Cool Hand

Howdy.

Been a while since I posted here so forgive if I have this in the wrong spot. I currently am knee deep into a smoker project and I really want to use a 120 gal tank I was given by my uncle.

Just one caveat though. After removing some of the paint in transport I quickly realized after draggin this thing 100 miles that it is made of aluminum. It is a nice thick tank so I can imagine why I shouldn't use it anyway.

I am building this thing from the ground up. All the steel parts that are showing I am putting a gunmetal finish on. Wood will be stained a dark red.

WHat I am hoping you guys can give me is some insight on refinishing this old aluminum tank.

Short of using some exotic acid, is there anything I can use to make this thing look good, not peal when heated and not poison those I deem worthy of eating my smoked pork and chili?

I am also having a challenge with mounting the silly thing, but I think I am going to learn the job of cooper and use a wagon wheel band around either end.

I appreciate any input you can provide. Pics will be a coming soon.

Great book. I also like "The Blacksmith's Craft- Revised". Mark Aspery has a few good one out too....lol

Don't hold metal when you are having a discussion with those watching your work. Either put it down, in the slack tub, or back in the fire. Too many opportunities to nonchalantly grab it as you are busy yacking.

Excellent Pic! Mine are about half that size!

Fantastic information. Remember, what I need is to ensure I am not getting ripped off on the weight of a significant amount of iron. Great stuff so far, thanks.

I buy primarily from junk dealers, flea markets, and roadside vendors. Only 1 metal supplier here locally and I save them for the high end stuff.

Thanks for the correction. i will definitely try your formula.

I am amazed at how much my very simple work is taking off with local shop owners. All of a sudden I can't seem to get enough items made to keep them selling. Thats a problem for another day.

My question is, how do you guys display small amounts of work? I have S hooks, beam hooks, key fobs, pokers, knives, just little stuff like that.

What I am currently making is a cedar beam that I can drive hooks and hang hooks from. I really need more ideas than that, but don't have the experience to make up for ingenuity.

I appreciate your input,
Cool Hand

I know density can impact the wieght, just looking for a rough estimation of what 1 square inch of metal weighs.

I find a lot of good junk, but sometimes have no idea what weight is because I have no scales handy. I probably get overcharged quite a bit because of that sometimes.

Either wieght or a good formulaic approach would be handy.

I appreciate the input,
Cool Hand

They are hammer -eye tongs. Sorta C shaped facing each other. I would use smaller versions of them to hold an axe head or hammer through the head.

These are just an INCREDIBLY larger version!

I will try to get pics tomorrow if possible.

I bought a huge set of very old hand forged tongs. They are 4.5 feet long, weigh at least 60 pounds, and have hammer-eye points with a chain to lock the bottom of the tongs tight on something.

Any ideas what these type of tongs would have been used for? I would like to know before I do something stupid with them.

Sorry about not having pictures yet,
Cool Hand

Nail hooks, S hooks, leaf hooks (my favorite), spike knives for my bestest relatives. Hoping I get bags of coal for being SUCH a bad boy all year.

What an amazing variety of information and feedback jammed into 2 pages. I really appreciate the input, everything from safety, to stupidity, and finances. You guys are fantastic!

"Drop a penny in the forge and the smith cant weld until he cleans it out" From "The Blacksmith Craft".

My thoughts exactly. Really curious if it will work. Thanks H.

I searched before asking but didn't find what I was looking for. Trying to get a basic sense of what copper coated iron grounding rod is comprised of. It is half of what the round stock here goes for. Just curious as to your thoughts on what it's application could be. High carbon iron or just crap? I would love to use it on a few things I have in mind.

Your insight is appreciated.

Multi speed hair dryer....2 bucks at the local flea market....works like a champ!

My question is just what is he putting into the firepot these days...

Frankly, I am not very good at grinding from a blank yet. I have to forge the basic style I want then do some grind work from there. Cracking and buring issues you got to learn to work around. Are you heating the metal too much?

Page 222 of Practical blacksmithing (books.google.com) has some interesting points on facing hammers.

Believe it or not, my wife was just using one of those tong/plier tools to shape copper roses in a recent class. It does a great job at making the curves and indents necessary to produce a top notch rose petal using copper.

I know a swage block will work, but I am looking for some non-swage techniques for making a bowl shape.

Currently, I am using a 2 3/4 inch truck towing ball locked in the leg vise. At Madison, I saw someone hammer a bowl by placing the metal on a stump and beating it with a pien hammer.

I love making sporks, but I just can't seem to get the bowl made the way I want it.

Any ideas are appreciated.

Steve

My little fella is two and a half. I have a pic in the gallery of him recieving his first hammer. I wouldn't do this if it was something I couldn't share with both my boys (the other is only 5 months old!).

He really enjoys scrap hunting and plays in my quench bucket whenever he can. Anybody ever figure out how to stop em from throwing rock in there let me know...lol

In addition...

- All the green coal blacksmith classes are in the sun, get the early one or bring a hat, sunblock and plenty of gatorade.
- Bring your big car or a pickup, yer gonna go home with more than you think.
- Bring a notebook to capture ideas, sketches, and names
- You will kick yourself if you don't bring a camera or video camera, and use it...

More to follow...

Just wanted to chime in about some of the things I learned at the 2009 conference. Special thanks to those that made this a wonderful learning experience for my wife and I! (Torch, Eddy, Mark, etc.!)

- tools can be gotten really cheap there.
- I only met 1 or 2 vendors who only wanted to sell me something, everybody else was incredibly patient with my incessant questions.
- Irish chili is gooooood...
- Welsh blacksmiths who ride triumphs are incredibly helpful and probably the best mathematicians.
- Broom making is about as much fun as banging on metal.
- Don't run your group forge fans using battery power.
- Kids LOVE throwing 'hawks.
- Call months ahead if you want to get in all the classes.
- The worlds largest nail does in fact exist.
- The beds at Quality Inn are MUCH softer than those of the Red Roof Inn.
- I now wish I hadn't sold that RV...
- Wives really love the copper flowers and jewelry making classes, she now better understands just why my blood boils when I bend metal.
- Iron in the hat is FUN!

More to follow as I think of them....Steve "Aka Cool Hand"