Scott NC

Thanks, Jeff. I have been side tracked, just lately, as well. I have a list of things to try, too. Aric, it was an old project and I haven't casted in a long time, but it was fun. I am getting the itch to get back into it but will try iron instead. Aluminum and brass have a cold look to them, I don't want to mess with bronze, so I think I will build a cupola and take a whack at it. I'd like to make an iron butterfly..... IFCW, only 4" tall. The whole skeloton was 20" tall. It was for a halloween display. A forged one would look better, I think.

I looked for a patent on this drill and could find nothing. One of the brothers had a few patents for taps, dies and other things but nothing on the drill itself. I used every name associated with them but, nothing. I wonder if companies sold rights to use their ideas and designs. I did find an old sales catalog but it did not list their drills by number. I like a challenge and may keep looking. Here's a wheel attachment I found interesting. No shop would be complete without one.....

You should never sell yourself short. You can do it! I think aluiniminilioman works as long as you can say the word and convey your meaning.

Did you make that? Yes, it is cast in anumilum. Allunimum. I mean eluminuionm. Maybe it was pot metal.

I like your mori coins, Shainarue. I had never heard of such a thing, it is an interesting study. Congratulations to your nephew.

Ham, beef, chicken, moose.....?

I leave you with this. Make of it what you will....

I'm curious about this. How does one go about that?

Repeatability is always a challenge when bending. I used to bend those big tapered "arms" that hold up traffic lights at intersections on a long, very heavey duty, horizontal bending machine. The poles were 20-30' long, or longer in some cases, and it had different dies for different radii. We kept notes on the length to bend and after a few trial and errors on the first ones we had movable electric eye sensor we would set up to stop the bender. They came close to tolerance (+-3 degrees) but never the same. If they were over bent, we would hold the big, base end up on an overhead crane and slam the bend on the floor, you eventually got a feel for how hard to throw it down. This took out some of the bend. We also made the arms that hold up power lines on transmission poles. Same general principal only shorter. They were 3/8-1/2" thick, tapered, hexagonaly bent material though, so you had to put them in the bender backwards to take some radius out. That machine scared everybody and nobody wanted to work on it. It used rather large chain to hold the base end and pull the smaller end around the die. It creaked and groaned enough to make you grit your teeth. All the pipe, tubing and plate steel was formed in house so I imagine it was due to the quality of the steel. It came in by rail car, probably from China.

Angiolino, it seems you are trying Jerry's advice. Nothing to laugh at. I wish I could advise you, but like I said, I'm learning right along with you. Keep seeking the knowledge you are looking for. You will find it.

Maybe you could use some of the nicer beads to adorn something you make, whatever that may be, for family members.

I like the idea of using the school mascot and will work that into whatever I make. I wonder about shipping a suit of armor though....

George, I won't do a cannon because I have a small collection my Grandpa made. They are all going to him someday when I am gone. I want this to be one of a kind. I may pm you just to pick your mind. Post anything you think of. I appreciate the ideas. He graduates Sunday, so what I make, it's going to be late. Iron dragon, I am the most horrible bladesmith you will ever meet. I now wish I had expanded my talents in that area. He would like a battle axe. PB. Cannot do cannon. You should finish that one just because. Hope your ankle goes well.

I will tell you what, George. I wasn't at risk as I assumed it drove the devil out. It wasn't until I smelled it going bad that I had to go under and find it. It had plenty of time to air out, pesticide wise. Jeff, sometimes we learn the hard way. I'll tell you the about the time I tried to fix my pit well myself, sometime.....

Did somebody say crackers?I One of our family...

Bug spray in enclosed spaces is a bad thing. I tried to drive a skunk out from under a mobile home once by throwing bug bombs under there. It killed it instead and I had to crawl under there and pull it's carcass out. I doubt a respirator would help much in there.

My oldest Grandson is graduating this year and I would like to make him something as a gift. His main passion's are firearms and medieval things. I have had a few idea's but I want to make something really unique and so I am asking for input. One of his options after graduation is a job offer from a major ammunition mfg and I think he is going to take it. I have to ship it to him so it can't be a full size civil war cannon (he likes anything that goes BOOM). I can forge something or weld together a sculpture. I would prefer forging at this point. It should be something from my own imagination but I can put my own personal touch on any suggestions, most likely. Thanks for any ideas.

I was about to recommend the Teotihuacan Pyramids of Mexico City, Billy, but you can't climb them anymore. I googled it. I was lucky enough to go when you still could and went to the top of the Temple of the Sun. Unreal.

Killing the sword IS facinating. So is what is chosen to be sent into the grave with the dead. I always thought a fibula was just a leg bone. It is interesting to learn how words originate. Thank you.

Perhaps design some camber and/or sweep into your gate.

Why, I bet some smokers around here could accomodate a water buffalo. Even the trailer ones. I should have dubbed it "curmudgeon" chair...

This idea works well in the vise for holding, cutting and other work on extremely small screws and threaded objects as well if you have a need. I learned it from Rudy Kouhoupt doing small engines.

When we were house hunting when we moved here, I found that the a lot of them had outdoor brick ovens/cookers. I think it's the barbeque culture. I think it's overblown. Some of them looked like they could smelt a few tons of ore. I kind of figured a container would be a ear ringing, cramped headache but I was keeping in mind other uses for it, down the road.

I will pm you something, a malady, the exact opposite of what you describe. "Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we may die".

Each one has come over at some time or another while I am working and showed some interest. I had one give me some metal and a few tools. No pies... . I made a point of taking them something I made. I may have to put on an addition for a Totcho stove, there ain't room. Maybey the smell would draw them out. I'm either going to get a 40' cargo box or hire somebody to get a shop built. Too many things are tugging at me right now though. This will do nicely.