Irondragon Forge ClayWorks

Note: when I said Ames has been around, the family was importing cutlery in the Colonial period, sorry for the confusion. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

Glad you & yours are doing fine and welcome to the rabbit hole of sword collecting. I think they are the M1833 model, Dragoon saber used extensively in the ACW so quite old and in very good shape. The words Made by/Ames Mfg. Co/Chicopee/Mass are enclosed within an unraveled scroll, and initials/US/date is stamped on the opposite side of the blade. This scroll mark is usually very weak, and often has been partially worn down by the scabbard—this is a feature that helps in authenticating the sword. Ames has been around since the AWI making swords, bayonets etc. https://www.americanswords.com/sword-identification.html I wouldn't remove the handles as the twisted wire wrapped leather is probably very fragile and it could fall apart. Ask me how I know. A lot of collectors will devalue the sword that has been cleaned up to look like new. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

Welcome from the Ozark mountains. Usually there is a plate on the motor itself, may be underneath or obscured by the mounting plates. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

It is a pinned topic in Gas Forges, a couple of posts down from Forges 101. There is a wealth of information in all the pinned topics of every section. For instance, if you get interested in making knives, you would go to Knife Making and read through the pinned topics first to get an idea about it. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

To fire ITC 100 that is used to coat the front or rear of the forge, set baffles/doors about an inch from the entrance and the dragons breath will fire it. The baffles/doors can be steel or bricks. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

The problem with smaller diameter easy outs is the tendency to snap off just like taps and I'm infamous for doing that, especially when working on old muzzleloader's I'm restoring. Usually Debi comes to the rescue with her ability to stay calm and not do any more harm. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

I would start by soaking it in Kroil or a 50/50 mix of Dexron II ATF & Acetone, to cut any rust keeping it from turning. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

My contribution to this conversation, may help your with your build. https://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/61288-my-consolidated-notes-for-new-forge-builders/ I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

When something like that happens to me, I look around wondering what else I could do while I'm down there. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

Love it when a plan comes together, would have been a shame to loose all those post's and threads by hammerkid. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

I just took another look and there is enough of the screw box end showing I would look for a piece of pipe with an inside diameter that would slip over the screw box and put a cap over the end to seal it up. I have one that the screw box was broken off at the screw box flange. I scrounged up a pipe reducer and bushing with plug that the reducer fit over the screw box flange snug enough I had to tap it with a mallet to get it to stay on. Worked like a champ and even blended in. Been like that since 2017 a little blacksmith engineering. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

We have 4 bows, An old Jennings T Star compound, a Bear Victor Super Grizzly re-curve, a replica of a Japanese Yumi and Debi's Mongolian re-curve. None of them have been shot in around 20 years and the Jennings needs some repair, which I'm in the process of doing. I'll post pictures of them all but for now here is the Yumi. When I found the 31 inch arrows for this bow the plastic fletching had disintegrated so I will be fletching them before we shoot it.

I agree with Frosty, good job on cleaning it up. The grease is too thick and will get a lot of trash stick to the screw. I use gear oil or even better is chainsaw bar oil which is light and trash doesn't stick to it as much. No matter what you use the screw and screw box should be cleaned and re-lubed occasionally. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

Welcome back from the Ozark Mountains. How long have you been gone? You will probably notice some differences in how the forum works. Also we have lost some prominent members due to their passing on. The recent ones are Glenn Conner and Thomas Powers. They are sorely missed. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

Welcome from the Ozark Mountains. Lets see Jr. High, for me that would have been in 1954 and I've slept a couple of times since then, so I don't remember those Geometry formulas. However, if and when I need them, I know where to find them. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

One time when I was still on patrol with the PD just after an ice storm, I got a call of a minor traffic accident at an intersection with a slight grade. The city hadn't yet chatted that intersection as it was a secondary road. I pulled up below the vehicles and proceeded to try and walk up the 15 or 20 feet to the wreck and fell on my keester, got up and both guy's, that I knew were chuckling. I asked them why are y'all out here driving on this ice. One of them said "gotta drive ya can't walk on it". We all had a pretty good laugh over that reply. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

Then the condenser stored the charge until the points closed and sent the charge to the plugs. We used to charge up a condenser and leave it laying on a bench or counter in the shop and invariably someone would pick it up and get zapped. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

I really don't know the weight of it, but as a kid I could only pull it about half way back and at that it was fast. The last time I saw that bow was when I joined the USCG and departed for boot camp January 1964. It was in the closet of my bedroom. When I got out in '68 the bow was gone and mom didn't remember it. I always suspected my brother or some friends of mom's that helped take care of her while I was away had absconded with it. By then life got in the way, raising 2 kids, a career in the automotive industry (parts manager of a large Cadillac dealership) a couple of divorce's and finally marrying Debi. When we moved to Arkansas in '82 the urge to shoot came back and Debi loves shooting both firearms and bow & arrow so the journey began anew. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

I've never seen hammer blanks for sale, where did you get it. We can't post live links to commercial sites but can mention the name so googling it will bring it up. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

Hence the saying "faster than falling on ice". One day during an ice storm, I saw Debi doing a whole ballet while trying not to fall on ice. By golly she made it without falling, probably because of all her Karate and dancing lessons when younger. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

My introduction to Archery began when I was about 14 and had a paper route. On my route there was an elderly black gentleman who taught me a life's lesson that is with me still. At that time the paper boys would collect the weekly money for the subscriptions and turn them in to the route supervisor. The gentleman had failing eyesight and when I would collect the money, he would say there was money on the table by the door take what you need. I asked him how he would know if I took the right amount and he said he wouldn't know but that I would know. That lesson about honesty really stayed with me and I never took more than needed. Every once in a while when I rode by his place on my bicycle he would be out in the vacant lot next to his house, shooting at a target with a bow and arrow. One day I stopped to watch him and due to his poor eyesight he missed the target a lot. I asked him if he would like me to get the arrows for him and he said sure, it's hard for me to find them. I collected them and headed home. I told my folks about the encounter and my dad who was a Lt. on the police force said that he knew the gentleman and that he was a decent fellow and it was ok for me to help him with finding his arrows. One day when I was getting the arrows for him, he asked if I would like to shoot some. Silly question and I said sure, was dying to try but afraid to ask. He basically taught me to shoot a bow and arrow. He said the bow was one he made when he was a young man it looked a lot like the bows seen on the old western tv shows. I found out later they were called "Self bows". One day just before Christmas when I was collecting the money for the paper, he told me to go over to the corner of the living room and bring him the bow. I did and he held the bow out to me and said Merry Christmas it is yours to keep. I took it home and told my folks about it and my dad said it was alright to keep it as the gentleman had flagged him down and told him what he wanted to do with the bow. I learned just before New Years from my dad that he had passed away. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

You are right Frosty the band is still playing with new members, however all the founding members and several later members have passed away. I had to google the Ventures to find all that out. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

If I'm not mistaken, every member of the Ventures has passed away. However their music will live on. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

Over the last 5 years or so, I have seen some Bow & Arrow stuff, scattered around the various Sub Forum's and thought it would be fun to have a thread for folks to post photos here of what you have. Doesn't matter if you made or bought them but stories about them would be interesting. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

Oh ya the Ventures one of a kind grout and my favorites with the drumming battles. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus