Pault17

very nice design AM. that would make a great idea for striking stuffers.

Thanks Peyton. I filled it out. I am a member of the local chapter but not the national. I have just recently joined and, so far, it is just to be around others that do what I like doing. One of the better ways to learn.

Pete, that looks great! Keep it up.
Aaron and Ken Id like that idea alot. I will have to give it a try. Although I will probably have to go with ken's idea. my little ten-inch bench mount drill press has a tough time with half inch holes.
as always, I love this place.

welcome. most fun place I've been to since I don't know when.

I am working on a rattlesnake knocker made from a spike. I want to work on or finish it tonite. maybe I will search the scrap pile for the materials and make one.

time is the hardest material right now.

Kevin,
I just gave a friend of mine a little horseshoe keychain made from 1/4 square. I punched the little nail slits using a #10 cut nail that I forged a thin chisel edge onto and quenched in water, and included a split-ring style key ring. She instantly asked me to make a dozen more that she would buy from me to give to her "barn-friends" (she's a horse rider) as Christmas gifts.

I will find a picture and post it when I can. The thing is about 2.5-3 inches long when staightened out. I am not overly experienced and did it in about 20 minutes - including wire-wheeling down to silver and heat coloring, then treating with plain old beeswax

as for the cross, it is possible to chisel cut one out.

I too have been making these for a while. I got the first idea from anvilfire as well. I make them out of just about anything I have laying around. I like the rr spike crosses but have not figured a way to make the bottom nice and flat - I currently just drop the spike into my hardi hole and wale away till is stands up by itself. This distorts the bottom of the head a bunch though.

I have never squared the ends and top either. I leave the points on the sides then taper the top to a point to match.

My wife still has the first one I ever made (she does this alot - her key chain would stop an aircraft carrier from drifting:D

Dale,
even then you learn whether the rest of your time is hot or not:)

Steve, thanks for the link. good reading

keep at it M.

What about one of those commercial grade mower blades?
I this apprenticeman made a sword from one.

The birdy doorknocker in My gallery is for my parents. l'm working an a rattlesnake doorknocker for a friend. hooks mounted on wood for the wife. if I have time,:rolleyes:maybe some split crosses from RR spikes.

Rainsfire,
thanks for the post. I been foolin with the idea about other-than-gas forging but just don't want the the list of issues with coal.
your post gives hope.

Happy thanks giving to you and IFI members.

Stefano,
absolutely beautiful!
but you already knew that.

mace mace mace

wassup with the three words, btw?

I was parked between inspections and saw three "foundation bolts" leaning against a tree. In normal construction these are usually 10-14 inches long and 3/8 to 1/2 inch rod, bent in an "L" and threaded on the long end.

The three I picked up were all of three feet long and 7/8 inch diameter. They are almost walking canes. they weigh a bit for that though. (pics to follow)

Now my problem is that my little balloon-tyme forge is too small to heat them up. On that one, my loving, beautiful wife told me to stop on the side of the road and picked up two empty "balloon tyme" tanks that were just laying there. Then, bless her heart, she asked "how much would it take to make two more forges?":D

the little one is my 2-year old - G

The colors and quality... I am at a true loss of words.
thanks

holy heck!! that just about blows any ideas I had of just quenching in a bucket of used motor oil right out the window:o

OTOH, I know that I am not anywhere near ready to even pretend any knife-making attemp. Beautiful work and thanks for the explanations.

Having been a full-time carpenter at one time, U put a 7 1/2 inch metal cutting fiber blade on my knockabout skill saw and cut away. Makes nice clean lines and cuts through. Downside is that the saw is more or less useless for anything else now and its not instantaneous.

tint tint tint

Sam,
you created that monster. It is doable. Looking in Bealers book, a very simple one could use just the 1/2 inch bar:D
the turkey head is another matter.

kind of like a MacGuyver trick. a nine volt battery, an old #2 pencil and a japanese paper fan, and Shazam, you have a plasma cutter:D

HE listens when you ask. Glad to hear of the return home.

Glenn,
You and all of the people who make this site so enjoyable are just amazing!! You keep adding things that only improve the site that much more.
thanks.

Clay,
welcome to the forum. There is definitely a wealth of knowlege here. check out the blueprints for starters. Also, I have lately been going through all of the old posts and threads just in the http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/f7/ area and am learning lots and lots. even answers to questions like "what kind of steel should I use". Seriously (look around the the 50-62 page area).

reading through all this is both thought provoking and amazing. REgarding the use of mud-dauber nests, when I was working in the smithy at the state fair, I noticed a coffee can full of the things. when I asked what they were for, they said welding but that nobody had ever tried.

Man. you guys made it hard. I already started with RR spike and a chunk of 1/4x1, although mine was longer than 6 inches.
I finished it with min-wax spray on lacquer (sp). I am doing a limited run of knockers for Christmas presents.



I will try the limits mentioned above, although the turkey idea is a little ahead of my time:o