Lou L

I could swear I just saw that same anvil on Craigslist CT.  Are you in CT Boris?

I'm only able to go for Saturday, but can't wait to get there.  Trez told me I should look you up when I got there.

Such a remarkable person's life will no doubt be celebrated by many.  My thoughts are with you.

...harkening...stupid autocorrect.

Hardening back to my philosophy background:. You reminded me of a great pre-Socratic philosopher named Heraclitus who believed that change was the only constant and cautioned, "A man can never step into the same river twice."  So just master that moment and help that knife realize itself because the it can never be revisited.

...someone should start a philosophy of blacksmithing thread....

It is such fine work that you have created a moral dilemma.  When a tool crosses the line into becoming a piece of art is it appropriate to use it as a tool?

On September 8, 2016 at 4:52 AM, ausfire said:

Not really patience, Lou. More like forgetfulness. I had forgotten about the drum of stuff with this piece and a load of rail spikes.

I never thought of a wrought iron tree. I have loads of old WI bed bars that would make nice branches. I have done WI leaves but it's pretty unforgiving stuff after using mild.

It really is beautiful as it is but I see a gorgeous tree trunk.  If I've inspired you to something I'm honored. 

I can almost believe the "I forgot about it" hypothesis because I would have as well.  Then again, that's why I don't do experiments like that.

Try a lighter rod.  I'm guessing you are using 1/8 by your settings.  It just might fire up slightly smaller rods and still get good penetration.  Though, there are people on welding web who have forgotten more than I know.  From what I've heard those o,f buzz boxes never seem to die.  I'd guess it's AC only.  You may do well to check the connections inside and clean every metal contact you can find.

Well, the trunk of your hand wrought tree is done...now you have to forge the branches and leaves!  It certainly looks great.  I admire your patience.

If Mother Nature claims enough of my anvil (decently cared for but not waxed or painted) to make it unusable in my lifetime then I've lived way too long.  I just let the patina do the work and hope my children will as well.  Heck, it's already near 200 years old and doing fine.

Too true.  I didn't know how my side blast design worked until I used it.  Now I sure know what features need changing...but I'm too busy forging with it to care.

I agree with the others regarding the depth of the forge.  You should fill it to about 2-3 inches below the tuyere.  I would use sand and perhaps fill it a bit lower to start because ash will blend in as well.  This serves two purposes: it works as an insulator to keep the forge cooler (more heat in the heart of your fire) and gives you the flexibility to move the substrate around to shape the fire.  Firebrick would not last long (based on what nice been told) but would work.  Check out this video from Joshua De Lisle, he makes something similar to yours (but adds water cooling) and he uses sand/clay to shape a fire pot that surrounds the tuyere.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys0LcbJ363E

On another note....expect to be replacing your tuyere.  It will burn right up in that forge unless it it water cooled.  As long as you have the ability to push the pipe into the fire pot as it is consumed then you are good.  If it is welded in you will find it is a short lived forge.

Notownkid, I think even the people living in Waterbury feel the way you do.  Sad because it has such amazing history.

Thomas, I thought to talk to someone there and ask about tools but not a one of them looked like they knew anything about anything.  They were just shuffling through racks of clothes and it seemed they'd look at me like I was crazy.  Now I know to go back and ask.  Thanks for the idea.

Nah, they (being stupid) aren't in immediate danger...only imminent danger, should they choose to try using their tools again.  

Although, I'm open to your version as well.  I really want a post vise...hmm, and a nice swage block...

I found a thrift shop associated with Big Brothers/Big Sisters right nearby but they didn't have anything really....just some cheap hair dryers.  I really tried to be creative.  I think they move lots of stock so I'll go back.  Haven't made it to Waterbury yet.  My schedule has become packed.  I'll get there soon as I can!

Wish I had a cool group of people like that having meetings near me.  I don't get it...I live in what was the manufacturing capital of North America for many years and yet can't scrounge up a blacksmithing organization to meet with.  The again, my state would fit in Alaska's back pocket, so maybe you all are traveling a ways to meet.

I wonder how much good equipment is collecting dust in the garages and sheds of the world after the eager owners realized that their new hobby would lead to their demise.  Moreover, I wonder how to reach out to those people...

I could save a life by taking someone's anvil and post vise off their hands!  I already have a pretty nice anvil but I'm already finding I want another...

I get the feeling that there are a few more folk with that "problem" on here.  For years I avoided the professional world because it never turned out that they really wanted someone who "thinks outside of the box" but they always put it in the job description.  I learned quickly that solving problems in an organization creates change that others can't handle and makes enemies.

Wish I found a career that celebrated my predilection for questioning the status quo and finding flaws in accepted practice.  Instead, I've learned to not speak my mind or soften the message.  So yeah Frosty, feel free to pick on me for being an English teacher.  I deserve it, I'm a teacher.  I made the active choice to do a job where the only people who dislike me more than my students do are journalists, politicians, businessmen, school administrators and parents!

Woohoo....my advice (which was simply a repetition of someone else's ideas) worked!

Thomas, if it is a burn pool then whoever had me can already collect their dough!

Thomas and Frosty, perhaps it is generational or some personal defect of mine....but your hilariously blunt and curt response inspire me to do my homework before I ever dare ask a question here.  In a way perhaps I'm a younger, slightly,less curmudgeonly version of you.  I teach English and every year I stand before my students at the beginning of the year and tell them that all their teachers who have come before have lied to them and it is my duty to tell them the ugly truth: that there is, indeed, such a thing as a stupid question.  I go on to explain that such a question is one wherein the asker failed to try to find the answer for themselves first.

Even being a green at the forge it seemed odd to me that an experienced smith would be proclaiming the benefits of fast heat for forge welding.  Everything I've learned says that the steel should be allowed to soak and get even heat all the way through.

Being higher carbon steel, a forklift time would be superior to my suggestion for sure.  If you can find a forklift company you may get quite lucky.  So, basically I'm saying,"just do what Thomas says every time...."

The best part of this discussion is the curmudgeons who have read it and said to themselves, "they don't sound like they are going to hurt themselves plusI tired of giving the same information ...so they can just go ahead and learn this stuff the hard way " 

..and I'm thankful for that.  The fact we haven't been chastised means we are doing something right.

A blacksmithing black hole is a dangerous thing...

No known particles can escape its pull...not even wifium and childrenium, despite their mass and speed, can escape the blacksmithing event horizon (Schwarzschild radius in nerd speak).

Did you try reducing the volume and pressure of the air yet?  I'd love to know if it was a matter of your combustibles burning too quickly for the come to light.

I've heard bad things about I-beams and would tend to believe them.  Try to find a steel supplier that is open to the public or check out a steel recycler.  The steel company I use has an enormous area for hobbyists and contractors alike who are looking for odd cuts or one off pieces they don't want to order.  They have solid masses of steel for $1 per pound.  An I-beam is mostly hollow space and doesn't provide rebound.  You will be forced to work too hard and will learn frustration more than you learn smithing.  You just need a solid mass of steel to whack on.  Dons search for post anvils and you will see loads of ideas.  Some people do work way beyond my skill set using them.