Hans Richter

Shady, -bronze indeed my second obsession at the moment (casting replica's of roman bronze age founds) also thanks for the suggestions of texturing tools. Will share my try's on them. Greetings, Hans

Guten Tag Herr Slag, This several years at Rammstein Air force Base (!?) or similar doing very well to you. They made not only good soldiers but also good philosophes I see. As a diplomate I say your both right, born and raced behind the iron curtain in former East Germany yes, the GDR (you know the one won all the doping Olympic gold medals in the 70s & 80s) I emigrate to Holland lived there and run my own business after de wall was fallen (1990). Now settled in Belgium for the last 10 years. Quit confusing but funny. As you see I ‘take candy from tree puffs’. All the time my anvil and my field forge join me. Always a pleasure to read your contributions. Mit der grössten Hochachtung verbleibe ich, Ihr, Hans

Behalf of building activities on the shop (new door and windows) I also made some examples for upcoming workshops and show them to the sudents. Give away almost all the stuff I usually have as birthday presents or to say thank you to one of the ‘sponsors’ (air tanks, scrap, materials etc.) With the plasma cutter I’m able again to cut out raw blanks to forge them and give it a relief shape and texture.

Placed the windows and create an extra door to the terrace. Shop is built from 2 ½ in insulation panels (walls) and 3 ½ in roof panels (noise protection). With closed doors it was almost a sauna. Also removed one pillar of the tin shed to create a second covered forging place right next to the solid fuel forge. Much more ventilation and space now

Gents, about the explosive I’m totally agree with Anachronist 58, -even the shell is corroded and the body empty, the ignitor could have still enough explosives contained to make a lot of damage. So get rid of the bombshell as soon as possible. An item like this here in Europe in a private garage and knowledge of the authorities will bring you an intervention of whole the police force and a bomb squad. And after that a real bunch of inconvenience Keep it safe. Greetings, Hans Impossible

Dear gents, -about the paperwork on gas cylinders, they are pressure vessels and ‘little bomb’s’. Actually they have to be checked periodically on leakage, corrosion and integrity. Normally they (filling station, Notified body) do this by visual inspection, pressure tests and wall thickness measurement, then you get your ‘paperwork’ by certificate or approval. The expiring date of the approval mostly is mentioned on the cylinder by stamp or sticker. Regarding the hoses, they worn out after a while by temperature, age and UV-radiation. Even they have to be checked periodically by pressure test and dumpling under water. Last but not least the possible flash back to your acetylene cylinder possible at any time you turn of the wrong valve (oxygen) first after use. You can avoid that by special valves behind the pressure reducer. On another treat I already mentioned the upright use and transportation of the acetylene cylinders because of the liquid acetone contain. Maybe for some of you nothing new, but for others maybe a reminder to treat this kind of stuff serious. Have a nice day, and forge, burn, cut nice things. Hans

Thank you, their quit expensive to. Have a nice day (evening, morning?!) Most of the guys here getting hyper active when I went to bed

Thankx, JHCC - do you have some pictures (catalogue) or links for me?

Was looking at the world wide web to find some pictures of the comb gauges I inherit from my dad. Use them to measure hot square bars or flat material after fullering and reducing. All without burning my hands or turn in a (wooden) ruler into ashes. My question, anybody use measurement instrument like them in his shop.

Welcome Galen, very well-crafted knifes. For sure good to slice your rib eyes from the braai and chop the bulltong to

Hy Abu, welcome. Do you have any pictures? .............and some location anyway. Cheers, Hans

Welcome Semo, setup on drawing looks good look at this link to. your setup, allready build as solid forge

Wish Frosty all the best -but I know ' Alaskan weed does not perish' -get well soon !!!

Squeeze where .............? between the kitty cats

This confirmed what I always thought, we old craftsmen are a bunch of filthy old men. That also reminds me to ask the 'boss' to replace the bed sheets again in connection with the traces of soot, quench oil and other dirt present there.

Daswulf - It’s a real pity you’re so far away. If you ever come to Europe your more than welcome to Hans its forge and guest room. An invitation ill will give to all my smith brother on IFI b.t.w. But till now I have fortunately another kitty holds me warm and cosy.

Hi Das, very nice craftsmanship again!!! About the scratcher ……………….. I suggest, a to take a shower of bath sometimes

Gents, thanks for your comments. MC –on the 4th picture you see a CO alarm next to the warning flag. Indeed several holes, a ventilator and huge open doors (above the holes) take care for ventilation. This only till I can buy and mount the two planed (noise) insulated windows above left and right to the toolbox on the 3d picture. Think about the holes than, they make a nice entrances for the cat of the house to shelter at night.

Welcome Jill, please see the Example Kiln both the ingot moulds on top of the melting furnace before casting (bronze). However, during pouring there was still a drop of water in between the welding joints. Glad to wear the complete ‘Mounty’ of PPE’s while the hydrogen explosion. My brother in law made by casualty a video from a safe distance where the screenshots from below. This can happen with all liquid metals, so if you start melting and casting take care of proper and complete PPE and know what you are doing.

Jealous about the small ones. Curios what you spend $/lbs. However for me there is no ‘housewife-Capex’ anymore after broken dishwasher and television. Good luck and many happy forging hours on them.

Welcome Free, nice to have you here. The stuff looks very good, and the approach of a ‘ family business’ sound familiar to me. Even I’m not on the right continent I took/take a lot of advantage on the fact to be part of the IFI community. So see and share with all your smith brothers

@Shady McGrady + @Daswulf Hi gents, thanks and very nice you like the stuff. What’s about this guy below, made from AISI316, body glass pearl blasted, wings ornamental sanded. After the work on all the equipment it’s time to make some creations again. Shady I like your stuff to, but missing the patience to carry out this filigree work. For the dragonfly’s you only need some tube scrap from 2in till 3/4 in and some sheet metal leftovers. Ones you cut the parts together, it cost you less than half an hour to assemble. If someone interested to know the dimensions feel free to ask. However I have a subscription for dragonfly’s

Assemble the new welding- and cutting machine, and cut & weld at first …………………………. a welding/cutting trolley to be mobile in the shop and get rite of all the bungling torches and cables. Will ask the lady of the house again to give it a nice and shiny paint job. Welded with 1/32in massive wire on 115Amps and have a nice and quiet short arc. This equipment will help a lot to make faster and efficient the kind of garden decoration I make for sale to have a little pay back.

OK, you win, you'rs is much bigger then anyone of mine . However couriuos about the first work pice comming from your hammer. With the air hammer I had to learn forging again. Congrats with both, Das! still on the sunny side of 40. I celebrate 50 last mounth.

Not bad, still app. 4X the weight of a sledge hammer.