Junksmith

Back in the early 80's, my father was present when Mack Truck put in their first painting robots. Apparently it was programmed by moving it's spray gun in the necessary pattern as the engine blocks came by. Anyway, the "trainer" managed to dislodge the spray gun in the process and it fell to the floor. Thinking nothing of it at the time, he reattached the gun and finished his routine. When the robot was activated, it reached the point in it's program where the spray gun was dropped. Being a very literal machine, it also "dropped" the spray gun. Imagine a large robot arm attempting to replicate the speed of gravity when bringing the spray gun down to the floor! Needless to say, it was smashed to pieces. With that, the robot paused as the trainer had while reattaching the gun and continued it's routine while the mangled spray gun continued to spout a now unregulated paint flow in all directions! I just wish they had camera phones in those days. I would have loved to see that in person!

Angle iron... Is there anything it can't do?

Very handy. I'm always keeping an eye out for angle because it is so useful for things just like your rack. Old bed frames are a great source. Keep thinking of new ways to use it. Good work!

Good day yesterday. I found a stand welded out of square tube. Definitely a support for things being painted as it is crusted with layer upon layer of paint (won't rust tho' ). Leaning against it are 3 half-inch round bars between 6 and 7 feet long. It's hard to tell from the corrosion - but they're solid brass! I found them in the in-laws shed. I'm going to try and forge a little (in open air) or just take it in for recycling. Not sure what the stand will be for yet.

I would add that keeping a water bucket around in addition to your extinguisher is very important especially if you work inside. Flying bits of hot metal and sparks can retain heat for a longer period of time and re-ignite flammable material easily after the extinguisher has been sprayed. Water was useless in your blowback case, but it is your best bet to rapidly cool red hot material and to saturate anything it is touching. Obviously you want to limit flammables in your shop to begin with - but those hot bits seem to have a knack for finding whatever can burn!

Gee, Gosh, Brian. Many people know my tongs by the Off-Center brand. Variously called Off-Center, O.C. or O.C.P. (Off-Center Products). Yeah, I'm nof forgettin' that time you ran across me either!

It's not just with iron. Lots of projects can be actually enhanced by walking away, working on something else, getting some sleep etc. As Mr. Ameling said, you have to strike a balance when it comes to deadlines, but I often find that if I have time to walk away from a difficult project for a while I come back with a new perspective.

Lucky kids to have such an inventive instructor... and a shop. Many of the shop classes in my neck of the woods have been cut and the shops dismantled. You either go straight academic or go to the technical high school. There's just no room for kids who want to learn a handy manual skill as part of their curriculum. I applaud your efforts to provide opportunities for students to be well-rounded.

The site you want has almost exactly the name as what you were asking for!

backyardmetalcasting.com

Hands-down the best resource for do-it-yourself metal caster. Lionel Hampton (site author) started from scratch and keeps a running record of his experiences. He also sells plans for backyard furnaces. He started with aluminum and is casting iron now. Give it a look.

Cool Mark,
I'll keep an eye out for you next time I'm passing through!

And thanks to everybody for the encouraging words and helpful suggestions. I have lots of iron to pound in the next few months. I'll keep you posted.
Joe

Good Deal man! I wish I could have stopped by to see it, I was stuck at work all weekend, hopefully thats an in for Bboro days. I got my shop about 90% finished, so i'll have some work space again.

Mark

You're right Sweany! My 7 foot piece about did me in. I just drag it a little at a time.

As far as uses. One of our members (can't remember who at the moment) suggested using a narrow slice to make a flatter type hammer. I'm in the middle of trying that now with a lighter gauge rail. I cut the rail part off, put a hole in the web and the base is the flatter head. I torch cut it so it's going to take a lot of grinding. I'll post a pic if I ever get it done.

I've waited so long to be able to do this. I was a "sideshow" in a local park coupled with the arrival of the annual Wagon Train. This collection of conestoga wagons makes a passes through our area (Boonsboro, MD) as kind of a roving living history display. Not sure where they were from or where they were going, but the committee in charge of hosting them wanted a blacksmith and found me through the local historical society. Booya!

As I am recovering from a 3 week bout with pneumonia, my brother-in-law (smoking the corn cob pipe in picture 1) was good enough to help me move some gear. He even banged out a couple of miniature horseshoes!

In the first pic, we are joined by my daughter Elena and my nephew Lars.

The second is a pic of my new demo toolbox & insert. The hardies go on top, files in the back, and hammers & tongs underneath. Then the whole mess drops into that footlocker underneath for storage. Most of my hammers & tongs were over at the anvil when this was taken.

