the_sandy_creek_forge

I've got the axles out of a Ford Ranger (smaller than Glenn's 1 1/4 inches though), two chunks of semi truck axle (one Volvo and one Kenworth IIRC) and one chunk out of a Bobcat skid loader. The semi axles spark test somewhere in the 1040-1060 range, the Bobcat axle sparks a little more like 4140ish. I can't remember what the Ranger axles sparked like, and they're at the bottom of a resource pile so they aren't getting checked anytime soon! -Aaron @ the SCF

Hm.... Steel pole barn shop in the bottom of a creek valley with an el cheapo radio.... I get one country station (sometimes), one rock station (most of the time), and if the cloud cover is right I can get NPR, a gospel station, and one of the (possibly pirate radio) Mexican stations (I think its broadcasting from somewhere between Chicago and me)... That's about it, so usually rock or country, whichever comes in the best. -Aaron @ the SCF

Great....you just HAD to tell me..... :) -Aaron @ the SCF

Last time I changed out the oil in mine (I only use the handcranked for demos, so it rarely needs a complete oil change, usually just a top-off) I swiped some of the hydraulic fluid that we use in the farm tractors. Worked really well. -Aaron @ the SCF

I got the shaper in the shop this fall. It really did amaze me that 1/32" inch wasn't even considered "close" with machine tools. I guess I knew about thousandths...I just never really thought about them much. Now I find myself calipering things coming off the anvil.... where does this metal madness stop!? -Aaron @ the SCF

M_Brothers, While 400lbs of wood seems like a lot, it really is not. Also, you lose some of that mass in the coaling process (I can't remember exactly how much, and I'm sure someone will call me on being to lazy to look it up). Personally, if I were going through the trouble and mess to make my own charcoal, I would take it in one fell swoop and burn down at least a full cord or so at a time (if space, supply, etc. allowed for it). As far as the charcoaling process, I CAN offer this. Jack Daniel's charcoal filters their whiskey. When I took the tour of the distillery, they explained how their charcoal making process works, and I took the initiative to ask a few more questions of the tour guide. They cut and/or split the pieces of (I believe) maple so they are dimensioned about 1-2" by 1-2" by X length. They then rick them up log cabin style. They add a little flammable liquid (Distilled alcohol incidentally) and they light the pile up. As soon as it looks like the wood has coaled (they are professionals and know when this is), they hose it down. That simple. Split, stack, burn, hose down. From what I saw of the charcoal, it seemed to be pretty well coaled, and as far as I can figure it is the relatively small cross section that allows it to coal up so well in so short of time (my speculation). -Aaron @ the SCF

On the original question of eye to size proportions: I looked over my assortment this weekend and can successfully say that there doesn't seem to be any at all! (at least in my humble collection anyways ) The only correlation I did notice was that on my Atha's the width of the eye seemed to have a somewhat constant ratio to the width of the hammerhead (just eyeballing it). If anyone is REALLY interested, I could probably put on my math hat next weekend and measure them to see exactly... and I mean REALLY interested! -Aaron @ the SCF

If ya can wait till this next weekend, I can snap a couple shots of the tool chest I take to demos. Imagine an old-fashioned coffin (not the dracula kind, but just the plain pine box kind). It's kinda like that but not as long. Two handles, a couple of steel spoked/steel rimmed wheels off of something (probably antiques themselves). On the inside I ran furling strips along the top on the long sides. The strips are notched to accept rebar "racks" to hang hammers, tongs and what have you from. Hm... picture would speak a thousand words.... -Aaron @ the SCF

I too am leaning towards logging equipment. When I get a chance, I'll mention it to dad and see if he has any insight. He grew up with my grandpa and great-uncle running sawmills, so he's more familiar with the older equipment. I just wrap a chain around the end of the log and start dragging:) -Aaron @ the SCF

The in-laws were VERY giving this year and hooked me and the wife up with a new laptop... and even though it isn't a $2000 custom built, do-everything, swiss-army knife of laptops, at least I can now watch all those youtube videos that Sam keeps posting, and hopefully not have the internet freeze up from java and flash induced overload:) Other than that... good old fashioned cash (to buy new toys with of course). And as a Christmas present to myself I hit Sears' scratch and dent aisle and came away with a deal on one of there little "homeowner" series toolboxes. A trip to Walmart (for $8 worth of felt) and a trip to Menards (for a can of Elmers Extra Strength Spray Adhesive) and *presto-chango* instant machinist's tool chest! -Aaron @ the SCF P.S. When the Elmers spray adhesive can say "Extra Strength" they really mean "so strong you can glue yourself to the side of the Sears Tower and do the hokey-pokey while you're there" luckily it cleans up with a can of non-chlorinated brake cleaner.

