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I Forge Iron

PeteLocal505

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Everything posted by PeteLocal505

  1. There is a big porous block in the acetylene tanks that can't easily be rendered safe would be my number one but Thomas may know something more.
  2. Well I told the owner that the consensus is that it's a dibble. He didn't like that. But, he also thought it was a American civil war Calvary weapon. I tried to convince him otherwise just after hearing the pieces description, but he was not open to the idea of me being correct. That still may be the case. Thank you to all that put fourth their thoughts. I can't remember who has the quote on their profile but I believe it's something along the lines of the old smiths took their secrets to the grave and none of us are better for it. I'm glad we have this community of free knowledge. Pete
  3. I did see that one as well irondragon. Only problem with it is the shaft seems to be round. This one is flat and has a full on spear point with sharpened edges. Which makes me lean towards Charles' idea that it would be for trees.
  4. Very true Thomas. So let's say roughly between 1850 and 1870? Somewhere around there? Newer? Older. And I'm with you Charles. It seems like it was designed with a lot of abuse in mind. I looked at other dibbles on google and can't get anything to close to it but it does look like one.
  5. Thanks for your input Charles. That was my initial thought. The blade was sharpened. Don't know if that matters but I thought it was a bit of on such a soft piece of iron. Any guess on age?
  6. So a guy brought this to me wanting to know what it is? So I've brought it here to the vast pool of knowledge. It's old for sure. Civil war maybe a little later according to the owner. Have at it guys. Thanks Pete
  7. Thank you Thomas. Exactly the info I was looking for Pete
  8. So I have a few pieces of steel cut out of a structural I beam in a commercial building. I know most steel on the job sites tend to be mild but I was thinking the beams may be something a bit tougher. The "iron workers" have no idea what it's made of other than "steel". Typically in the plans steel members such as the one these were cut from, are referred to as red iron. Wondering if anybody has any insight on I beam production. Haven't found the time to spark test yet. Thanks Pete
  9. Well hello all! I feel as though I have already come to know some of you already reading through all the old posts. I found IFI about a year ago and I've read as much as I could. Amazing. The only way I can describe the information and collective knowledge you all have accumulated here. So first off I'm Pete. 30 year old from the central coast of California. Former marine turned union carpenter. I grew up in a cabinet shop and spent plenty of time in machine shops and sheet metal manufacturering shops. My family are mostly all in the trades or started companies that cater to the construction industry. I've been welding (stick/mug/tig) since 16. I have a passion for building and creating. The more complex the project the better. Infatuated with "the old ways". My mom always says I was born 100 years to late. I tend to agree. Avid outdoorsman. More to say than I can think of right now so I'll get to the point. I've wanted to try my hand at the forge for longer than I can remember. IFI was the kick in the pants I needed to get started. So about six months ago I found some 3/8" plate and some 5" tube steel 1/4" thick and began cutting and welding. The result is a 18x18 overall pan style forge. Pictures to follow. Next came air. Blowers, electric and hand crank were either to expensive or just to far gone for me to mess with. Being a carpenter the idea of box bellows intrigued me and I found myself researching the Japanese fuigo. Well one thing you won't find is any type of instructions or blueprints for one but a little cutting here a little glue there and some slight modifications and boom! Fuigo is ready to rock. Again pictures to follow. Now the anvil was the real trick. Not a lot of blacksmithing going on out here and certainly no shops catering to the trade. Auctions estate sales and classifieds turned up a lot of junk, not blacksmithing junk unfortunately. Prices for new as you all know are out of this world but hey you get what you pay for. I wanted drop forged. It was a bit of a deal breaker for me. So, and I already know I'm gonna catch crap for it, I bought a brand new kanca 44lb from an online dealer. I personally love it. Small enough for me to move easily and big enough for the work I'm trying to do. Mostly I've just been working on the basics. Drawing out, loops and forge welding. So far I feel I'm progressing but there's a hole new world for me to engulf myself in. My excitement, like my curiosity, knows no bounds. So that's about it for now. Feel free to ask me anything. I look forward to our future conversations. -Pete
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