JD Forge

Very nice!

I like it!! Good Job!

I've considered framing hatchets. I've only made one attempt at making one so far. I still need practice making them. I've been practicing a lot more with the hammers. Do you think there would be a market for handforged framing hatchets?

I've done a light char on ash sometimes as well. I like how the ash grain really pops out when you do that. So far what I've been doing is giving the handles a few coats of boiled linseed oil. I generally haven't buffed them, but I do tend to give them a good rub with a shop towel or something. What are your suggestions as far as steel? Is 1045 a good choice for framing hammers. I like it because its fairly simple to heat treat with a coal forge, nothing to fancy about it.

Thanks for the feedback!

Interesting. I think what I should do is let a carpenter use some of the hammers I've made, and get him to test them on a real job site. I'd like to make them to sell, but I do want them to be worth buying. I appreciate your opinion, thankyou.

I haven't done any real tough tests. The tempering colour obviously depends on the kind of steel as well. I figure for 1045, being a medium carbon steel you wouldn't want to temper it to soft. Just get the brittleness out of the eye and the areas next to it. But I'd definitely rather have the claws bend than have them snap. Good point! Personal preference I guess... I hadn't really thought of it before. I guess they are a little blotchy.

Thanks for the feedback. I'm happy to get feedback from carpenters!! I see what you mean about the slot for the nails. I'll try to fix that in the future. I used 1045 steel. So I quenched in water and then stuck a heated drift through the eye of the hammer to do the tempering.

Hey can I get some feedback on these framing hammers? I've been experimenting quite a bit and would like some constructive criticism.

Thanks guys for the tips! I guess I can still work on paying better attention to my fire. I think it depends what work I'm doing as to how well I manage the fire. If I'm doing pattern welding the fire has to be nice and deep or else I'll have problems. But if I'm doing general forging especially with smaller pieces I tend to be a little more sloppy with fire management.

Actually I think your right, it is ash. Thanks! good to know that a well drawing flue will take care of it, as well as the smoke. I have an old electric forge blower. I'm not sure what make, but it does have the name Hastings Foundry, (I think) on it . Interestingly that foundry used to be in a town about an hour from where I live. I have a fairly makeshift air gate to control the air. I think sometimes the problem is to much air and not enough coal on the fire and so I get stuff flying out. I just have to be less stingy with my coal.

Hey everyone! A new iforgeiron member here. Just have a question about dust control from a coal forge. I understand that the coal dust from my coal supply can be watered down to make a slurry and added to the fire that way, but what I'm am having problems with is dust that blows out of the fire itself. Especially after the fire has been sitting a while and I come back and turn the blower on this cloud of fine dust blows out. Now my chimney is not drawing well and so I have smoke problems as well. But once I fix that and have a proper chimney will that help take care of any of that fine dust, or do I need a air filtering machine or ventilation fan or something? Curious to know how you all take care of dust in your shops? And ideas, advice, will be much appreciated!!