pnut

CGL, If you have built one jabod the next will be easier and work better. The first one I built worked good but the one I have now is much better. I'm about to start on no. 3 made from an outdoor fireplace pan. It looks like a rivet forge but I want to make it a side blast because I mainly use charcoal. I just have to finalize the design. I need to decide if I want to have the tuyere enter above the rim of the pan or cut a hole In the side. Pnut

You said your main interest was finding some info on your torch set up, but If you want to give blacksmithing a go you really can get started on the cheap. A jabod forge and an improvised anvil which could be a block of mild steel or any relatively heavy chunk o' metal that can be had, and a two pound ball pien hammer. I spent no money at all on my forge and got a 30 in. Piece of RR track for ten dollars. The most expensive thing was the hammer. Good to have you and don't be a stranger. Pnut

"Vise seized" ,I thought it was a medical emergency. Pnut

I've bought a lot of scrap at the stoplight, McDonald's parking lot etc from guys with pick-ups loaded to go to the recycle center. It's mystery steel but everything at the scrapyard is. The guys that are "scrapping" for cash are more than happy to sell some stuff to me for a few bucks vs. the scrapyard for a few cents. I have given my number to the guy who does it for a living and told him I'd be happy to hear from him. The scrapyard here has a single buyer contact so no go on that front. I also buy remnants from the steel supplier near me. They sell the leftovers for 40cents a pound. It's a little expensive but it's known steel and you can find everything from 10xx series steel to tool steel. I don't mind paying 40 cents per pound for known steel. The only drawback is you are limited to what is left over. You can also buy 20ft. Full length bars of anything you might need that isn't in the remnant section but it's full price. Pnut

Nothing left but waiting then.

They use ammonium chloride in fertilizer. It's also used for preventing the build up of calculi in the urinary tract of male goats. Pnut

Ammonium chloride is available through Walmart. Buy online pick it up in store. It's $8.99/lb. Pnut

Got any really rusty metal you can scrape some off of? Pnut

Years ago I seen a story on TV about a dogo Argentino that saved his little girl from a puma in I don't remember what S. American country I'm going to guess maybe Argentina. The dog was hurt pretty badly but the girl was untouched. Pnut

I chose gravel because like you said concrete will crumble and I wanted to be able to move it easier. It's down a hill with ruts from runoff from the rain. I couldn't imagine lugging it up the hill with a bucket of concrete attached to it and I didn't want to have to break it out either. I was worried it wouldn't be stable side to side but I haven't had any problems straightening stock on the flange. It hasn't budged. I'm sure if I smacked it on the side with a sledgehammer it would tip over but within reason it's pretty stable. I need to find something better to put under the bucket though. I have concrete paver on a bed of gravel underneath it, actually two side by side. I dug out a couple of inches layed down about an inch of gravel tamped it down and put the pavers on top. They have a void in each one though that I don't like. When I see something better I'll fix it but until then they are working. If I was going to use concrete I think it would work best for a rail in a bucket if it was left dry. Pnut

I like my vertical rail also. The only problem I ran into was when punching stock by myself. I had to put a log next to the rail and use a motorcycle chain hold down. I have my rail in a five gallon bucket filled with fine gravel. It's more solid than I thought it would be. The rail is only about half an inch short of the height I need on it's own so it weighs about 95 pounds or so by itself. Add the bucket of crushed gravel and it probably weighs about 130 pounds but I'm just guessing about the weight of the gravel. Pnut

I know not knowing what I don't know has never stopped me from thinking I know what I don't know so I'm not going to let it get in the way now. Pnut

I forgot to add one important thing about building a shelter where I'm at and that is, I can't make it too sturdy because it's not on my property and it needs to be somewhat easy to demo if I move. I don't plan on moving but you never know. I'm wary building on someone else's property even if they say it's okay as they could change their minds at any time. I have been looking for one of those expandable canopies you see people use for cookouts and such. A used one would be great. All the new ones I've seen are expensive and it's life will be shortened considerably if left erected in the weather, but if I find one at a yard sale or something for cheap I'll get it. If not 4x4's 2x8's and some corrugated metal for a roof it is. Pnut I just did an internet search and the prices on pop up canopies has gone down considerably. I might go get one next week.

Bully breeds really are great dogs and most of the time they are happy go lucky clowns but when they have to be serious their bravery and selflessness is on full display. Pnut

"I hope I can be as good a man as my Mom." I said this the other day when I was talking to a co-worker about being raised by a single mother and her trying to teach me what it means to be a man. She truly was a better " man" than a lot of the males I see around today. Pnut

A yard sale or retired electric coffee grinder would probably work well. Pnut

Great video and welcome aboard anxious to see some more of your work. Don't be surprised if this thread gets moved to the cold worked iron and steel forum. That's where the armor Making posts are. Welcome aboard. Pnut

JHCC, thanks. I don't know why I read drift and pictured a handled punch, but it got me thinking about making a handled punch. Pnut

JHCC, that is a great idea and I fully intend to steal it. Did you leave the pick attached to the eye? Pnut Sorry I thought punch when you very clearly said drift.

Patience is my strong suit. I don't need a blower, but I would like to have one, so I can wait as long as it takes to find one with the right price. Pnut

I've watched the videos and even downloaded the PDF instructions to see what went into finishing them up to use I just haven't pulled the trigger. I try to wait a while before buying things or I'd be broke all the time. I guess I'm kinda like a magpie. Every shiny thing that catches my eye I want. Pnut

They look good. I've been considering getting a pair. They sell the "bundle" for the price of one set of tongs. How do you like em so far? They're the larger size right? I can never keep straight which size they call what. They should just call them all rapid or quick and denote the size. Did you punch or drill the hole for the rivet? Pnut

The MOST important thing when forge welding is having clean surfaces to weld together. If the pieces you intend to weld are clean enough and you have a reducing atmosphere you can weld without flux or so I'm told. I haven't done any forge welding without flux but I know it's possible. Pnut

The difference between hydrous and anhydrous borax is that anhydrous Borax stays where you put it and hydrous borax flows away easier. You want it to carry scale and such with it but if it runs off before you reach the temp where scale forms it isn't as effective. Pnut

If I remember correctly JLPSERVICES has a video about making anhydrous Borax. If not she has definitely explained how to do It in a post here. I think it's as simple as spreading a layer of Borax on an old baking sheet and baking it at a low setting until it's hard and crusty then you break it up. This is oversimplified but I don't think it's much more than just baking it till it crystalizes and breaking it up. Pnut