MrDarkNebulah

As soon as the weather clears we need to get to the other island with the skipper and mate. Maybe they will have some spare insulin or something.

Well we should defintely set up the materials to completely weather proof our shelter. The tent can also be used to help weather proof temporaraily. I believe we have a good supply of wood already. We could use the tent to cover the wood so It will stay dry if we wanted to. I defiinitely think we should delay our expeditions until the weather passes. We should gather up our traps so they dont go away, and gather materials that would be needed to do things inside the shelter, like making spears, cordage, etc. I will also start to make an ataltl. 

If you are looking for bituminous still, Penn coal has some. Im not sure about shipping to you, but its $15 for 50 lbs. 

So nights setting. I suggest we prepare a team of a few people to go deeper into the island on an expedition to see what they canfind in terms of game. Perhaps make a few spears or an atlatl and some cordage for small snares.

I spent the day gathering supplies for a better shelter. Ive got large amounts of wood piled, both for fire and shelter buil;ding, and a large amount of grass tied and woven together to help weather proof areas. We start using them to get a stronger and safer shelter.

I also stay back, aand the main thing Im doing is trying to figure out a possible bellows. I remember reading in the complete modern blacksmith a bellows made from chicken feathers, maybe something like that could be done with the grass, and the tin rolled into a pipe? I couldn't quite find the diagram, but it was a tube that the air would go into, then a plunger at the top with feathers attached. when broght up, the feathers qould come to gether and allow air in, when pushed down they would spread apart and push the air. One could also maybe be done like this: 

Make sure you post a picture of the final product, because I am very interested in how it comes out.

The crab traps are going well, being made from woven grass and sticks for a farme, shaped like two funnels, one inside the other. We can use some of the cordage to make sure they are anchored so they don't float away.

Well now that we have the fish, we atleast have some food for bait and to give people going on a journey around the island. 

Is it too late for me to join in? I stumble up the beach after somehow being lost and hit on the head in the wreck. I have no idea where I am, and confused as to why there are a bunch of guys with beards and weird weapons on a island. One of them sits me down and tells me what happened, and it is all coming back to me. I set to helping wherever I can, and recommend an addition to the crab traps of shaping them more like this

   /\  /\

/_____\

Ignore the space in the middle, it's essentially adding a funnel to the open pyramid design to make it easier to get crabs in and keep them in.

I also create a fishing spear from a long stick form the woods. The tip is splayed into multiple points and hardened in the fire. (It's wood, no fancy metal stuff yet). I try my luck at spear fishing. Do i catch anything?

Read the forums. There is a huge wealth of information available, just sit down and spend a day here. Frosty will be along to tell you to put your location on your profile.

What did you use to finish the spatula with?

Hey guys. not to hijack this thread, but its pretty close to the topic. I read before that beginners shouldn't use stainless steel. However, no one gave me a why. So what are the difference between forging mild or forging stainless? 

then dont hi jack.  its annoying and  only makes more work for staff

This is a question that has been asked again and again. Heres some advice. Look through the forums. There is an enormous amount of information here, but you need to look to find it.

22 hours ago, JHCC said:

I thought about adding feet, but since I'm currently working in my garage, it rests nicely on the concrete floor without them.

And now you've got me brainstorming ideas for a cup holder. Have to make sure it can't be confused with the punch lube, though (and before you ask why I know this, let's just say that back when I was working in the art restoration studio, I had an unfortunate moment when I confused a cup of denatured alcohol for my cup of tea).

I guess that wasnt really your cup of tea? Not a very good pun... I'm sorry

Vulcan this site went through a serverhost change which made a lot of the the old posts lose all their pictures. There is nothing we can do about that.

A quick note on punching. I was making this mistake when I was trying to punch before. When you got to knock the slug out, you don't want it super hot. A dull red is said to be good for shearing heat.

You need to do the ball bearing test to check for rebound. That is a big part of whether or not it is a good buy. You take a decent sized, about 1 inch, steel ball bearing and drop it onto the anvil form about a foot up and estimate the percent it bounces back. 80% rebound is quite good.

I cant see the images you've posted DonnieV. Does anyone else have an issue like this? Anyone know how to fix it?

I cant see the images you've posted DonnieV. Does anyone else have an issue like this? Anyone know how to fix it?

have some water nearby if your gloves catch fire.

I made a pretty good one that used absolutely no welding or forging. I made it before I got into forging, All it takes is bar of steel, a bolt, a lock washer, and nut. Ill take a picture of it once I get home for you guys.

A bit of hijacking with this thread, but what do you guys like better, nut or rice coal?

The Hofi blueprints on this site are very helpful, make sure to check them out.

Coal is actually pretty clean burning, from my experience it produced less smoke than charcoal and much less smoke than wood.