billp

A friend of mine that I use to do Civil War reenactments with just gave the this book. At the time when he got it he thought of getting into blacksmithing but over time just never did. So after running into each other and telling of my endeavors at blacksmithing he thought the book would do me more good then just laying around at his house. To say the least I was very grateful as I have been looking for a copy but only found out it's out of print so said Barns & Noble. So now through my friends generosity I now have one and am looking forward to reading it over and using as a reference in my work. BP

I lost my Mom 6 years ago and my sympathy goes out to you. If it helps I have found over time my Mother has never left me. She is always with me in the things of hers I still have, in family and friends she influenced, and the memories they all bring, which are good and warm my heart. I find I laugh and smile more and more as time goes by at each and every memory I have as she would have preferred. God and time does heal. Be strong and may God be with you. BP

GEE !! ?? I'm sorry but hot chocolate is about it for me in a hot drink. Even though I grew up with a father who drank hot coffee, dripping with sweat, with the temps in the 90's to help cool himself off. Oh and he could also go through a couple of pots a day alone. But I never developed at taste for it and we never if ever drank tea. Only when I was in the hospital as a kid was I given hot tea. I don't know which was worse the pain from the operation or the tea the nurse tried to make me drank. Sorry guys not much into different drinks. BP

Will I'm relieved to know I'm not the only one now I don't feel quite so bad but it still has a sting about it. Maybe I'll redeem myself this weekend at the big Memphis flea market. This time I'll keep my big mouth shut at least till after the deal and not before. BP

My wife tells me I'm the worlds worst for telling on myself so why should I stop now. I had an experience at a flea market that I payed for dearly. I was walking along looking for ball peen hammers to use or make things from when I came across what I was looking for. Will the price was good for the ball peen and I bought it. Then the dealer went to his truck and came back with another hammer not knowing what it was, will it turned out to be a 2 lb rounding hammer. It was kind of beat up and rough looking but nothing that could not be worked out. I guess I just was to set on the ball peen. Will like a dunce I told him what it was and how it was to be used but not sure if I wanted it or not (he only wanted 6 dollars for it). Will to make a long story short when I woke from the dumb dazed state I must have been in at home I went back to only find him gone. Will 2 weeks later he was back and I asked him about the hammer. He recognized me as the one who told him all about the hammer so he put a new handle in it and sold it for 12 dollars in the next county. Will as I kicked myself (for the second time) all the way to the car I thought serves you right for not getting it the first time. Now I know it's not the end of the world but does kind of sting to loose what could be a fairly nice hammer that I don't already have at such a low price. I did come across a 3 lb cross peen that I buffed down and did turn out quite nice also a size I did not have. So that find did help my feeling. So my point especially to those new to the art like me don't ever be to choosy or picky if it's only a couple of bucks no matter the tool. Matter of fact Memphis has a big flea market coming up this weekend and I plan on going for the first time in many many years. But this time with a more open mind, and an eye for the hunt. Kind of trying to practice what I preach. BP

Hay! what can I say, if only I drank coffee, but no problem keeping a pot going for my guest. After all the first thing I was taught to cook or make at 6 or 7 was a pot of coffee for Dad. BP

I finely got to test my new super sucker hood and after an adjustment it works fine. At first I made the opening 6 in. square but when tested it just did not feel or look like it was big enough. So I ended up cutting it out to 8 in. square and now it works fine. I have posted pictures of how it works at the 2 different sizes. I can truly say if anyone is looking to make a hood that is simple and easy to move or stay put I would recommend the super sucker. Thanks to all who gave me input in my endeavor in building my hood. BP

Thanks Guys I ended up using steel pop rivets to put the hood together but have been playing with going back over some of the seams if for no other reason but for practice. The torch does get the metal red but it's like on a fine line when I do. When it does get red I have to act quick or things go to heck fast. I'm using a flux coated rod but will try the brazing flux as I really don't want to mess up what I have already done. Thanks again everyone for you help. BP

Thanks Bob I just finished the hood late yesterday and am now working on making a holder on the forge for it. Your right it is going to hang over the edge but I'm making a bracket, shelf, and or holder, how ever best describes it to hold the hood in place but not be attached. As I want to be able to take it on and off to make moving easier. I'm hoping to give it a test Saturday. The only difference from the drawing is I could only get an 8 inch pipe to go on top so I made the fire opening 6 inches, compared to the 12 pipe and 10 inch opening shown in the drawing. I do hope that will work I can always make the opening bigger but the pipe I'm afraid I'm stuck with. Any way will see Saturday and if it does work I'll post pics. BP

