Irondragon Forge ClayWorks

Archie Have you ever tried the 50/50 mix of Dexron II ATF and Acetone, it works just as well as Kroil and is a lot less expensive, even if you can find Kroil locally. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

If I remember that was long before resistor plugs or shielded wires. I once saw him shut down a single cylinder motorcycle by grabbing the frame and plug wire connection at the spark plug, grounding it out. I never had the nerve to try that. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

Yes, anvil height does matter, too low and it puts a strain on the back/spine. Check in the anvil section on how to set the correct height. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

I could have sworn I added pictures of the bench mount jig so file work can be done, so here they are. Maybe it is in another thread. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

My wife made a knife grinding jig (with a little help from me) It woks very well at the 2x72 belt grinder and when attached to the bench it works for filing as well. Might take a look at it in the thread a couple below yours. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

Welcome from the Ozark Mountains. Your background sounds a lot like mine, only mine is earlier in the '50s with my grandfather, not much he hadn't done or couldn't do. He introduced me to mechanics and blackpowder muzzleloading, flintlocks rule. Third class Engineman in the USCG etc, etc. I did notice the XXXX,s in your narrative, as language is strictly moderated on the forum, it took me a while to get away from my sailors/mechanics jargon and a couple of warnings from admin & moderators helped. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

A great resource Scott, I've bookmarked it for future use, thanks. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

Looks like you have everything in hand, good job. Making the forge portable is easy. Pick up 4 of the locking swivel casters from just about any big box store like HF or Lowe's and mount them to the legs. When I was trying to decide how to make our 2X72 belt grinder portable, I was thinking about doing that but wasn't sure it would work. I said something like it would be temporary and to quote Thomas Powers answer " There is nothing more permanent than a temporary solution" and he was right 5-6 years on and it is working just fine. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

Welcome from the Ozark mountains. The numbers are the weight in the English Hundred Weight system. They will add up to 270 pounds as when the anvil was forged. "English Hundreds Weight (hundredweight) System: Typically the hundreds weight markings are separated by dots but not always. These figures were stamped into the finished anvil and are often not very deep. The first figure to the left is hundred weights which equal 112 pounds. The next figure is quarter hundred weights which equal 28 pounds and the last number is whole pounds. The three are added together for the total weight. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

My grandfather always said "90% of fuel problems are in the ignition." He was a master mechanic on the old cars & trucks and taught me a lot.

Being down in central AR, you are in the Blacksmith Organization of Arkansas, central chapter's area. We are on Facebook, might have a look as there a lot of members around Little Rock. If I were in the market for another anvil, for that one, I would make the 5-6 hour one way trip to buy it. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

We really like the Saturday Evening Post cover 1931 New Years. First time seeing it. Thanks. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

When I was a patrolman on the PD working the swing shift 4 to midnight out on patrol and when Johnny Paycheck's Take this job and shove it, I ain't working here no more would come on I would key the mic at that line. My Chief asked me about that a couple of times and I would say ya I heard that and thought it was one of the County Deputies, never did admit to it.

To go along with the Aladdin lamps, I picked up an Aladdin Blue Flame kerosene heater. It works very well and has been used several times to add heat downstairs when the propane wall furnace was out of order waiting on a tech to get here to fix it. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

Wow, I really don't know how I missed the replies. My embarrassing moment along this line was when we got our first propane fired kiln. It was used and within our budget so we bought it and set it up in the shop. Being used to a propane forge where I would turn the gas on and throw a match in to light it, I figured it would work with the kiln also. Well after cleaning the kiln all up and checking the 4 burners out of the kiln that mounted to a manifold under the kiln. I figured it would be good to go. However I thought I should make a long fire stick out of a wire coat hanger with a ball of cotton soaked in kerosene, that I could light each burner with. Big mistake...I turned the tank on and adjusted the regulator to 5psi then went over to the open kiln and turned the shut off valve open. I looked in the open kiln and stuck the lit fire stick in to light the first burner. That is when I learned you cannot dodge a propane fire ball. I was lucky all it did was burn off my mustache, eyebrows, eye lashes, some hair and give me a pretty good sunburn. From then on, I would light it by crumpling up newspaper, placing some at each burner and set each on fire then turn on the gas valve on and stand back.

Thanks for posting this. It is the first I have ever seen anything, about a rooster atop the spire at Notre Dame, just fascinating. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

I like the self drilling & tapping screws for the thickness of most forges metal. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

When we built our forge the driver who delivers our propane said the tank needs to be at least 10 feet from the forge. You can see the 115 pound "pig" tank with the burner hose which came off a weed burner running from under the forge to the tank which is 12 feet away. Since this picture I route the hose off the pad to the right between the cinder blocks and a piece of RR tie so it's nowhere near the forge opening and anvil or post vise. The tank is to the right, just out of the picture. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

I've found that if I fall down, I look around for stuff I might need to do while down there. Like Thomas said we are well past our bounce back date.

I use brown kraft paper (grocery bags) to make a ducks nest, news paper burns too fast and not hot enough to suit me. Fill it with coke from prior fire and some stove pellets. Then use my propane torch to light it all around the base. When the base is going, I rake more coke around it and like Frosty have a roaring fire in about 5 min, all the wile turning the blower handle for a gentle air blast. Then rake green coal around the perimeter to start coking up.

I watch FIF, mostly when I feel the need to holler at the TV. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

When we use the wood stove it also digests the sensitive paper. Last summer we culled about ten years of records (tax returns etc.) and because I was filling in the bank in front of the tractor for more room to park it, those went under 10x6 feet of dirt fill. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

Outstanding, ya done good on that one. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

That was my thinking also, however Debi thought it would be inappropriate in this case. I also noticed that Steve has received another package... Thank you Lary. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

My wife loves them also and agrees with you, she didn't think it would work either. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus