Conrad.blacksmithing

No insults taken jlp. I think it's cool that you are able to apply different methods to different processes.

I just like punching and getting plugs. It give a sense of reward almost for punching a nice clean plug. 

5 minutes ago, jlpservicesinc said:

uses a lot of metal in the slug..  (losses).

I lose hardly any weight to the plug. In fact I lose more weight in scale than the plug. 1/4 oz at the most...

6 hours ago, Goods said:

If it’s a slitter, how far through the material do you slit before flipping it over to the other side.

It's a punch but not with a flat bottom if that's what you're asking. It has a bevel to punch easier. I don't go all the way through one side. I go through about 3/4 of the billet then flip. This results in a much cleaner hole.

Good work everybody! You guys are killing it.

Finished a new hammer eye punch for myself because my dad broke the last one lol. 

Yes that's a good answer too.

You could be right. It could centralize the impact. I'm sure there are a million reasons, as with everything!

That's a great question. I don't think that there is any special purpose for them because a hammer without fullers would probably perform just as good. They are mostly for looks just to give the hammer more character. Maybe someone has a reason for them but that's what I think.

14 hours ago, jlpservicesinc said:

Aspects to which I find important in a clean forging are there..

Thanks jlp. Its my goal to keep the forging on my tools as clean as possible.

Thanks Chris!

Finished that ball peen today! I finally figured out how to keep the troughs shiny through heat treat. 

Yeah I'll be talking about it for a while that's for sure.

I like the pendant Rojo. The way it flows is pleasing to look at. Tongs take a lot of practice to perfect. I've been making them from a while and still struggle!

Today I made some tooling for bull dog keychains and my first bull dog. Also forged a 2.5lb ball peen for a machinist customer.

I also had a punch break in a crazy way. I've never seen a top tool break like this. My dad hits like a power hammer!

Unfortunately (but really fortunately) most of the people around me are elder. It is really is quite easy to break up the coal. Plus I'm used to chopping wood all day for the forge.

I finished unloading a massive load of coal I recently acquired for $150. Just under 4 yards (8,000lbs). Super excited because this is going to save me a lot of money.

Thanks for the info, Glenn! I personally love Hay Budden anvils.

I posted them on Instagram. I don't have any dimensional pictures because it's already sold but I posted more.

It turned out to be just under 2.75lbs. 

Got that camp axe finished today.

Really like the bolster Goods! Super clean.

Got another camp axe basically finished ( just have to do some more oiling). The hickory on this one is really appealing to me, very straight grain too.

I would take the Hay in a heartbeat. I have a Vulcan and a Hay Budden and the Hay is far superior in face hardness, shape, and material quality. Vulcans had thin face plates and if that Hay was made after 1914 (which it looks like it may have been, maybe) it will have a full top half of solid tool steel. 

Thanks! The faces are pretty evenly weighted. I have actually been surprised by how easy it is to balance these hammers. 

It's on the ground because I haven't mounted it yet. I like taking pictures on it so that's what I use (I'm also in love with Hay Budden)

Progress on the candelabra is looking good JHCC. 

Got that 2.75lb square circle done after replacing the bearings on my belt sander. I think I like square circles more than classic rounding hammers.

2 minutes ago, jlpservicesinc said:

1040 or 4140? 

It is 4140. I also figured out that 4140 likes a lower temper. This time I tempered it to around 410-425 F and it stayed a little harder (didn't dent the pole when hammered on cold steel).

Got another axe head heat treated and ready for sharpening for another customer. 

Cool fire poker Billy! Looks like it could kill a cougar

Yesterday I finished a 2.75 square circle hammer and made a flat chisel and eye punch. I tested the eye punch out on a horse head bottle opener and I think it looks good. Oh and I forged a new cupping tool.