Pr3ssure

So I’ve got the flex pipe and I’ve got it all connected, now I’m just wondering the best way to go about mounting it. Should I just make a simple stand to go beside the forge or just weld/bolt a mount to the table? The middle shorts of the frame are on the sides of the table, so I could make a mount to go on the side of the table fairly easy. This is a picture standing at the front of the table.

Alright, just something that crossed my mind. Thought the ridges could hinder air flow. Almost completely setup though. Got my table top bolted to the frame.

So I got some flex pipe and connectors so I can run it between my blower and tuyere. Was wondering if I should stretch it out, cut it and use as little of it as possible or if it would be fine just leaving length as is and just stretch accordingly. Not sure if the ridges created from it being all pushed together would slow the air down enough to matter.

Yeah, I don't know who had it before me. My dad got it off CL in Ohio for cheap. So who knows what the guy he got it off of used it for. I've got a pretty good grasp on most kind of power tools, at very least a basic understanding of them. Hence why I take everything apart when I get it used. If it doesn't go back together than it probably should have been used. Except in the instances where I messed up, like that thread thing.... I'm just trying to think it was like that when I got it and I learned from their mistakes. lol Anyway, I've been looking online trying to find more about the grinder, I found out it's a Dayton. I found the exact one in pictures on another forum site, but the pictures didn't show the label unfortunately. Any ideas on what HP and RPM it might be? I'm thinking between 3/4 and 1 HP. I think I'll be good with most kinds of wheels I just wanna make sure I'm not putting anything on it that can't handle it. Having trouble finding this style Dayton through google, at least a direct photo. Basically gonna be used for whatever, If the wheel can be saved I may need one that coarse at some point. I really just want to get a little of everything, no distinct plans on where I'm going with all this. Just trying to see what I enjoy to do the most. Although I am definitely getting one of the rubber expander wheels you can put a sanding belt on. That's gotta be the coolest thing I've seen for a grinder. Could definitely be a decent substitute until I can afford to make a nice belt grinder and I might not have to buy a cheap one.

Got it all back together after painting it, fixed the threads and it’s all up and running. Really need a new wheel, gonna get a dressing tool first and see if there is any hope for the one on it. It’s pretty bad though. The wheel on the left is like a plastic wire wheel or something. Not sure what I would use it for. Wanna get a scotchbrite for the left though. Well I want a lot, so we will see where this goes. Any hope for that though^^^^

I’m talking about an expander disc, it’s like a rubber wheel you put sanding belts on, it expands when it spins so the belt stays. But I do need a new wheel, the one that was on the grinder is worn in the middle about a half inch more than the sides. Not sure a dresser will do the job.

Yeah, I stopped for the night but I’m trying to get the right side as smoothe turning as the left. Using the dremel with like a nylon wire wheel, it seems to be working well for cleaning the threads. Can’t wait to get some new wheels and an expander disc. Just found out about those.

I don’t think they are faulty they are just old. Plus one gauge on each regulator doesn’t have the armthat shows pressure anymore. I’m just gonna save up to buy him a nice kit with new hose and regulators and some tips. The least I can do, he’s cut off probably 6 months or more when it comes to finding and buying everything to make my table, plus $150 atleast.

I was thinking about doing that actually, painting them the same colors I painted each wheel cover. Just tape up the threads. The threads are working better now then they were when I got the grinder though.

Well between my dremel and hacksaw I got it.

I used the hammer taking it apart, the cone piece that holds the bearing, well the bearing wasn’t coming out so I hit the end of the drive shaft or arbor or whatever it’s called. I didn’t have a rubber mallet near by and I didn’t think it would mess the threads up, lesson learned though. Well the cone piece may have been stuck on the other side. I did something else to break the bearing free. Either way I was trying to knock something loose. Sucks it happened. You think I can fix it with a dye though? I’d like to find one I can put on further up the threads and go backwards to make sure I’m lining them up. Think this will work without messing more up? Found a video of someone who demonstrated the exact thing I did and he used a dremel to just taper the end and take off the bad threads.

I think I figured it out. I used a hammer on the end to knock a piece loose and it bent the threads. So I’m just gonna get a dye so I can clean up the threads or something I guess. Unless there’s anyway to just cut off the bent threads without messing up the ones beside them. I believe I’ll need 3/4 dyes though. And it’s not a cheap grinder, it is a little old though.

I put it together right, it’s the one that’s left handed threaded. I don’t think I cross threaded it. I’m just hoping I can get it off. It went on, got a little over half way through the threads on the nut though. Just don’t know why the arbor/axle whatever it is called is spinning independently now. Does it screw out of the center piece? Never mind, i thought I had the right nut right all the way, it was spinning. I just was locking the wheel. I’m just trying to get this but off now. Well I just saw that the left handed nut looked a hair smaller, it’s 17.32 mm or so and the right handed one is 17.52 or so according to my calipers. I just don’t get it. It was going on before I took everything apart. Did it shrink? I guess I just need a new nut. Also can you run a 10 inch bench grinder with one wheel? Or is it going to spin too fast.

So I took my bench grinder apart to paint it, I got it all back together but when I went to thread the nuts on the ends to tighten the wheels. The left handed but got stuck, now when I wedge something in the right wheel, the shaft on the left is spinning. I thought that wasn’t supposed to happen. What do I do? Does the whole shaft spin out of the center piece? The nut was working before I took it apart, that’s what’s puzzling me.

