Bully

Paul, Can you let me know what quantity stainless you are after re sponsorship etc and I will put my feelers out...No harm in asking..

Apoligise to those who read my thread about Forge up and Running. My intentions where to place some photos with it but being comutir, combuter, cumputer not so good , I had dramas..not is all lost I was able to place some photos of my set up on my gallery page. My Master (looks nothing like Yoda) has yet to see it personally and I am sure he can tweak it a bit.. If the photos I originally posted turn up somewhere???? feel free to press the delete button or as I do often, mash the whole keyboard with your fist.....(mmmm starting to feel like a B/S)

Thanks mate as I said they came up a treat and yes very interested in what you have in mind so I will hold of for a bit and await the results. Cheers

I have read that when you place a peice of iron in the fire that you should not angle it down to deep into the fire because that is the "oxidizing region"??? Can anyone explain a little more in relation to this and the adverse effects oxidizing could have on the iron ie Does it effect welding etc. Thanks Bully

Printed up the 1st 3 pages on the work printer to A3 size and came up a treat, have some large frames at home that may be put into use very shortly, whoever said this was a addiction was totally right....ps any chance of some more photos????

Well finally got my forge fired up, had a few minor issues with uneven fire burning ( Got onto Dale quicksmart and was appropriately told turn the air down...problem solved) Found the firepot (brakedrum) was to shallow as I had lined the bottom with clay and was using a curved grate, whenever I pushed a piece into the fire it went to the grate and pushed the coke out the way....solution take out clay and use flat grate...result started playing with trackpins just round to square and back again drawing out (trying to develop good hammer technique) Thanks Dale Russell for again my lessons on Sunday covering upsetting, punching, forge welding, leaf making and the help and advice you have given me to get me to where I am. Will post some pics of forge as soon as I find the digital camera (kids ya gotta love 'em) cheers to all stay safe.

I live in the suburbs with 4 houses backing onto my property all relativley close, 1 is occupied by a cabinet maker who runs his business from home so he cant complain about me hammering away when he plains/cuts/sands all day long. One is a former member of the Australian Blacksmith Assoc so no problems there. One is from a middle eastern country and none of them speak english (I have tried to say hello but no joy) so no problem there, and the last is a drug smoking dropkick (I smell the stuff sometimes) and he dare not complain about the noise. I mean I may be a blacksmith (correction trying to be one) but I'm also a policeman so its in his best interest to put up with the noise if its ever a problem (may just think its in his head anyway.............. "arrgghhh THE BELLS THE BELLS") All honesty if anyone complained I would do my utmost to alleviate their concerns (within reason) A man has to make noise sometimes.

Bring it on Richard, not the drinking your trip over (yeah ok will attempt to quench the thirst too)

Dale just let me know if you want some more stainless (or anyone else for that matter and I will do my best)
Thanks again for last Sunday had a ball and again learnt heaps...cheers

I have just finished building my forge and awaiting my first coke delivery. As a air source I am using a vaccum cleaner motor (bottom draft) my question is when I have had it turned on for a couple of minutes the air starts to warm up and I am wondering whether this will reduce the effectivness of the fire? My solution if it does will be to submerge the outflow tube into a container of water and perhaps cool it down somewhat. Has anyone got their thoughts on this. Much appreciated Bully

Richard, I agree with Salty to a degree!!!! Have not had the pleasure of meeting Mooney yet but Dale **** of a nice bloke and someone I'll call a mate (and teacher) for a long time. As for drinking to much Aussie beer well thats were I frown (read Dales quote) nothing better... cheers ps Only 20mins from the airport free accommodation and as much AUSSIE beer you can drink....

Guys, I am about to pick up a nice stump to place my anvil on and looking forward to it, after reading these post I've come to the conclusion its not just a hobby I have got myself into, its a science and a very big one. loving it all keep the knowledge coming cause I and no doubt numerous others are sucking it up. I must say though I'll start of with the basics and strive for greater levels when I have those basics mastered. thanks heaps.

