Millhand

Haha I know I know. Mistake should have been my middle name lol I did forge the shank first on both of them by forming them hot into the hole but the hardy hole slants off into the anvil and I wanted it to fit tight at least 2 ways. First one did not, second one does and is much better all around. I just reread my post and it's hard to follow. The one I cracked, in heat treat last night was just the first of 3 failed projects. Ever have one of those days where you should probably just have stayed in bed? Lol. I was however stoked when I was able to pull the second one off. It's really the best thing I've forged so far. As far as heat treating the hot cut, I knew I didn't need to, and it is dangerous to hammers to have it hard. Hmm,.. Guess I just had to do it. Just Like I Had To go though my chisels and punches at work. Reworking, heat treating and tempering them all. Maybe I'll anneal it just for practice now. I've only about 30 hours total on the anvil. Prolly many more mistakes in my posts to come. I'm much happier with the one I made today. Can turn two ways and it's in one piece hahaaa

Looking good!

Mistakenly posted in the wrong thread. Not trying to hijack. Sorry

Hot cut I made today. First one i quench in 10 deg F. oil without warming it. Opps don't do that!! I'm a noob so dont think it's what a hot cut is supposed to look like. I've just started. Over tempered one corner in the forge. But all in all it turned out ok imo. Second set of pictures are the first one i made. I almost Cried when I heard it pop..... My Queens Dudly has a wandering long tapper in the hardy. It's a real pain to make a hardy turn two ways. Material was a very large spring off a semi Trailer.

I loathed for that upbringing, my father told me those stories but I was not so lucky. I was however fortunate enough to be molded by elders that learned to be frugal during the depression. A few days ago I tried to forge some of the wrought iron they left behind and it unraveled on my anvil.

This thread has bought quite a few smiles to my face. Good stuff. Aim for something cheap! After the day I've had its refreshing to find a bit of humor. Frosty and TP, you guys rock!

Thanks Thomas, I've no screw press but am starting a big forging press build to do just that. I have found my hands will not take hours of the hammer, much to my dismay.

To large imo 1.5, I haven't made any tools for it yet. She's In great shape.

400 lb columbion, won't put a hammer to it until I get my hammer arm tuned.

Haha! Love it TP!

On a stroke of luck, the 6" horticultural blower I'm using on a vf drive will adjust across a wide range. I spent some spare moments today considering the what nots, on sorting the char out of my boiler. What I came up with is a couple 30 gal drums with sealed lids for snuffing out the char. after collecting it with screen like your description. I'll run my boiler over loaded to pile up carbon. I will run a heavy hard maple/ ash mix. Both make great piles of carbon. I can make enough to fuel my forge non stop and stockpile for the summer. I'm thinking a fork like the horse farmers use to clean Sawdust. Lots of tines 1' apart. Maybe I'll save my good coal for super clean Welding heat when I get to that point. My boiler can make a 55 gal drum of great charcoal a day if I run it accordingly. (Packed full with little energy consumption from the house) great carbon factory. Just have to figure out storage and transportation

I'd look for the panzer in particular.

I love making tools, favorite past time of mine. I'd say leave it with lots of stock to remove and adjust after you pound on it for a long wile.

Always so serious around here. Guess frosty is the only one that can joke around.

"It's sometimes better to ask for forgiveness, than ask permission" Anonymous

After two straight days of forging the I've figured out what works for me. I've had to shrink up this pot all the way around. I was burning to much fuel and steel. It's working well now. I've found that I enjoy charcoal out of my outdoor Woodstove over coal. Once I develop a way to transport enough of it I'll stop using coal. Couple reasons, 1 it's semi free, 2 I don't burn as much iron. 3 it's alot cleaner.

Thanks arkie! I did have some problems with burning my work. Probably just need some more practice on fire management and placement. A foot pedal is going to be a must. I was able to heat a 2x2x5 very quickly. Now I just need tools, tomorrow will be a tong making day.

Side draft works wonderfully! About 11' of 12", I'll post pics tomorrow. Stoked the forge works great! I on the other hand need a lot of work! Top pic is charcoal, bottom is coal out of my outdoor woodstove. Pot Burns both quite well.

That's strange, any of you feel a bit used ?? Lol.

Wow! nearly a month into this and I'm just getting the forge set up. Turtle speed! This is why... I have been trying to get the shelving built under my Welding bench for 2 days at work. Now we are talking 4 pieces of angle iron and 1 piece expanded metal. I had a few spare min so I decided to knock it out yesterday. I no sooner put the helmet on and someone starts yapping. As soon as I ran that one off there was another. Ended up 6 ppl in that hour interrupted me. I make mistakes because of them, spend a huge amount of time looking for tools I set down wile being interrupted. Remeasure many times! its so frustrating! The only way I can be left alone is if I break out the 8 inch grinder and have alot of stock to remove. I'm going to leave a piece in the vice and the grinder hot for just such a thing. Rant over. ...

Finishing the pipe outside this morning, how high it goes up will be strictly governed by the traction I can find on a metal roof covered in snow and ice. Have to build some sort of cap. Hopefully, baring a trip to the er, the next pictures will be the super sucker working with a correct flu.

Perfect, thanks guys!

Went back out to the old homestead, couldn't find much else. But did find these. Any ideas what they are purposed for? Also got these awile back, just in case I want to forge a anvil or something lol!!

Excellent build. Nice work!

Didn't accomplish much on the bench today. Had a chip van taking up my stall all day for brake work Got a expansion and vice mounted. Shelves tomorrow and it's done.