Grade 8 bolt: a.k.a. a quick and readily handy replacement for a lost/misplaced tractor hitch pin I tried making a specialty drift punch for something or other out of a grade 8 bolt once. It seems I water hardened it from non-magnetic, for some reason (probably just wasn't thinking), then drew the temper back from the point. It worked for what it was needed for, but cracked when I was using it on something else afterwards. I'll definitely oil harden if I ever do it again. -Aaron @ the SCF

Matt, After reviewing the site, I found that the damascus page made this old dinosaur computer computer lock up (the whole page, not just the videos). Therefore, I must give you an A-... Seriously though, I like it. It's well laid out, easily navigable, and full of useful ideas for other blacksmiths, and still balanced enough to inspire customers to buy from you. I am ESPECIALLY fond of the press and the old bandsaw. That bandsaw is a thing of beauty in and of itself! -Aaron @ the SCF (I'll check it again after Christmas, as there is a rumor that the in-laws and the parents are maybe providing the funds for a new computer as a special Christmas present this year!)

I think by 1/2" he meant 1/2" screened, as in the rocks/gravel is 1/2" diameter and smaller. I would also go with the gravel in the forging area. Right now my shop is (STILL) a mixture of dirt, concrete, and gravel. I am SLOWLY pouring the concrete section by section as I get time. Due to poor planning and a slight shortage of fundages, we weren't able to pour the floor right when the shop was built, and then, shops being shops, we accrued stuff faster than the floor got done.... When I do finally get to the forging area, it'll probably end up being concrete though. As much as I'd like gravel, the shop is kind of an all purpose move stuff around as needed, pull a tractor in here, squeeze a mower in there to work on it type of deal. So it'll eventually be all concrete or non at all! -Aaron @ the SCF

Sell my extra tools? Sell My Extra Tools!? SELL MY EXTRA TOOLS?!?!?! But....but.... If I sold my extra tools, they might be bought by a (gasp) tool collector.... Then they'd end up sitting in some kind of display, not getting used, instead of sitting in my shop not getting used! -Aaron @ the SCF

Hm...I'd never thought of that...but... maybe the movie was wrong... maybe it should have been "Xxxx dirty MICE" instead of apes.... -Aaron @ the SCF

Pretty much everything Jr. (irnsrgn) said except that I usually go with two pair of socks, a thinner cotton jersey type inside of a wool type. Just personal preference that the cotton jersey type feels better on my feet. I've always wanted to try a pair of those battery operated thermal socks.... but somehow I have a feeling I'd end up getting shocked. -Aaron @ the SCF

http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/f7/touchmark-4016/ -Aaron @ the SCF

Steve: I don't think it would of hung from a track. IIRC and it IS in fact what I think it is, this would be the part that is spun in a circle to guide the individual strands into laying down correctly on the center strand. I'm sure any of the ropemaking sites on the web could explain it better than I could. I am also leaning more towards cable-making because it IS so heavy and because the individual hole are holes and not just divots around the perimeter of the guide. But then again, I've never seen barge rope or hay rope made, so not really sure. -Aaron @ the SCF... offering speculative observation since 1983 EDIT: Bet on how high/bid on it yourself? I'd do both...:)

Very nice, a bit heavy for my taste, but still well done. And using prefabbed components is NOT cheating. Heck, the way the economy is, sometimes it's easier to sell a project where you "tweak" prefabbed components than it is if you make all the components yourself... It's not "traditional" but it keeps things going. -Aaron @ the SCF

Ice Czar: I'm kinda led to believe your working as an industrial/commercial blacksmith for a decorative ironwork type company? Am I close? Care to start a new thread or throw up some more info in the "introduce yourself" thread? On buying new stock: Yeh, buying brand new clean stock is kinda nice...just watch out, cause it's easy to get hooked on buying new stock for everything...and that can get EXPENSIVE! -Aaron @ the SCF

Half of an old gas barrel (seems to always be plenty of them on an old farm/ at old farm auctions) it'll hold somewhere between 600-700 pounds. sits right outside with a sheet of scrapped steel roofing over it. Inside i use an empty grease drum for storing usable amounts by the forge. -Aaron @ the SCF.

I was kinda thinking the same way keithh999 was thinking (oddly enough because of my scouting experience also). I'm gonna go out a limb here and ASSUME that the shelf it is sitting on is made of 2x4's. If so, and it is in fact a guide for a rope (or cable) making machine, it musta been for making something like 1-2" rope (or cable). Nice shelf-sitter for a tool collector, or a rope-making reenactor. -Aaron @ the SCF (who still can't guarantee 100% that's what it is..... but it kinda makes sense)

Hey Sam, If that followed you home for free, you got a steal on it. We had to pay $50 for the one I have in the shop, and that was on a "good" day (read as: blustery cold and nobody wanted to stand around at the auction). A big auction with lots of collectors, that exact grinder in that exact condition can bring upwards of 120 or 130 bucks around here EASILY. Good job! -Aaron @ the SCF