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I Forge Iron

billp

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Everything posted by billp

  1. Yep folk after almost a year of beating on odd bits of iron starting with a tire rim forge and a RR raid, moving up in equipment as money and skill improved. I just finished my first blacksmithing class. Now I have tried very hard to be self taught buying several books, down loading a few more, plus 2 very large ring binders full of designs and information. It just does not compare to being in a class hands on. It was only a two day class building a 5 hook coat rack that hangs on the wall but it taught a number of skills in doing so. Some of these skill I have worked at on my own long before and struggled with getting them to work out right. Now I not only know how to do it right but how to look at something in attempting other skills that may be similar. All in all self taught is not to be knocked if that's all you have. But if your starting out in blacksmithing and someone offers classes near you it would be well worth it and a great help to save up and take them. Where I went at the Metal Museum in Memphis, TN. they did a great job in teaching and helping you to understand what you were doing. I probably had the most experience of all in the class but we all finished with our projects showing an equal skill level. So now I'm all fired up and ready to beat out some iron the right way. As well try out some new ideas in skill and design. Now, maybe I can be called a blacksmith, or at least in blacksmith in training. BillP
  2. Thanks I took a look and will have to give it a try, sounds like it should fit the bill. BillP
  3. D-ski, you gave me a thought in that I never considered the question you raise, but then if using a finish on eating utensils the same should work on bracelets? Unless being in constance contact with the skin makes a difference huuuu! it is something to consider. Bentiron 1946, I did to my first bracket like you on the muslin wheel but did not think of the patina type of finish. I just wounder how long the shine will last on just polishing with the brush and muslin wheel. After all if, and it's a big if, I sell any of these I want them to last and look good for a long time, after all it's my name on it. As with everyone who makes things we all want a good rep on our work. Thanks for you input guys it does give me something else to think on. BillP
  4. Sorry, my bad about the steel and green. I did one piece and started off with a wire brush on a grinder to semi polish the bracelet down then moved on to two different buffing wheels on another type of grinder. To finish off with a dremel tool brushing and polishing spots the big brush missed. I did try applying Gliders Paste a new to me product I got from a blacksmith supplier but either from the buffing compounds I used when on the buffing wheel or from just being to polished up the paste did not take and only rubbed off after drying, still playing around with that. May try applying at different stages of the polishing and buffing have to see where that goes. I'll try what you suggested as I plan on trying to make several more pieces this weekend. Thanks for your help. BillP
  5. I have started playing around with making jewelry (bracelets) from steel and or other iron based metals and was wondering what advice anyone could give on a finish. I'm looking for something to help keep the shine or fresh look plus, help keep your arm or where ever it's worn from turning green when starting to sweat. Also some time ago some told about a type of finish they use that was used in redoing the finish on cars and such. They used it on there metal work and from what I remember really raved on it. But of course now that I'm interested I can't find the post that told where to get this finish. If anyone knows of what I'm talking about please pass it on. As for the old traditional type finishes I'm still experimenting on them but still looking to see what some of you think might works best. Thanks for your help Bill P
  6. Thank again Folks I do truly appreciate all who have tried to help. But so far no luck I do belong to ancestry.com and have gotten a ton of information on this sight. I must say if your looking for past family it is a very good place to look. But no luck on this ancestor as of yet. As I don't know his first name or any diffident dates really makes it hard. I may have ran across him under his 2nd wife not knowing it. As I said before to the Perry family my Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles he was never talked about as if he did not exist. To kick my bottom even more at one time I did take my Dad to a family reunion of this side of the family and sat down with my cousins and got a lot of information from them. But have put it in a safe place somewhere and now can't find that information. Ain't that all the luck. One good bit of news though I did discover my Great Great Grandfather Henry Perry and did discover he was a blacksmith too. Or it could be in trying to remember things I was told this may have been the smith in the family and not the other. I have unwrapped a number of tails to discover the truth which was sometimes not exactly what I was told or remembered. Any way to anyone who ever did this before it can be mind numbing but like finding gold when you make discoveries about your past. I'll keep at it and maybe over time he will pop up. Thanks again for all your help. Billp