Hy guys thanks for your thoughts over these times, I'm lucky as I dont live in the bush, lost friends houses but not friends , Dales been on a knifes edge for the last week as he lives in what we call the bush, and hopefully rain and/or the efforts of our firefighters quell this demon. Dale's been there, fought fires, (besides his forge flareups) and done his bit for the greater and I just want it known that we are with him. Thanku to our US counterparts for sendind their boys, a safe return to them all. All the best Bully

Well had my second session with Dale Russell today, what can I say, what a task master, stand like this (your shoulders are not that wide), use your shoulder not your elbow, let the hammer do the work, relax your to tense, stop fighting it, nahhh put it back in the fire, look at the colour, etc etc being a intructor myself for quite a few years in my own trade all I can say is what a champ, being a adult for quite a few years, all I ask is to be treated like one, and that he did, I know my mistakes and so did he, but he let me make them (and as much as he wanted to grab the hammer and show me (at times he did, you can only take so many mistakes) he taught me more in a day than I ever expected. To add to that I had my 10 yr old son with me (Dale's apprentice apprentice) and as much as our aussie language is colourful at the best of times he contained himsef looking at me stike his anvil and bit his tounge. Thanks heaps Dale if this is the calibre of men I am involving myself in then bring it on. A spades a spade, but if you've made it its even better. Cheers Bully

I recently saw a small segment of video footage showing a blacksmith operating a large hammer with his foot (possibly a demo at a museum) does anyone know what this is called/era used and any advice/plans as to the possiblity of building one. I can only assume it is spring loaded or similiar. I have an idea as to how I can build one but if the wheel has already been invented I may only need to modify and or adapt. Thanks Bully

After a little bit more research I think of found it a Treadle Hammer??

After further research on Treadle Hammers perhaps I jumped into the idea of building one a little to soon, never mind I like to set high goals that way I can always reduce them and yet still have a win...

Hi all just picked up my first anvil its a Stourbridge 120lbs (UK) anyone with any info on them re history/age I would appreciate same was told its over 100 years old.

G'Day all another Aussie joining the site got myself some tongs and in the process of putting a forge together (brake drum) met up with another Aussie Dale Russell (Top Fella) last week which was great as he showed me some basics and even my 2 kids (think he's created 3 more Blacksmiths to the world as we loved it) Had been collecting old metal for a number of years, hooks, tools, hammers bits and pieces hence the interest so finally about time I did something other than handle it and wonder how they ever made it. Time to go hands on. Great site been learning heaps. Would like to source a anvil eventually but my railway track is working fine at my level. Cheers stay safe. Bully

G'day all name is Bully, live in Melbourne Victoria, have been collecting metal work over many a years and finally thought its time to play with it on a different level. Met up with Dale Russell from Wesburn Vic last week and had a ball, top bloke who knows his stuff and showed me some basics of blacksmithing (showed my 2 boys also, age 7 and 10) Am in the process of putting a forge together as we speak just gotta work out as to where ie exsisting shed, outside or build a new shed??? Anyway all the best to all catch you around the site cheers.

Just a big thanks to Dale Russell, Wesburn Victoria Australia for showing me and my kids his setup and giving us all some tutorage on the basics of Blacksmithing. His generousity and patience (with me and the kids ) was a credit to him and the art itself. My kids have not stopped displaying there pieces of work to whoever visits nor have they stopped chanting 123 turn 123 turn, all great fun look forward to some more, thanks heaps Dale cheers Bully

Thanks for the heads up. I had no idea of the risks, cheers...

Hi to all, I just signed up and are enjoying the knowledge this site and members have to offer. I have not been dabling long in heating/bending and forming metal but love what it has to offer and are on a roller coaster ride now that I have started. I have done some small projects and are happy to date with the end results. I have been collecting old metal work for years and finally thought I cant just collect it I must do something with it hence my interest, I live in Melbourne Victoria Australia. All the best to all cheers Bully