Yeah, I wouldn’t change them. I’d just give them to him and let him do it if he wants. They definitely need it though, only one dial works on each of them.

Unfortunately I wasn’t thinking when I welded the plate to the frame. The fourth bolt hole is over one of the square tubes so I either have to drill and thread or cut out a piece of the pipe so I can tighten a bolt. I think I’ll leave it with 3. Unless one day I get bored and wanna thread it.

So after getting everything to make the table for my forge from my very generous neighbor. I’ve pretty much got it all put together. I had to weld plates to the bottom of the frame to be able to mount the wheels to it. All in all, it’s going well. The only thing I have left to do is clean up the table top and I want to weld up a cut that’s in it and then I can mount it. I will be putting up a barrier around it, minus right in front of and behind the firepot. Here’s what the frame looks like with the wheels though.

Yeah, it was laying heel down in the ground. Once he wire wheels it I’ll have some better pictures and be able to say what the rebound is. Should be able to get an accurate weight on it as well.

Yeah, I figured around or maybe a little over 200. Either way that’s what I told my dad if it’s got good rebound, the face looks in good condition and I think he would have noticed any cracks by now. Guess I’m lucky enough that my dad looks for stuff like this for me. Even though I already have a decent anvil. A 161lb PW, got a little droop on one side of the face and edge but it’s still got plenty of good workspace on it. Also don’t have to worry about it being sold from underneath me, cause he didn’t even want to sell it for the last 2 years. Guessing my dad just talked about it enough he assumes it will go to someone who will appreciate it.

I think it was in the dirt, I’ll know more when I talk to my dad again. Pretty sure that’s mud all over it. He should be able to wire wheel it. I’m thinking it could be a Peter wright but I’m not sure. I can kind of see flat spots on the feet under the mud. Seems to be the same shape as my PW Once it’s clean though I’ll put more pictures.

So my dads boss has an anvil, he said he’d never sell it and all that. It was his grandfathers or his dads or something. Not sure about how much it was used. Well they finally moved it and he said he’d sell it for $500. I’m guessing he can get it cheaper than that and also be able to pay little at a time until it’s paid off. He’s going to clean it up, check rebound and flatness of face and send me more pictures. Any ideas on what kind it is from these two pictures though? The forks it’s between are from a skid steer, I’m not sure on the size but I’m guessing over 200lbs

SLAG, as of this point I’m not working on anything except setting up my forge. So it’s all pure interest right now. Although here within the week I’m am hoping to have the wheels mounted on my forge and have my anvil mounted, then I’ve just gotta get some coal. Although at that point I’m am more than willing to just make some charcoal if I have to. Heck I’ll even buy another bag of anthracite from Lowe’s if they still have it (even though it’s a pain). I am currently in the process of finishing my first two books and starting the third while I finish my work I need to do. Reading is something I do once I have nothing else to do, usually before bed. I am a bit of a procrastinator, but nothing’s really had me as excited as the firepot and tuyere I bought, so I don’t think it will be a problem here. I’ve definitely thought about Steve’s book, I was once interested in starting my forging to learn knives but the more I learned the further from that I’ve gone. I still want to be able to make a nice knife but for now I’m just as interested in every aspect of smithing. I’m sure there’s plenty of good information not only geared towards knives in it though. I might buy it just to help support the site and a fellow smith and have it on the back burner when the time comes. I’ve also downloaded some free PDFs that I found from ABANA, one was called like hand controlled forging or something. It wasn’t as easy for me to sit and read since it was on my laptop and staring at the screen all night hurts my eyes. I did get most the way through it though.

I actually found the forum about that last night, was hoping all the information was accurate. Want to make a chart with all the basics steels and add to it as needed.

Lol, well that would probably take longer than any book or series of books for that matter. I know most of what I need is on the site and almost any specific question I have will be answered in detail. That’s why I come straight here when I have a question, well I normally google the question with “ifi” or “I forge iron” so it shows this site. Although I also enjoy reading books for the part that it’s a lot of information from one persons side of it, so you can really get a feel for what they mean. Also a reason some books aren’t as good because they seem bias. But that’s what more books are for. I also like that I can have a book in the shop as reference when needed, if something happens to it at least I’m not out much money. Aside from my phone gets broke that’s $1000 down the drain. Also I do have several forums I found intriguing enough to go back to copies for me to later print out for that same reason. In the end, I want to have all sources of good knowledge, this site included. I’d also like to find a nice simple chart for heat treating. I’ve seen videos of guys who have them but I can never find one for sale or online. I’ll probably just have to gather all the info and I’ll make and print one myself. I haven’t looked at Steve’s guide though, I know I’ve glanced it but once I need some particular info on it I’ll be sure to check it out.

So I just got my third blacksmithing book today. The Backyard Blacksmith. I already had New Edge of the Anvil and The Modern Blacksmith. Both good books, hoping this one adds to it. Any other books that someone recommends for beginners? I’m trying to cram as much info as I can while I start learning. I know that nothing beats experience but it can’t hurt having some good reference material. I’d like to get a good heat treating book to have. Also AIA looks like something I’d want, will wait on that though.