51 Papy

It sounds like the easy answer to my question is there is no easy answer. This discussion,Thomas's discussion from 10 years ago and PM's have been very educational. I'll have a couple by next week and water and baking soda sounds like it's worth a try as long as I don't get caught getting the soda. Thanks for the guidance!

Thanks guys! This gives me a place to start. I picked up some high sulfur dark cutting fluid today and ordered a bottle of tap magic. If someone has a favorite water borne lube I'm all ears. Glenn. Stupidity.... It's what I've seen used in shops.... I'm not sure I have a reason. It is better than nothing but your point is taken. Thanks

Santa brought me my first set of "good" drill bits. They are Drill Hog M-7 bits. I have always bought big box- hardware store quality drill bits and used old motor oil as a lubricant. With my limited Google Foo I am now wondering what I should be using. There are websites that swear by motor oil, WD-40, Paste, gel and one website said diesel. I'd like to make these last as long as possible. Anybody have any favorites? I don't drill much harden material mainly mild or annealed. Or, am I overthinking this? Thanks

Das The copper came off real easy but I was in the front yard by the time I was done. It's amazing how much length there is. I saw your piano wire find earlier. It welded real easy for me. I twisted it cold then heated and twisted some more and welded. I had some inclusions but for what I was doing it probably helped. I started the weld in a small round bottom swage and used borax. Easiest forge weld I have ever done. Good luck I'm sure you will make something beautiful.

Thought I would post this. I'm surprised with the pattern. Soaked in 8 month old FC about four hours. Piano wire

Thanks Stevo. This one is special in that this was her piano. It was beyond repair/retuning so I salvaged it for the wood and metals. She actually asked if it could be done so ya I did it. I'm not expecting much pattern but I was hoping for a new way to "finish" it so it wouldn't rust. Guess the important thing is that a piece of it will be with her.

I was hoping this thread would talk about treating the bracelets so they do not rust. I'm working on a piano wire Damascus so I really want what ever pattern there is to show. Oil and wax hot will destroy the pattern and was looking for something other that a clear coat of lacquer or acrylic. Anybody got any ideas? Present for daughter so I can't do any maintenance on it after it leaves. Thanks

BryanL. Thank you! It worked Das that was worth letting everyone here know I'm not computer literate. Beautiful Winged Warrior.

Dang it. I bet I missed the humming bird final picture. Das could you post that under member projects. I don't know why but I wanted to see it and moving back a page on IFI has never worked for me.

Das. Laughing at Our misery. After 30 years things like that are funny. Even if at that moment they weren't. Must have been 100 degrees in the house. Good times!

Thanks Biggun and Frosty. May have time to play this weekend.

Thanks HojPoj

Any suggestions as to how to knock them out. I was going to heat the tooth up and try to pop it out. Biggun's kind of got me rethinking that idea.

Das I just read this to my wife. We are both still laughing and she's saying unkind things about MY instructions many years ago after she did the same thing. Thanks for the laugh.

Scotty Your camera may be lying or my old eyes but I hope that's not treated lumber your burning. Lots of bad stuff in that treating. You want to be around long enough to enjoy the insanity!

Vaughn That is cool!

Maybe I'm wrong but I thought carbide didn't forge well and is hard to heat treat without an oven.

These followed my neighbor home and he brought them to me. He's seen some of my chainsaw chain Damascus. The other picture is teeth off a tree mower. No plans for them...yet. I haven't done any research as to what kind of metal they are. I'm guessing they are a medium carbon alloy of some kind. Carbide teeth(?) will have to come off.

Don't email! emails like that get deleted fast and are easily ignored. You'll have better luck walking through the door, opening your mouth and telling people what your looking for and why. Be curteous and mindful that you are taking their time. Time is money! But, walk in and make a friend. If you find someone that doesn't want to talk move on to the next place or say hello to the guy in the yard or shop. Don't take it personally. Keep going until you find a friend and what you want...then...make sure you make them something and deliver in person. I can't tell you what price is reasonable in your area. After several, and I mean several, trips through the door I found a guy that was really interested and had a hammer bit from a back hoe. He loaded it for me and sent me on my way. $0.00 US. I stopped by with pictures of the post anvil and a couple of gifts from the forge. Couple of trips later he had scrap from his shop waiting for me in his office. Walk in looking to make a friend and you might find one. Papy

Might just be the camera lying to me but the color looks yellow. Most of the old mulberry trees here in the Midwest are that color yellow and have the rougher bark.

Ben Dont know where that fourth 2lber is going but I'd bet money it would make someone proud to own it. All five look great.

Do some research on the stone hammer. I found one at a garage sale a couple of years ago along with some related items. $20 US for the box. I took it to one of my customers, his grandfather started the brickyard about 90 years ago, he offered a $100 bill without blinking. I can't tell anything from the picture but it might be worth more to a stone mason. Save a stone hammer and put some bucks in your pocket, maybe. Mine hangs over a small bench along with the other yester-year stuff I have collected.

Mike DO NOT!!! go to u-tube and watch the procedure. Yep, did it, turned it off after my hip started hurting. Hope yours improves your life as much as mind did! Papy

Amen! I'm right there with ya!

Jennifer Not knowing the alloy I went with 4140 chart. Calculated at 100 lbs. +\-. My wife doesn't allow bathroom scales in the house. I'll have to get it weighed. I wanted a hardy and pritchel hole and a straight edge to do set downs. The first post doesn't have any of the three. I did several set downs on the "tail". Except for the ring all went well. Jennifer & Frosty All is good. It's not main stream, guess I'm not either, and I'm ok with that.