Laynne

Thanks. I was reading through some posts on wrought iron and that is what I was gathering. I think it was Thomas Powers referenced Practical Blacksmithing so I am going to get my copy of it out and study up on it.

Thank you Steve. I guess I had better educate myself on working wrought iron then. I have several of them.

What I can tell you is that it's a bolt from an old wooden box car, circa 1920. I had at orange heat to cut on the hardy. I hit it once turned it a quarter turn, hit it again, quarter turn hit it again and it sheared off. I flattened and punched one end fine but when I went to drift it split out. So I tried drawing one end and it frayed. Dull orange sparks on the grinder. Heated and quenched it and it bent over the anvil, no cracks. Any ideas?

I have a 149 pounder of the same vintage. Yes they have a steel face plate.

15 minutes ago, arkie said:

Get hold of a copy of Richard Postman's book, Mousehole Forge.  You'll enjoy it.

Definitely.

I'm an aviation electrician by training since 1978. I have been in component overhaul since 2013. I perform the 600 hour inspection/overhaul of Learjet horizontal stabilizer actuators.

3 hours ago, Frosty said:

If your vertebrae are fusing it's WAY too hot!

That would be hot. I'm afraid the fusion speeds up the arthritis, as I'm sure you know. I don't think the plate has much to do with it. Most people think I'm crazy wearing long sleeve shirts year round. The shirts have nothing to do with it.

Well I have fused vertebrae and a titanium plate in my neck and all that goes along with it. Heat is the best therapy for it.

Yup, you can only beat a dead horse for so long.

Not me. I skipped work today and was at the forge from 0800 until about 1600. It was a great day. I will take triple digit temps any day. It's twenty degrees and colder that puts me in the house.

I know you all are talking about wild blackberry and I grew with them in Missouri. I tried growing them in Kansas and the deer literally ate them into the ground. I tried everything short of a ten foot chain link fence. Now gooseberries are a different story.

How did we get off of making charcoal?

I hope you have good suspension on that little pick up.

Gotcha. I don't envy you with that job. That being said, if I were close enough I would lend a hand.

Thomas, in one of your posts you mentioned "moving North". How far North?

I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. Maybe that is the reason. Tell her to keep her chin up.

Laynne

Any updates on the employment situations posted on this thread? It's been awhile since anyone has posted. I've been there several times and it's not a good feeling. 

Regards,

Laynne

Fair enough. Three quarter inch tuyere hooked up to a buffalo 200. Blower speed depends on whether I'm using hardwood or soft wood charcoal. Thanks for the input.

Laynne

I want to see a picture of it when you are finished. I'm connected with a Scottish heavy athletic group.

Laynne

On 7/8/2019 at 4:09 AM, pnut said:

I use charcoal and I believe my firepot is about five inches deep plus a red brick sitting on either side.

On 7/8/2019 at 12:07 AM, ThomasPowers said:

 deeper firepot---

I have been puzzling over this for a few days now. My fire pot is about two and a half inches deep with a brick laid flat on each side to form a trench. I can weld and easily work up to one inch square in it. I have tried deeper with very little luck. What gives?

Laynne

Just got in from weeding the asparagus.

We have a step granddaughter and still two kids to start their families, so I may catch up to you Thomas.

You all and your nailed on footwear.

Oh, that's a handful I am glad to have.

Sure won't do me any good to argue with that.

51 minutes ago, JHCC said:

That's why we have horseshoe nails.

Somehow I don't think that fits into the spoil them category. It would probably work though.

That's a good idea for demos Thomas, I will file that away. If I ever get to that point.

Gotta get them to keep shoes on first.

Yes indeed, and their three year old sister.

Thanks, I will expose them early.

Yesterday we had a party for our twin granddaughters first birthday. I made each of them an "A" for their first initial.