Pat Roy

Frosty, you are one funny guy... I think.

That seems a little high for a hammer that is not adjustable and doesn't have changeable dies. A couple years ago I could have taken a class where Clay Spencer was teaching construction and use of the adjustable swing are type with changeable dies. The cost would have been $700. I got lucky a few months ago, the school needed to make room for a new induction forge and had that very thing for sale. Out the door with 4 sets of dies for half that price. But they don't come up every day. A few years ago I ran across a smith in New Hampster who was selling out. He wanted $1000 for his. If you want one you have to act when you find one. Perhaps you can talk him down a bit. Good luck.

I'm thinking of moving up from hobbyist to small time business. Besides the usual business insurance, does anyone have product liability coverage? How expensive is that?

Check out the blueprints on Anvil Fire and the forging fundamentals on the ABANA website. You won't really be successful at big projects until you master the basics. Find some instruction nearby. Do a lot of reading, books and the internet have all the information you can want. Find a smithing group nearby, that will be the best help of all. I don't mean to stifle a beginner(I was there once my self and haven't forgotten).

Thomas I could use some of that 3/8 and 1/2 inch stock, but I guess NM is a little far to go.

Pin holes in a 3000 rated hose running at 600, sounds like something else is going on. Was the rubber attacked by some lubricant in the air? I once was at school's shop and using the air hammer for the first time. Well, either some other device was using all the air or the low set point was set too low. Trying to get a strike, I kept pressing the treadle down further and further and not even getting a full stroke. Suddenly the thing caught up and slammed my piece. I had fullering dies and the thing pinched off 1" round bar and spit the end out against the wall. That got the attention of the instructor.

I'm with Bob on the receiver tank near your hammer if you can't put the compressor closer. On the pipe size, you would see a big difference in flow going from 3/8 to 3/4" line. It depends on the flow rate(CFM) of course. Assuming you are comparing schedule 40 pipe, the cross sectional area of the 3/4" is 2.8 times that of the 3/8". You are talking about .03 cubic feet of compressed air per stroke(if I have my math right); how many strokes per minute do you expect?

I go the town transfer station(it's not a dump anymore) to drop my trash and recyclables. On my first trip after I started smithing, I told the manager that I was a blacksmith and asked if I could pick from the metal bin. He was agreeable and I have been a regular customer. The pickings are thin these days but I have found some very useful material at times. The price is right. I get most of my material at the local iron store, it's a more reliable source of sizes I need.

Jreed, I like your design; simple quick and effective I'm sure.

Awesome, and some nice looking work too! Just don't blow yourself up working on those tanks.

If you are going to bring it to events you will need to mount it on a portable stand. The spring is probably okay as is, it needs that shape to do its work. After de-rusting, treat it the same way you treat your anvil, or you could paint it. I had one that looked like yours(without the spring and mounting hardware). I wire brushed it, greased the screw and nut and put it into service.

My experience with rebar leads me to believe its performance is unreliable. I wouldn't quench it at all and still worry that it is brittle.

looks nice, how's the ring?

Yeah, where's the picture?

I built a forge table from angle iron approximately 3 feet square, the size is up to you. I built a rectangular fire box with sloping sides. It is about 11 by 13 inches at the top and 3 inches square at the bottom and is 4 inches deep. The fire box is 3/8 plate including the bottom. I don't have a clinker breaker, I just burned a couple slots through the bottom for air flow. I put a narrow rim around the top of the fire box, cut a hole in the forge table of the appropriate size and dropped the fire box in. As John B says, I just shut off the air for a few minutes to cool and reach in with a hook to pull out the clinkers when necessary. I like a deep fire like this. It is easier to contain the size of the fire and be able to bury your iron in the fire. After 5 years of use the fire box shows no signs of deterioration. Good luck with yours.

Looking forward to the pictures. I always like new hardy tools.

Wingnut? That's what my "friends" call me!

I'm interested in the sound. Also I'm sorted of committed to make some kind of hand held "bell" and haven't come up with a design yet. I'll try searching but if anyone has an idea, I would be greatful.

I don't know anything about Green River but here are a couple links to drill presses http://www.beautifuliron.com/thepost.htm http://www.beautifuliron.com/yeold.htm

Good luck with that, domestic pipe is hard to find these days. The stuff usually found in stores like Lowes & Home Depot is probably A120. A53 & A106 are better grades and less likely to split. The grade is usually marked on the pipe.

Now you are well on your way. And we expect pictures.

That's awesome Dan, Thanks again. Hmmmm...I don't have any lead.

I built my coal forge out of bed frame angle iron and 16 gage sheet metal. The fire box is of 3/8" plate and the bottom has slots torch cut(no rotating clinker breaker). The tuyere is made of 4" square tube and has 3" pipe in the side for air and an ash dump on the bottom. Rocket science not required. It has been working fine for years. But make yours up as you go along with what you have. I have an electric blower(with enough capacity for 3 or 4 forges) and a backup hand crank blower.

I don't have a clinker breaker in mine, just slots in a plate, works fine. I have no sign of any burning after 4-5 years of use. But that's a fine looking clinker breaker and it should be fine and now you know how to make one. Good luck.