Thanks all It means a lot to know you have friends who will pray for you even though we have never met face to face. Thanks again may God keep you all close, I'll pray an Irish blessing for you all. BP

I"m using the steel rivets and so far it's doing very well. Thanks for your help Sweany. BP

I'm not sure if this is the place or if appreciate, if not please correct me and it will not happen again. I have been out of work since Feb. and has not been to bad giving me time to work on home projects and piddle in my shop. I have a couple of retirement accounts that help with the bills but it's getting to be time for me to do something hook or crook. Now this is the first time I have been out of work for this long in the 35+ years I have been the principle bread winner. What I'm asking for is pray from those of you who are praying folks for a new job. I applied for a job at the hospital I use to work for as an EMT but this time it's in the maintenance department as a basic technician. The hospital did away with the ambulance department I do work for but this new job is something I can do as well with less stress. It's been 2 weeks since my interview so I'm starting to bite nails at this point for a phone call. For those of you who don't believe please I mean no offense but for those of you who do please think of me if you will. Being a house husband I have discovered is not for me as I'm not sure which is worse the lack of money or the loss of sanity being at home with only 2 dogs for company. I just think God my wife has a very good job and what I do is with her blessing, but I need to be doing more for us both before the dogs and I go postal. Thank you for you help BP

Right now my forge is portable as I have to work outside being that my shop has a wood floor. I am working on a plan to build a smity but have to move a storage building first and then buying the materials a little at a time it will be a while till I'm able to work in it. For now the hood is to; #1 prepare for that time when I can work in my smithy and #2 to help move the smoke away fro me as I work. I also hope by next year, after a couple of classes this year, to do a few local festivals to demo and sell a few small items. This too will help direct the smoke away from the people who may be watching me work. I really want to do this more to help promote blacksmithing and a bit of fun then to make money which would be a plus if I do just not naive about the money prospect. I did find some steel rivets at our local Home Depot so I'll use them instead of the aluminum so all should do well or at least my will be at ease on it staying together.

I'm using 24G sheet metal and I only have a small torch that uses a mix of oxygen and mis gas (I think that's right) in the small 1.4 bottles. I tried a flux coated bronze brazing rod after quite a number of tries to get the torch flame right. It seem to work OK but I do need more practice at how to heat and move the rod. As far as welding equipment I only have a small 160 amp arc welder and have never used gas except to cut and that was a long time ago. Not counting propane to solder water pipes. I don't know how to mig or tig weld nor excess to equipment. Even though I have been told mig is easier then arc it is on my list when times and money get better to get a small mig welder. So at this time a small torch out fit is all I can afford but something I can play with to get some basics down I hope. I'm in the process of building or trying to build a side draft hood for my forge looking to see what is the best way for me at putting it together. So far till I get better equipment and or skill I may end up using steel pop rivets. Even though welding does look better may just have to do the best I can with what I have. Again any advice will be helpful if not now later on as good advice always comes in handy. Thanks again BP

Thanks Sweany As I have all the equipment and knowledge for this and it works for you then it's got to work for me so that's what I'll stick with. It was my fear they might melt if the hood got too hot but then again as I finely sit down to really think with air flow I can't see it getting that hot. I'm not really up on different metal melting points as I'm not much of a facts and figures kind of guy. I just don't have a head for numbers, but do well at hands on experience. I guess that's something else I need to make myself work on. Thanks again BP

How do you weld sheet metal, what type rods, etc. etc. I have a project to do but don't know how to attach sheet metal out side of pop rivets and screws. Any advice will help Thanks BP

Thanks All I do appreciate the input you have all given. I did get up off my lazy bum last night and go through a long list of threads to get a better idea of what might work for me. It seems that most like the side draft style as to an over the head hood. So I think I have settled on trying to build a super sucker side draft. I just need to come up with a way to put it together. I thought of pop rivets but they're aluminum which may melt. Then there are screws, a lot of screws. Then there is welding which in working with sheet metal I have no experience in. It looks like gas welding would work best as arc is way to hot but I have never used gas outside of soldering water pipe. But with a couple of good books I'll give it a shot. If anyone has a better idea please let me know. I seem to learn more by trial and error then any other way. This looks like a problem I don't think even duck tape can fix. BP

No, urnesBeast the sides and the fire pot are made from 3/8 diamond plate. I have used it a number of times first with charcoal now with coal and it works really well. Only change is I might have made it a bit deeper as it's only about 2" deep. But like I said it works well, how long may be another question. But no, there is no galvanized metal any where on the forge the pic may not be the best as well, but can make and post a better one if needed. But thanks for your concern, also I went back and re-did my opening remark you were correct. I have thought of a side draft celticforger just want to weigh out all my options but thanks for the suggestion will check it out. Thanks again BP

