Bud in PA

The muzzleloading forum that I belong to recommends EVAPORUST. I have not tried it as no one around here carries it. I Use PB Blaster and Naval Jelly. These guys are using it on antique flintlocks, and It supposedly doesn't leave a grey film like Naval Jelly.

Slanwar I checked on google maps, There is a coal dealer on Quakertown which seems to be closest to you. I don't remember the name, just that there is a coal yard there that sells blacksmith coal. Slanwar I just googled coal dealers in Quakertown, PA. It came up with about 6.

Quite a few years ago I remember reading in one of the gun magazines about an 8 gauge double barrel that some gunsmith in England put together. If I remember right he obtained a set of Damascus barrels that were made in the late 1800's. The smith made the complete gun except for the barrels. His work was superb, I just wish that I could remember his name. Anyhow he proofed it for smokeless powder. I remember him stating that at 50 yds. he could flip a truck tire .

Any ideas on what I can use for a chimney for my forge, as 10 & 12 inch stove pipe is beyond my fixed income. Thanks

I see that BigGunDoctor Mentioned Force 44. I have used it a bit to install sights on guns, and it is easy to use and pretty strong.

One of these days when the doctor releases me I am going to try to make some tongs out of farriers nippers that I have. Oh yeah the dr. says that hammering might cause vibrations that would interfere with my spinal fusion!!!!!!!!!!!! I offered to buy an Estwing hammer with a cushion grip My wife smacked me.

I buy my coal by the ton, for use in my coal furnace. As soon as the doc releases me I will be making some pea size coal with my hammer.

Prayers for you and yours.

Charles I can get nut coal to burn OK, although after 30 years of burning it I find myself still learning something new every year. That could be the result of old age, I find that if I don't write it down, I tend to forget.

JHCC My furnace uses nut coal I think it goes for $.235 a ton. I remember some years back there used to be a size called pea coal, a bit larger then rice coal. Haven't seen it for sale in quite a few years. .

Thanks Charles. With the body parts I've had replaced in the last 2 years, I'll be happy to be able to forge 1/2 inch stock. Old age ain't for the weak!

WOW!

JHCC I burn coal, not the soft stuff but Anthracite. I use a coal stove in my basement to supplement my oil heat, so i buy it by the ton. I don't know if the side blast would work with coal.

Thanks Our ground is mostly clay so it would be easy and cheap.

Thanks never thought about using clay, Maybe refractory cement and firebrick, Thanks Das

Hello the list i am back after some metal replacement parts in my body. I have a question, I have a brake drum forge and have been thinking of making a forge with a lager fire pot. Being on a fixed income, and cheap, I was wondering if anybody has tried to make a fire pot out of an old sink. They are cast iron and have the drain in the center of the bottom. A few whacks with a hammer should remove most of the porcelin, I don't know the effect of a coal fire on porcelin but I don't want to take any chances. I figure that I can cut the sides down if necessary with my angle grinder. Any thoughts?

Will be back in about 5 weeks. Shoulder replacement surgery has me sidelined. Bud in PA P)

I have never been accused of being artistically inclined, so myself I would go for "THE BLACKSMITH SHOP".

I just got good news today. The surgeon told me no rotator cuff repair, yea. Then he told me shoulder replacement. Well I told my wife the up side is she won't have to bury me when I go, take me to the junk yard and scrap all the titanium in me. Knees, neck and shoulder. Now my body is worth more than most.

I went to see the surgeon today, I am going to have the third repair to my rotator cuff. I asked his opinion on swinging a hammer. His reply was as long as I can do it with my neck, I like him because he is a wise a$$ like me. The good wife said that I could get a power hammer, God bless her. I have narrowed it down to a Appalachian Power hammer. My wife doesn't know how much power hammers cost, since we are not rich this is my only option. How hard are they to put together, I was a welder about 20 years ago. I am going to purchase the plans from Wizard Forge. Anyone have experience building one? I would appreciate any input you could spare.

Frosty I thought that my mom was the only one who used a wooden spoon on her kids.

This is why I live in the country. Very few neighbors = less complaints. Public servants tend not to get out of their office and go look for trouble.

Natearron they were about 3 inches wide with 2 sets of straps. Thats the best I can do, as it was a long time ago. These days I keep a pad and pencil on me, it's my memory.

I remember my dad wearing leather wrist braces when he worked at loading trucks, back in the 40's an 50's. I have arthritis in my hands and use capsacium to treat it. it works for me, only down side is to remember to pee before putting it on your hands. Cured the arthritic knees with titanium replacements. I've had shoulder repair, spinal fusion, all done with metal. The up side is my wife doesn't have to bury me, she can just scrap me when I go. To all of those who said that I wouldn't amount to much, have you checked the price of titanium lately?

I recently received an email from the Instructables site, they made a draw knife from a 10 inch diamond saw blade. No blscksmithing involved but quick and easy. It caught my attention since the doc still won't let me pick up a hammer.