4elements

Years ago I wanted to try green sand casting of aluminium and I wanted to mix my own sand. I found plenty of sand recipes but nothing that told me what consistency to aim for, until I called a library search service who told me that it should be like brown sugar, so right between crumbly and sticky, just holding together when squeezed.

Just because you forge iron doesn't mean you can't engage in other crafts and even creatively combine them.

Dillion. I tried to find that material I posted about beryllium and Vikings to no avail. So please regard it as false.

I live in a place called Granite Falls, I suppose that's what rains from granite clouds.

I'm in the factory in final body join, swing shift. I found you on the work computer, I'll contact you there, or PM here of you think that's better

If he doesn't know puns yet we'll train him

I seem to remember reading somewhere that it was beryllium, and that the Vikings didn't allow a man who was of an age to father children to be a Smith because of the poisonous effects. Since I can't cite references i won't vouch this as accurate. I do have a couple of books about Vikings at home but I'm at work now and can't check.

Thanks for the clarification Marc1. I was going off an unreliable memory. Dillion's pain, if I understood correctly, also isn't a direct result of the craft. I just want him to be healthy, lifted up, not cast down as it were.

Vulcan was an immortal god and a blacksmith, but he was a cripple. You have it so much better these days, and better examples to follow. I wish you well in treatment and recovery. An hour drive now needs top priority.

I watched the Ironmaking in Africa video. I expected the straw they used would burn out, but my guess is that the resulting voids would provide stress relief during thermal cycling. Does that sound reasonable, or am i off the mark?

Charles, do you put straw in that Adobe? If so in what proportion and how prepared?

It will be much more interesting when you're done and you may be surprised that its not scrap. Good luck, and post pictures

It sometimes simply meant left hand, as in heraldry, the left side of a coat of arms. Yes there was superstition and prejudice but there were also left handed heros too

If you didn't have your right arm you'd be sinister

So much more beautiful than anything we make at the forge, congratulations

Dillion, please, please see a competent doctor. Carpal tunnel may be likely, but isn't the only possible reason for pain and numbness. I had a herniated disk in my neck which caused similar problems. A chiropractor wouldn't have been the right move. Get an accurate diagnosis so you have accurate and informed choices of treatment. We can guess all day and not help you any.

Building a JABOD is a very easy and inexpensive forge style and there are plenty of discussions and plans in the solid fuel forge section. The most ancient forge style was a hole in the ground. JABOD just brings it up to a better working height. I plan to build a washtub forge which is similar

I build airplanes, airforce tankers and freighters. Shady, looks like we have another thing in common. We should meet up sometime.

Early congrats to Daswulf as well. Little ones are a blessing to the world

You were clear enough

Congratulations, even if it is too early

I want one

Now if there was a coyote under it, that would be a picture for the end of day thread

You noticed I qualified the "Acme". I didn't know about the real Acme, and I wouldn't want to besmirch their name. Just remember, roadrunners don't usually end up on the wrong end of a falling anvil

ROTFLMAO