OK I know there have been several of you who have already given advice on how to build a hood if you don't mind could please repeat that advice again. I do have plans from Dick Nietfeld that where put up at sometime. (Thanks Dick for putting that information up.) So if you don't mind please I need advice on building a hood. My forge is 24" square with a small side of about 1" going round all 4 sides. What I'm thinking about is something of a hood that goes over about 2/3's of the top with only the back and 1/2 of the sides coming down from the hood being solid. I'm also looking into using stove pipe sheets that are not connected yet to make a pipe and can be flatten out. It can be shaped and molded into what ever shape at much less cost as flat sheet metal sheets. At this time the forge is portable with wheels on the back side as for now I have to work out side. But, at some point I want to put it in a shop and attach to pipe. So all I need on the hood is to have a start for the pipe to attach to when the time comes. Which my plan is to have the start of a smith going by winter. As even though I am in the south we do have some cold xxx weather here and would prefer to be inside. So any advice, plans, what ever I would appreciate it. In a day or 2 I'll have a plan put together but would really like the advice of you more experienced people on the sight. I'll try and put up a pic of my forge if I can. Thanks for all the help. BP

OK I'm a little off the subject in that I don't have advice but a comment. But, after posting a question on buying punches on the problems page. I found that to a man (or person) all the advice give me there was to make your own. With me being a novice smith learning as I work I have been pondering on just how I start on making my first punch. Now,reading through all these post and as if in search of the Holy Grail I am even more confused. This is that there seem to be a lot of detail and expertise on just how all of you go about making your punches which leaves me going "??huuu??" :confused::confused: With all this confusion going round in my head I am starting to think to print out all this information, go over it in length, practice, and buy my first 2 or 3 punches I need now then work on making all the other tools I may need in the future. As I still need to learn steel, color, tempering, so on and so forth. I will say this, I have been in the company of masters reading these post. I truly see just how much I don't know and am challenged to work at learning more. Yes there are classes coming at the first of the year but for now it's trial and error with a little help from my friends. But I will endeavor to persevere. BillP

Will do there are a couple of semi-truck shops as well as car shops around me so I'll check them out for old parts. Thanks again for your help. BillP

OK, I hear ya only problem is not knowing where to get the steel or metal I need. Not that I'm trying to make excuses it's just that most folks around here don't know even at metal scrap yards so it's hard to get good information. I have a place where I buy stock metal in Memphis may try and see if they carry the types you speak of. Plus now that I remember I know of a shop in town close to me that might help me out. I just have not come across may people around me who know of blacksmithing. When I tell most that I'm working on learning they think it's great but don't have a clue. I have made some small tools, hold downs, etc. even made some of my own tongs but have also bought a few for starts, kind of what I am looking at with the punches just to make sure I have it right. The hold down was made from a piece of metal used on a railroad track that held the rail to the plate on the tie. Hard to describe but it worked out great with a good heat and a lb sledge hammer. I do appreciate the input and have gotten some great information from the sights give thanks again. BillP

I just got through looking through several blacksmithing sights looking for something to punch or make holes in hot fresh from the fire metal. Instead in all my looking all I have achieved is to become even more and more confused about what punches and chisels can and can not be used for, so? :confused: What do I need to be looking for to make holes without drilling them using punches or chisels or what? I apologize for the question as I though I knew but the more I looked the more confused I got. But, then again if you don't ask you can't learn. So if anyone has advice on brand or type (with or with out handle) or style anything that want brake the bank please let me know any information will help thanks. BillP

Thanks folks for your input, I live 30 miles north of Memphis, TN. so NC is kind of out of the question. But, I do think the Metal Museum in Memphis may teach some type of classes after you complete there blacksmithing classes. Which I plan to do but want start up till after the start of the new year. Just thought I might play around a little with it now and wondered if anyone else had as well and what advice they might have to give. I did check out the sights given will come in handy I'm sure. Thanks again. BillP

I know some time back someone asked about bracelets, but has anyone ever tried making jewelry using polished rock or inexpensive gem stones? I have a great deal of different crystal and polished rock that use to belong to my wife's grandfather as he was a rock hound. I have been thinking of trying to come up with a way of using these small treasured to make jewelery with them. He tried but with cheep pre-made settings which did not turn out to well looking like something you would pick up at a flee market. Just curious if anyone had any idea's or if they had tried this before or just what experience if any anyone had. As my wife dearly loves jewelery of any type thought might not be a bad area to move into as she and her friends seem to go for anything different and hand made. Please let me know BillP