  7. Will thanks guys just thought I would give it a shot. I was hoping maybe they have some type of gild or union like organization they might have belonged to. But, I also understand thy most were very private about there skills and not into sharing like today. Guess that was a way of one upping the competition if you could do something they couldn't. Oh by the way BIGGUNDOCTOR so far I have at least 5 ancestors who fought for the Confederacy out of Miss. and La. (sorry) and have one going back into the 1700's. It's just this one is a bugger with out his first name but I will keep at it. Any way thanks again Billp
  8. I'm looking for my Great Grandfather who to my knowledge was a blacksmith in the mid to late 1800's. My problem in finding him as he ran off with another woman leaving my Great Grandmother and 8 or 9 kids to start another family. So to my family this man did not exist any more making it hard to get information on him. Now I know he was a dirty so in so but still an ancestor of mine and I want to know about him. Especially when I too have a love of blacksmithing. So my question is, does anyone know if there may be records I might excess to maybe find him. I believe they lived in Choctaw county in Mississippi around the mid to late 1800's and his last name was Barron. This all I know about him and have not had any luck so far with other research wed sights. Any advice or information will be helpful and I will truly appreciate the help. If I placed this on the wrong page please forgive me was done due to lack of knowledge. Thanks again Billp
  9. I like that bsiler, now that's the type wheels I want to put on this forge I just got. I just need to take the existing legs off and make new ones to go with the wheels. Then I'll add a rack to hold tongs and such plus use the rack as a handle when moving it around all attached to the new legs. Thanks the picture helps me envision what I want to build. Billp
  10. Hay Argetlam, I know Pulaski been through there a time or two. As for a RR rail don't feel bad that's how I started till I could save up to get my first anvil. This deal just fell into my lap as most of the time I never have the money or I'm to late. God just smiled on me on this one. Yea Frosty, I plan on working out on it as soon as this rain we are having stops. I have started looking for an old man in a long white beard in a big wooden boat to sail by any time now we have had so much rain. Billp
  11. Hay a tire rim works well my first forge was made from an old rim I found. Only difference is I used scrap metal I got from a scrap yard to fill in the inside and a small blower from an on line company for around 25.00. No if it work go for it. If you want to take a look at my first I have pictures on the picture gallery. But you picture does look a bit out of focus or my glasses a bit dirty. Billp
  12. Thanks for your information Thomas & Frosty, my friend did say he got the equipment from a blacksmith shop in Memphis, Tn. in mid-town. Most of the people working there were into medieval re-enacting and used the shop to make most of there equipment. So from what you have told me Thomas I'm sure the marks on the step and legs are from testing the cutting edge weapons they may have made. Not to mention other things made on it by other smith who used it over time. As I'm sure the past owners did not acquire this anvil in any type of new condition. Sometimes if tools like this could talk no telling the tells they could tell. Oh and don't worry I'm not grinding on any part of this anvil. I did buff the face, horn, and step which did help smooth out some of the small shallow marks. Then used a wire wheel on the body to remove most of the rust showing some the original color. But no, I what try grinding to smooth out the cuts or chips on this fine old tool. Instead let them stay as a badge of service for it's years of use. Thanks again guys I do appreciate you help. Billp
  13. I thought about that biggundoctor but again I don't want to hurt the legs that are on it now. I know they can and will hold up just sitting in one place but as my buddy and I were moving it and loading it in my trailer they seemed kind of fragile to all the movement. So I would feel better if I just replaced them. Cause again if I ever sold it as an antique plus a working forge I would need the legs intact that are on it now. Doubt I ever will but who knows what's in the future. Besides as I progress in skill I hope to start going to do local fairs, flea markets, festivals things like that just for something to do not trying to make a living. Any way this forge with it's on blower attached would work great for these events. The other 2 forges I built have electric blowers on them and where ever I'm at I may not be able to use electricity. Besides the hand cranked blower to me just works and looks so much better. But no your idea is good, if I just felt more confident in the legs holding up to the movement involved. They might could take the stress but over time they just don't look like they could to me. Thanks again Billp
