Pault17

John, looks great! My only question is hour long did it take you to prep/cut the blanks before starting the "real work"? oh, and what size stock are you starting with?

I especially like the shot in the first (#2) video where they are striking over the "horn". The one is holding his hammer on the base of the leaf and the "striker" is whaling away at the cold other end. One of the hits almost launches the first guys' hammer at his own face. The other is the fact that the "striker" in the second (#3) video is using a little ole 4-lber as a striking hammer. I would have gone up to at least an 8.

Very cool idea. I like the sand trap too. I still wouldn't wanna reach in and grab the drift too soon thanks for posting

Having been interested in gun-smithingfor a while now, do you have any pictures?

ofafeather, I went to the local tech school and "borrowed" a welder and made a bunch of hardy tools.

I copied this down from somewhere a while ago. I don't remember the source, but am pretty sure it is from here. I actually keep it in my pda for quick reference (my welding teacher thought it was a "hoot" and wanted a copy) it is long, but worth it, i think Geometry for the Metalsmith - find the circumference of a circle: Multiply the radius by 6.2832 or Multiply the diameter by 3.1416 or Multiply the square root of the area by 3.5449 - find the radius of a circle: Multipy the diameter by 0.5 or Multiply the circumference by 0.15915 or Multiply the square root of the area by 0.56419 - find the diameter of a circle: Multiply the radius by 2 or Multiply the circumference by 0.31831 or Multiply the square root of the area by 1.1284 - find the area of a circle: Multiply the square of the radius by 3.1416 or Multiply the square of the diameter by 0.7854 or Multiply the square of the circumference by 0.07958 - find the area of a hexagon: Multiply the square of the distance across by 0.86603 or Multiply the area of the inscribed circle by 1.1027 - find the area of an octagon: Multiply the square of the distance across by 0.82843 or Multiply the area of the inscribed circle by 1.0548 - find the area of a rectangle: Multiply the length by the width - find the area of a triangle: Multiply the base by one half the perpendicular height - find the side of an inscribed square: Multiply the diameter by 0.7071 or Multiply the circumference by 0.2251 - find the side of an equal square: Multiply the diameter by 0.8862 - find the diameter of the circumscribing circle of a square: Multiply the side by 1.4142 - find the circumference of the circumscribing circle of a square: Multiply the side by 4.443 - find the cubic contents of a cone: Multiply the area of the base by one-third the altitude - find the area of an ellipse: Multiply the product of its axes by 0.7854 - find the area of a parallelogram: Multiply the base times the perpendicular height - find the volume of a parallelogram: Multiply the area of the cross section times the length - find the surface area of a cylinder: Multiply the length times the circumference of the body plus the area of both ends - find the volume of a cylinder: Multiply the area of the base by the perpendicular height - find the surface area of a sphere: Multiply the square of the diameter by 3.1416 or Multiply the diameter times the circumference - find the volume of a sphere: Multiply the cube of the diameter by 0.5236 - find the capacity of a tank in gallons: (all measurements must be reduced to inches) - For cylindrical tanks, multiply the length by the square of the diameter by 0.0034 - For rectangular tanks, multiply the length by the width by the depth and divide by 231 - For elliptical tanks, multiply the length by the short diameter by the long diameter by 0.0034 - convert Brinell Hardness to tensile strength: Divide the Brinell Hardness number by two to get the approximate tensile strength in thousands of pounds per square inch. Example: Assume a Brinell Hardness of 248. 248 divided by 2 = 124,000 p.s.i. (approximate tensile strength) Conversely, drop the last three figures of the tensile strength and multiply by two to get the approximate Brinell Hardness number. Example: Assume a tensile strength of 122,000 p.s.i. 122 X 2 = 244 (approximate Brinell Hardness) - estimate the weight of a round steel bar: Multiply the diameter by 4, square the product, and divide by 6. The result is the approximate weight in pounds per foot of length. - estimate the weight of a square steel bar: Square the size, add a zero and divide by 3. The result is the approximate weight in pounds per foot of length. - estimate the weight of a flat steel bar: Multiply the width by the thickness, add a zero and divide by 3. The result is the approximate weight in pounds per foot of length. Again, I apologize for the obvious plagerism, but am sincerely thankful for the knowlege shared paul

Yeah, but what about all of the ones that tell you the blueprints are under repair and not to bother the moderators any more on the subject. :)

Hey all, I live in the raleigh durham area. lots of places to bang iron. currently the state fair just started up and the blacksmith shop is in "full swing":D (hey, it fit) great place to meet local smiths on a short time schedule. on another note. the "jimmy alexander" mentioned above is the state president (cool deal) but is currently in the hospital with bacterial menengitis. lots of prayers needed there paul (I will be working in the shop next week for a few days as well)

many congrats Sam. Be sure to post the oft-asked for pics paul

BSiler, It was a pleasure meeting you at the NC state fair grounds today. My son really appreciates the drive hook you gave him. Being able to watch someone other than "Daddy" make something is really helpful. look forward to seeing you at the fair Paul

Yance, I envy your luck. I live south of raleigh a little bit and, while there are a few places that re-sell scrap at scrap-us-a-mite prices, all of the bigger places don't allow walk-ons. I lucked out and chatted with a guy that works at a machine shop that mills large pieces of D2 into hydraulic pumps for farm machinery. he brought me a milled reject of D2 that measures 10x11x6, that weighs a mite over 70 lbs and has enough flat surface to warrent banging metal on. I just have to make yet another stand. Oh, the whole block was hardened and tempered to between 52 and 57 on the RC scale and has phenomenal rebound. He also gave me three D2 ingots 2x5 5/8. Does D2 make good chisels/punches/slitters/etc?

I know it's been a while on this thread, but I stopped in at a local "craft" store and a pound of beeswax was selling for $17.99:o I went to Rudy's link at the top of the thread and, although his pirce did go up to $9 per lb, it is still free shipping:D

You'll want it to be above the magical non-magnetic, just a little below 1500. ya gotta post pics too:D

When I first read this post, my first thought was "hitter, hittee, hit-onner, hittee heater" - I call them the 'H-quad'. but after reading through, I would have to strongly agree with Mike-hr and say the minimal tool list would be another experienced blacksmith. Watch, learn, do. of course, you can only do that if there are others of a similar bent in your area. God-speed

thanks Frosty. you stole my rumblings. nice bick by the way Yance.

I second or third what Ted said, Brian!! The forum here at IFI is like Christmas morning to me. there are just sooo many great presents from all the smiths. I have to admit that when I see your name, it is like seeing that big shiny bicycle sitting in the corner. goosebumps and anticipation. I wish I lived where you can be within a few hours drive. you would have tokick me out!!. I know you are heading this way, but I don't have the fundage to make the drive. My loss for now. but thanks for the gifts you have given paul

A little late in the thread, but JPH, you should carry it mexican style:o Firearm mexican carry image by Rembrandt51 on Photobucket :o very cool story! thought you had peeked in my diary great blade

I lucked out a few years ago and found a riser block laying in the bushes next to a building. the block measures 6-inches square by 4 inches thick, and weighs in at 25 lbs. using a drill press and lots of grinding with my 4.5 incher I managed to gouge out a ladle pocket, a spoon pocket and a round depression, for starters.