nc_cooter

Thanks guys. I am definately hooked on forging.Got a lot to learn.

Well, I finally forged some knives. Still have a lot to learn, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. steel: 1095 blade length:3 1/2" to 4 1/2" Handle:Curly maple, micarta, deer leg bone Heat treat: 3 normalize and edge quenched in 150F canola oil. Etch: FCl and vinegar The first 3 were given to some deer hunters to test for the last month and all 3 sold. The fouth one is my EDC. Your comments are welcome and thanks for looking.

OK. To tune yours is a bit more difficult, but doable. You need to make sure the mig tip is centered and pointing straight down the pipe. After you light the burner, carefully move the injector up/down and rotate right/left in very small increments while observing the flame. You may have to use a smaller or larger mig tip. Don't give up, it will take a while.

Jeff, is this what your burner looks like?

Sounds like you need to tune the burner. Put it in a vise in a reasonably dark area. Put the flare about 3/4" on to the end. Light the burner and vary the insertion depth of your venturi until you get a stable flame. Increase the pressure and adjust again. It's just cut and try. Once you are satisfied with the flame, loosen the flare and adjust it with a pair of pliers. It takes some time. Mine works from 1# to 35# with a stable flame. Also the insertion hole in your insulation should taper at the same angle as your flare.

I know it's clean and I hope to keep it that way. During the remodel, I kept loosing tools and material. Got in the habit of putting the tools away and using the shop vac at the end of the work. My wife asked " who are you and what have you done with my husband?" I know it's not normal, but at least I can find stuff. :D

I have posted pics of my new shop in the Smithys Gallery. The old shop was only 10'x12' with bare stud walls and one 30 amp 110vac circuit. The new one is 10'x22' with a 8'x10' forge shed, insulation,new lighting,110/220vac and AC. Your comments/suggestions are welcome.

The hardie in my new anvil measures .970". Should I buy 7/8"hardie tools or grind 1" to fit. In other words, how tight/loose should the fit be? Thanks.

In a previous post you mentioned using Sikaflex 11Fc to mount your anvil to a steel plate. Could you explain Sikaflex ? Is it a silicone based product? Thanks in advance.

Here's a copy of the idle/full piping schematic for propane burners. I use this same set up on my two burner forge.

I plan to attach my new 70lb anvil to an 80lb+/- piece of mild steel by drilling and tapping the plate and using straps across the anvil feet. Would I gain any advantage by using JB weld between the plate and the anvil? The anvil stand will be made of 12"X12" MDF stacked and held together with two 1/2" all thread rods running vertically through the pieces. The thought is to be able to adjust the height by adding or removing pieces. Comments and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for the welcome. I am near Shelby, NC. I plan to attach my new 70lb anvil to an 80lb+/- piece of mild steel by drilling and tapping the plate and using straps across the anvil feet. Would I gain any advantage by using JB weld between the plate and the anvil? The anvil stand will be made of 12"X12" MDF stacked and held together with two 1/2" all thread rods running vertically through the pieces. The thought is to be able to adjust the height by adding or removing pieces.

I use canola oil from wally world to quench my 1095 blades. It has a high flash point and is cheap. Preheat to about 130F and it works great.

Hello all. My name is Mike Broach and I have been making knives for about a year and a half. Most of my knife work has been stock removal with just a little forging. Been using a piece of RR track as an anvil. I have a home made two burner propane forge an do my own HT. I use 1095 and some O1. I have spent most of the summer enlarging my little 10'X12' shop to a whopping10'x24' with a 10'X12' open shed on one side for a forging area. Still working on benches and shelves. This time I insulated the shop and added a small window AC unit.(can't take the summer heat anymore) My shop equipment consist of an O/A torch set, a Lincoln140 mig welder, a 2"X72" Coote grinder, a bench and a floor drill press, a metal cut band saw, and misc woodworking equipment.(all funded by my knife sales) My biggest problem has been finding an anvil. A new one of any size is out of my price range. I have run ads in the local news rag trying to find a used one with no luck. This w.e. I went to an estate auction looking for some furniture and found a 70lb NC Tool Bigface Farrier anvil in like new condition. I got it for $100. I know it's too light, but it's a start. A friend is cutting a 10"X12"X2" of mild steel to go under it so I Know it will be better than the RR track. So, thats where I am. I will probably be asking a lot of questions, so please bare with me.