Irondragon Forge ClayWorks

In the video it looks like all the shafts are turning. What are you calling the crank shaft? I would be very cautious with filing anything inside. That is as far as I have ever had to take one down as long as the lower gears are in good shape.

We ordered it from High Temperature Tools & Refractory

The Bubble Alumina we were working with is very similar to Kast-O-Lite with spherical beads as aggregate, just white instead of grey.

I'm thinking a heavy work bench vise. I found this thread with one that looks very similar.

When laying up the Kast-O-Lite by hand it needs to be tamped (like concrete) to set the aggregate into the mix and get a smoother finish. I just tamp it with my fingers. I learned that from Frosty when setting our Bubble Alumina.

CGL... I will ring the anvil in the garden three times to ask for healing light and comfort be sent to the family and friends. When it is my time to depart, that is how I would prefer to be sent off.

My only thing is, I'm not a fan of single rivet half tangs (especially on larger knives) my tangs are always full tangs with at least two rivets. Other than that a nice knife, which is small enough that the handle shouldn't break. My first knife had a 10 inch blade (butcher style) and a half hidden tang with one rivet and epoxy. The last time I used it cutting some rather tough roast, I was pushing down with my left hand near the point and rocking the handle down. The handle broke just behind the tang and I wound up with the point sticking in my left hand. It was a lot of years ago and I reforged it with a full tang & three rivets. With this memory, I wonder what ever became of that knife, probably borrowed by my brother who was notorious for never returning anything.

Here is a thread by ausfire on wrenches. https://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/52325-what-can-you-make-from-a-spanner/

Now to make peace, I suggest going out and finding a stainless steel milk can for your wife & pups. We have one that I had been eyeing for a quench tank, but figured since my wife is a second degree black belt in Karate, discretion is the better part of valor (it is better to avoid a dangerous situation than to confront it) old proverb. I love the picture of the pup in the can too.

Have you seen this one. It's about as good as a firepot you will find. Why reinvent the wheel? http://www.bamsite.org/firepot.html

The best scrap to make tongs from is the scrap you have on hand.

I used an anvil weight calculator to get the weight and must have forgot number 11 for the last one. I'll take the blame on that one because being distracted with my wife having had cataract surgery that day. I'll go sit in the corner now.

Your dad is a wise man. Patience grasshopper patience.

We still have no idea of where in the world you are located. Giving advice on that would be different in various countries. Seeing as this is a world wide forum with members from about 150 countries.

At 280 pounds a good sized MH. How is the face? I can see some chips & a little sway but not bad. BTW Welcome to IFI, I always suggest reading this to get the best out of the forum. READ THIS FIRST It's full of tips like editing your profile to show your location and many others.

Welcome aboard... We won't remember this once leaving this post, hence the suggestion to edit your profile to show location in this thread. READ THIS FIRST It is full of other tips to help in getting the best out of the forum.

Might add that to your location profile, that way we won't dun ya when we need to know a closer location, just a general area like the KS City area will do. I'm pretty sure BAM has chapters up there.

Now that's a good looking pattern and overall knife. Can ya tell I like it?

Welcome aboard... sounds like you are off to a good start. Have you read this yet? READ THIS FIRST It's full of tips on how to get the best out of the forum. Don't be surprised if your thread is moved to the proper sub-forum like knife making where it will get more replies related to billet making. I see you have the picture thing figured out. We love pictures as long as they aren't too large. What part of Missouri? I am just a stones throw from the MO AR state line. There are several blacksmithing organizations in MO & NW AR (BAM Blacksmith Association of Missouri and BOA Blacksmith Organization of Arkansas) if you can find one near you it would be to your benefit if you could attend meetings.

The 125 is the weight as when it was made, may be off by a few pounds due to differing scales. There should be a serial number on the foot under the horn.

To upload pictures you need to resize them by 50%.

Need some pictures and what you want to know. Since you posted this in the Hay Budden list I guess that is the maker.

I had never met Jim Paw-Paw Wilson but followed his teachings and articles. What a loss to the Blacksmith community.

Have you tried to call them on the phone? BTW welcome to posting, have you read this yet? READ THIS FIRST

Thanks deepwater, it's not really my job but you are right about trying to lay the ground work for the forum as it has some idiosyncrasies most folks don't know about and reading that thread will help in staying under the moderators radar. Nathan the thread I will link is about as good as it gets for building a propane forge from scratch.