  14. Keykeeper; I checked out the tuyere plate you spoke of and liked it so I got one to replace my friends home made plate. Dale & Frosty; Yes I have though of a trolley or dolly even came up with a plain to build one out of 1 x 3/8 angle iron made to fit. But I fear the small wheels would mire down in the ground as I have to work outside and store inside a very crowded shop. Plus the forge is so heavy I can handle it taking it on and off the dolly but it's a chore. I would hate for it to fall and brake off where the blower attach
  15. Thanks guys Frosty I'm finding out I can always count on you for you opinion and I appreciate it. Keykeeper I will check out your man on the air plate. To tell the truth that is only 1 of the 2 parts I'm concerned about, so I'll give it a look. Now if I can just figure out how to change out the legs to something I can roll around and move, as this is one heavy bugger. It will just take a little time as I do have several ideas but can always use more. I am keeping the original legs and don't want to alter them in case I need or want to put it back to it's original state. Thanks again folks Billp
  16. Thanks Folks I'll take your advice and just clean up the rust spots on the face. But no I would never try and grind down any part of an anvil, to afraid of causing even more damage then I fix. I see a lot of cuts on the legs even a spot where some letters or markings were ground or cut or what ever to a point I can't make it out. As for the size your right Frosty the base is thicker and the anvil is taller by 2 inches then my TFS who's face is wider and longer then the Fisher. I'll say now I payed 300.00 for the anvil and the forge I posted on the forge thread as complete take it or leave it deal. I have never worked a deal like this before buying large blacksmithing equipment so I was a bit unsure about if I was doing the right thing but felt like it wasn't a bad deal. But now I even fell better about things thanks again. Billp
  17. I just bought a forge and anvil from a friend who thought he wanted to get into blacksmithing but soon found out it was not for him. He had bought this equipment from a now out of business blacksmith shop and didn't know much if anything about either piece. Any way when he came to visit and learned that I had taken up blacksmithing he offered to sell me this combination and for the price he asked I bought it off him. Now what I'm asking is does anyone know anything about this forge? My friend said it was ment to be used for making horse shoes which may be but it's really a nice size for what ever you want to do. The hand blower that is attached works real well and to spite how he had it stored. The pan is really thick but is missing the origonal fire grate. My friend made one that is off to one side in my picture. I took it off till I decide if I want to make a new and different one or just put it back till it burns out. All in all it's not in bad shape I'm thinking of taking the legs off and putting them up to keep then replace with something that rolls and is more portable but look the age of the forge. The clean up want be much as the blower is in good shape there is some rust in the pan but one or two good fires should take care of that if not I can go over it with a wire brush or buffing wheel on a hand grinder. To tell the truth I thought the anvil would be the best part of the deal but after going over everything I'm begaining to think the forge is the better part. So if any one has any ideas on the who's, what's, and why's of this froge please let me know. I will appreciate any thoughts or advice given. Billp
  18. I just got an anvil and forge set up from a re-enactor friend of mine. He bought the things a good time back thinking he wanted to try blacksmithing but it just never took. When he came by my house last week and discovered I was now blacksmithing he offered to sell me his things. The forge I'll post on the forge thread. Now my question is can anyone tell me about this anvil and possibility it's value. I do see stamped on it the name Fisher with a 10 on 1 leg. It also has an eagle stamped on one side and a date on the back of 1914. As well as some other marks I can't make out. Now the flat space behind the horn is very scared up with the horn it's self pretty well abused too, especially on the underside. On the main face it's not to bad but one side is chipped an 1/8 of an inch give or take almost along it's whole length. The other side it not to bad and with a little work will be usable, I think. Now I put it on an old bathroom scales and it weighted in at 100 lbs. Which surprised me as it's smaller in size to next to my new 100 lb. anvil. I would also appreciate any advice on how to help restore or clean up this anvil if anyone has any ideas. It was my plan to use a wire wheel and buffing wheel on a hand grinder to try, with out over heating, to work out as many of the cuts and scratches I can. Now I know I want be able to remove a lot of the cuts not with out major work and that's a little above my skill level. Any way that's the just of it so any help given I'll be gratefully for. Posting pictures below Billp
  19. Thanks for the ideas folks I do appreciate it I give them a try and see which works for me. Thanks again Billp
  20. Thanks Frosty I have a copy of "The Art of Blacksmithing" and will give it another going over on how to finish metal. I was curious if anyone out there ever tried the gun bluing or browning treatments of finishing. As I understand it bluing is just a controlled form of rusting to help seal the metal from any more rust build up. Any way thanks for your comments I'll check into what you told me. Billp