The last pic is my new vise stand. I welded it up mostly with some 3 inch angle iron that I had hanging around and diamond plate for the base. It only weighs a little over 125 pounds with the vise on it, but I can stand on the base plate and add another 275 in the blink of an eye! It needs some refinement, but I only had a week to get a portable unit built only from the scrap I had lying around. Same with the toolbox. Short notice, but at least I'm mobile now if I need to be.

The demo itself went well. Lots of onlookers. It was a little hard to concentrate and answer questions at the same time but I managed it. Frost nailed it when he said to keep the projects quick. I lost some people on the more ornate stuff so I switched to hooks and leaves and got a lot more attention. It's amazing how excited people get about a twist! I would go over to the vise, grab the wrench, and people whispered "Look, he's going to twist it!" with a reverence usually reserved for small miracles. Hey... if that makes 'em happy then just call me "Twisty McTwister"

Sorry to ramble on. It was just yesterday and I'm still wound up about it.

What I mean by mythical is how so many guys try blowing smoke up the public's collective orifii about the "magic" involved in forging iron. Most people don't buy that BS anymore, They may think there's trickery involved like batteries and a red LED in the plastic bar you're hammering on but they don't believe in magic.

Most of my demo patter is aimed at driving home the fact that blacksmithing or any kind of making is only a matter of knowledge and practice. People really connect with the idea they can MAKE something with their own hands.

I think THAT is the "new magic."

Frosty

It's a great feeling isn't it? To produce a finished and functional tool? I know I love it. Congratulations!

Gee Frosty I'm blushing:D

Seriously though, everybody's advice makes sense to me. I figure small stuff is going to be my best bet - especially in this economy. Of course the jurors wanted to see my best examples and the ones I posted are as good as I've got at this point. I'm planning on some major pieces, but not enough to fill a 10x10 booth. There will definitely be lots of "doodads".

Interesting comment about the "mythical" stuff Frosty. I find myself drifting when the topic turns that way too. Busty Valkyries are all well and good but I've learned that the best stories (especially the ones related to iron and steel) are the true ones!


Thanks again everybody. I'll let you know what happens.

Hey everybody!
I have just put in my application for my first show. It's a juried craft fair so naturally I'm a little nervous about being accepted - especially since I've only been forging regularly since last July.

They wanted to see photos of two pieces so I sent them one of a trammel and one of a trellis I just finished. The trammel isn't very exciting, but it is a heritage festival for a nearby town so I figured they'd want to see something a little more historically oriented.

Anyway, I've attached the pics. Feedback is always welcome, as well as any tips on doing business at a craft fair etc. The show is in September so if I get in I'll have some busy months ahead!:o

I like the sign on the side. "Contents MAY be hot":D

I like the way you used the ball bearings,nice work!

Raked a hot klinker out of the fire 2 weeks ago and I didn't realize that it had landed on top of my shoe. Leather shoes, but the laces were nylon. Ooops. My brother in law kindly told me that my shoe was on fire and I brushed it away with my hand. I guess I should'a used the gloved hand, because burning nylon really sticks well to skin and holds the heat too. Irony? The watering can was 2 feet away! Reflexes are great, but the man who can think as fast as he can react is fortunate indeed.

Thanks everybody. Tough questions from the senior members - but fair ones indeed. There is an arts & crafts festival in my area this September. Being in it is my immediate goal. The show is juried and I have about a month to submit 2 or 3 really good samples so I've got some ambitious material in the works. Just now I'm working on a rose trellis complete with roses, basket twist, etc.

If I get accepted, I'll spend the next 6 months of evenings and weekends interspersing larger pieces with hooks, nutcrackers, keyrings, and more spike knives. If I don't, I'll do the same, just at a slower and more focused pace.

SJeane. I'm glad you like the twists. I get a little carried away with them sometimes just 'cause they're so much fun.

Yes Bob, that is a nutcracker. It's a good exercise in drawing, twisting, & riveting. Maybe once I refine the design a little more I'll post a blueprint. I've got a lot more to learn in the meantime though!

Thanks again to all!

Someone gave me a lump of anthracite once. It burned very hot but was harder for me to start and keep burning than bituminous. I read online that some smiths mix the two. Me, I'm sticking with bituminous. I'm sure there are much more studied opinions than mine forthcoming!

Hi everybody,
Just a collection of some odds and ends I've done recently. Feedback welcome. Even criticism!

It's just an old gear pinion of some sort that I welded to a drop hammer die. It weighs in somewhere around 220 lbs. I wish I still did :o

I'm not paricularly excited about horseshoe wall hooks either. When I made one for a gift recently I decided to do something different and weld part of a railroad spike to it. It is shown here ready for priming. I was eyeing this post because I wanted to do something more interesting with these relatively plentiful scraps.