Cannon Cocker

I got home from Missouri late last night. Woke up this morning and sanded the scales down. Mrs Canon cocker really liked her present. 

That's one heck of a good friend!

I really like your design.  I think both of those yarn bowls look awesome. What about them do you want to change/clean up?  I'm looking forward to seeing those yarn bowls when you get them cleaned up to your liking. 

Black walnut

That engine has a lot of potential. My vote would be turning that baby into a sleeper. Leave the patina, give her some new suspension, get the motor purring and then wait for some punk in a Honda who thinks he's fast!

I'm a big fan of that door knocker. I've been wanting to make one, but haven't picture what I want it to look like....... So now I've got another idea to play with!

18 hours ago, Ted Ewert said:

The wife informed me halfway through that it's not going on her front door. No worries, I just wanted to build it anyway. 

No worries. It would look cool in the door to your shop, or even just on the wall in there. It really is a great piece. 

18 hours ago, Ted Ewert said:

Nice trowel CC! 

Thanks. The hook on the end grabs onto a belt loop very easily so it should be a tool that is easily at hand for her when she's gardening. 

I got the scales glued on with the rivets in place last night. But I had to fly down to Saint Louis for the week. So I'll be finishing it next week when I get back home. 

Thanks JHCC.  The handle is spring steel so it should hold up fine. But yes it is getting Black walnut scales tonight after I get it tempered and oiled. 

I finished forging a garden had trowel for my wife as a mother's day present yesterday. I made it out of a leaf spring and wanted it all one piece. But in forging the scoop I flexed the handle to much at low temps and had lots of stress fractures where it meet the scoop. So I cut it off and made a new handle that got riveted on. I'll heat treat it today and get the handle slabs put on it tonight.

On 4/23/2019 at 2:54 AM, ausfire said:

I would like to find a way of forging an eye punch that has a spot in the middle. I don't think it's possible.

Some endmills have a void in the center. Perhaps you could find a ball endmill that has a center void and Chuck it up in your drill press. (or better yet a lathe)

On 2/9/2017 at 7:13 PM, Frosty said:

If at all possible forget about the Big Box stores at least till you've built a couple. Buy your fittings at the local Plumbing or HVAC supply. Those folk talk to plumbers and heating and AC installers, service, etc. folk and have to KNOW what they're talking about.

When you're talking to the counter guys at the pro shop don't tell them you're making a burner, keep it simple just tell them you want a fitting to connect 1/8" MPT to a propane hose. They'll ask if the hose has a male of female connection or just show you the bin.

If you ask them to help you build a propane burner they'll clam up. It's a liability issue and they can not afford to take a chance. The guys at the corner supply know what I do with their parts and we don't talk about it. 

I purposely ignored this advice because I wanted to test the guys at the counter. (we have multiple plumbing supply stores here so one burned bridge wouldn't ruin to much!) The reply I got after they finished helping me was "Have fun, try not to blow yourself up". I did the test because I like to do business with people who value creativeness and freedom more than they fear a law suit. 

That being said I don't advise going against Frosty's advice unless you have the benefit of many suppliers to choose from!

Yes it does. Thanks Frosty. Was my theory correct about how to tune the burner if it needs leaned out?

But isn't lead a good conductor? Haha!

That does sound like fun!

You can send it to me! Shooting 540 grain bullets out of my 45-90 Burns up a lot of lead!

Thanks for the tip Mikey. I did find some at a different hardware store, so I'll be able to return the 50' roll I bought. Got the burners made, and installed they worked great. I ran all three of them independently and then put all of them on line together. They were smooth and hot at much less pressure than the old burners!  However, I did notice a slight propane smell coming from the forge when I had them running.  I am guessing that that means I'm running rich.  Am I right in thinking that I need to cut back the mig tips?  My thought is that the higher they are the more air they will pull in which would make it burn more lean.  Correct?

Okay I'm out and about right now picking up the parts I need. I'm upgrading my jets to "Frosty T's" as well. I'm getting contradicting info on the for tubing at the stores. Is regular utility grade safe to use or do I need refrigerant grade? The only reason I ask is because the refrigerant grade is only available in 50' lengths. 

Thanks for the warning Frosty.  I had been tempted to replace the hose that melted and continue using the forge with only one burner as I have been for the past several months until I could scrape together the proper fittings.  I WILL NOT BE DOING THAT!  Do you think that it would be safe to use propane rated hose with this set up?  Or because of the heat/dragon's breath produced when I use all three burners (which would be rarely) should I be using copper tubing?

I've been using air hose to feed my burners and haven't seen any issues with it so far..... until today that is.  I fixed my 2nd and 3rd burners today and was running all three of them for the first time.  I had WAY more dragon's breath than I've ever experienced before.  The heat from it was wrapping back around the top of my forge and actually lit the gas line of my first burner on fire.  I have installed a heat shield on top of the forge.  And I know that I was probably running way to much pressure.  So I will remedy that as well.  My question is what should I use for the gas lines?  Is there a good hose to use or should I hard line it with copper tubing? I'll take some pictures and post them in a little bit. 

I made rough split crosses and nails for my three kids for Easter. I left the crosses rough because I wanted them to be reminded that the cross wasn't done nice pretty thing, hopefully helping remind them of the sacrifice that was done for all of us to be free. I made the nails to help with that reminder. 

That thing is awesome!

Great job on those Poz tongs TRR1143:  I watched that video as well, and have been wanting to try my hand at his design. 

On 4/18/2019 at 4:33 PM, Chelonian said:

What's a good way to make a wooden hammer handle more grippy?

This is what I do to my hammers. The groves are cut in on a belt sander with 36 grit belt. 

Handmade cabinets like that deserve handmade hardware!