  21. I just tried the mix of bee's wax, linseed oil, and turpentine and may have put to much bee's wax in the mix as I tried to keep it at equal parts of all three. I did apply the mix on hot to the touch metal but I just didn't like the feel after it dried. So I'm not sure if I did it right or not. Still looking for something else to try. Plus has anyone tried the gun browning or bluing you can get at gun shops to finish your work? I did try the browning as I had a bottle left over when I built a black power rifle from a kit. I used it on a old hammer I picked up at a flea market that was real beat up. After I buffed the hammer head down to get out all the scratches cleaning it up I put the browning on it for grins and giggles. It tend to make the hammer look more like brass and kind of interesting and different from what others have done that I have seen. So now I have used it on some handles I made for a couple of wood tool boxes I built. I really like the look but the question is how will it hold up and could you use it on items that handle food like forks and hot dog sticks? So if anyone has any input please let me know I'll be interested to hear what you all have to say. I'll be out of town for the weekend but will respond when I get home Sunday or first thing Monday morning. Thanks BillP
  22. You know Thomas I sometimes get the feeling of hell fire and brimstone too when I'm working. I was raised in an old time Baptist Church and the thought just can't help but pop up. Some how if you could pull it off having the smell drift thought the church would make a great way to drive a point home. Matt87 no, I get the most smoke when I add fresh coal to the fire. I know I'm suppose to work from the sides but like a kid playing in the fire I'll sometimes add more fresh as the mound starts to shrink and I'm to inpatient to do the right thing. Chrisfrick that's a good idea and I'll have to come up with something I can make to do as you said. Only trouble is I'm still very new and small things with detail I have not tried much. I have several designs of crosses I have been wanting to try maybe I can work something out of one of those. Been doing larger things like cooking forks, fire place pokers, and hot dog sticks my experience with small hooks and such still need work as I need to learn to read the fire better. I tend to get it to hot or not hot enough and need to work on my hammer technique as well. I just need more practice. For now my work has come to a halt till I make a coal run though. I have discovered a place that sells coal but the ton, 1/2 ton, or 5 gal bucket. It's about 3 hours from me and has to be done during the week as they are closed on weekends. Not quite sure of the quality but it's suppose to be blacksmith grade will see in a week or two. Thanks for all the thoughts folks billp
  23. I got this coal from an on line dealer and in truth only smokes big when I first start the fire up or throw new coal on the fire. The smell does kind of linger in the air or it did this day which all in all is no real problem if the neighbors don't complain. As for the wife this was the first time she ever said anything as this was not my first time working outside. I think we must have been under some type of low pressure with very light wind which kept things close to home. As for the dog he has very long hair which attract and holds everything but he's in the house most of the time. It's my big lab that got burned trying to be with me when working. A spark popped out and hit him on the back I saw it coming but he was up and gone before I could help. So now he lays outside where I work if he's out with me.
  24. I thought you all might get laugh out of this one. I was working in the back yard at my forge making a few things promised to a friend plus making a new tool I needed. My wife came home early from work so when I went in she said that something outside smelled really bad and even our small dog smelled like it. Will my first thought was something had died in the backyard and the dog had rolled in it. Then I asked her did it smell like sulfur and she said yes. With relief and a laugh I told her it's the coal from my forge she is smelling but to me it kind of smelled good. She though it was disgusting but she's a city girl what can I say. I guess maybe it's a sign I'm meant to be a blacksmith if the smell of burning coal smells good. BillP
  25. I didn't see anyone write on this little book "Blacksmithing Shop & Iron Forging" so I thought I would. ISBN 0-917914-07-4 It's from the "Lost Technology Series" reprinted and Copyright @ 1983 by Lindsay Publications first printed in 1906 by International Correspondence Schools. It's a small paper back book but very nice at covering the basics. It's filled with illustrations to help with the written text which make it very nice as pictures help me more then just reading. It covers equipment to be used and made plus fundamentals and techniques in iron forging. It not a lot of deep detail information with only 53 pages but I though enough to help give you the basic understanding on how to start. I only wish I could remember where I got it as it was something I picked up back in the mid to latter part of the 1980's, when I first had a desire to get into blacksmithing. If my memory improves (but don't hole your breath) I'll up date this as it does. BP
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