doing projects, and just getting the shop set up. I haven't been able to enjoy the shop the past few days because of the weather we've been getting here in Wisconsin, did I mention the windows? Anyway I glad to be on board. I look forward to help and be helped from my fellow blacksmiths. Talk to you soon. Roger