pnut

Check out the thread about anvil stands. Plenty of inspiration there.. Pnut (Mike)

What works in the real world and what's supposed to work are sometimes two very different things. Pnut (Mike)

You don't see patterdale terriers here in the US very often. Most people don't know what they are. They're great ratters. Good squirrel dogs too. Pnut (Mike)

Woody harrelson King pin perhaps Pnut (Mike) He's told to remove the horses shoes and takes off the whole hoof

I don't use a has forge but that definitely doesn't look right. Someone with more experience should be along to help you soon. As far as the guage I can't really tell for sure sinceI'm using my phone but I think it is showing bars or atmospheres. You may want to get a different guage that shows PSI. Also I think there should be a needle valve along with the ball valve. Did you rigidize the kaowool before using? It's a respiratory hazard. All the info is in the stickies of the gas forge section.You'll also need a castable refractory as a hot face to protect the fiber insulation. You should read the stickies they'll let you know what you need. Pnut (Mike)

Finally rebuilt the jabod. The first one was wrecked after a long period of rain. The stand sunk in the mud and dumped it splitting two boards. I still need to make the firepot a little wider and see how much it's going to shrink check but otherwise I'm back to work after putting it off too long. Pnut(Mike)

Charcoal does grow on trees;-) I'll refrain from offering any advice. Someone with much more experience should be along shortly. Your forge looks good to me and should work great with just a few changes in fuel depth and air flow. Good luck and good job on the build. Pnut (Mike) Frosty, I believe he wants to raise the fireball to level with the table so he doesn't have to angle the stock to get it in the sweet spot. Pnut (Mike)

I was thinking about scavenging a blade from a hoe and going the easiest route . Pnut (Mike)

I'm thinking about making a tobacco knife out of 1045. It doesn't need to hold a shaving edge. Due to the type of work it's going to be doing it needs to be tough enough to take repeated hits against the soil but have just enough of an edge to not make you have to take more than one swing at the stalk to cut through it. It's a primitive tool but since I haven't made an edged tool from start to finish except for a hot cut chisel I would like to have other opinions on the type of steel. Here is a picture of the type of tool If you aren't familiar with them. The cone is for the stake and I'm not making those thanks for the help. Pnut (Mike) Theway I plan on making it is just cut the shape and grind the edge sharp. Will 1045 benefit from heat treating or would it be a waste of time?

Follow the jabod method of forge lining and building. That's basically what you have is A bottom blast jabod. The best thing is you can reshape the firepot as the need arises. Good luck Pnut (Mike)

Stupid question but the rest of the forge is lined right? Also Charles is right some some IR reflective coating like plistix or itc 100 would help bring up the temp. Itc 100 is expensive. Look in the refractory section for some more info. Pnut (Mike) You know you need to rigidize kaowool to avoid particulate matter becoming airborne and inhaling it. Pnut (Mike)

Yes. See post I mentioned twice above. There's a picture of the door lined with kaowool. Pnut (Mike) Charles, I thought that was a reflection from the flames coming out the door. ;-) the side of the door is glowing too!!

Times have certainly changed. I went to an inner city high school and vocational training was all that they considered most of us capable of aspiring to. Pnut (Mike)

Lsat in your other post you said you were 16. Back in the early 90's every student at my high school had to choose an elective course like graphic arts or masonry or electronics, or welding. Does your high school have an industrial arts program. Pnut (Mike)

Frosty, you aren't kidding about injuries when you're young coming back to haunt you. 30 years of skateboarding destroyed my joints. Some days I have to use a cane and haven't been able to sleep in a bed in years. I don't think it would have made a difference if someone told me that this was going to happen though. I do wish I would have done a better job following the advice of the doctors while I was recovering from the many injuries I did sustain. I would skate with casts on or cut them off early. When you're young you seem invincible. With age comes wisdom. Pnut (Mike)

Welcome aboard, it's always good to see a new member. Take full advantage of the info here. If you've been reading posts for the last couple of years you already know the depth of information contained here. Glad to have you and good luck with your journey. Pnut (Mike)

I'm just getting started with welding myself. If you can find someone to teach you or maybe a class at your local learning annex or Co-op that is what I'd do. For me that isn't possible so I went to the library and got a text book from a welding course titled Modern Welding By Althouse,Turnquist,Bowditch,and Bowditch. As far as the machine I can't tell you If it's a good deal or not. It sounds a little expensive for my area but it may be different where your at. Pnut (Mike)

ausfire, she is a gorgeous girl. I had a smooth coat collie when I was little he would herd everything that he was around , bugs, kids, ducks, goats if there was at least two of em he wanted em together. Collies are great dogs if you have the room and time. Without enough exercise for body and mind they can become troublesome. If you see one in a shelter that's probably why. Our collie would help feeding the other critters. And guard the chickens in the yard. Give her a rub for me. Pnut (Mike)

Check the topic reviving a dead pro forge. It's a few topics below this one. The guy who posted it is a farrier who has been using this type of forge long enough to have had to replace the lining more than once. I would PM him and ask for his opinion. He may be able to help you figure it out. His name is Charles R Stevens. Good luck hope you sort it out Pnut (Mike)

I'm located where I can get the PBS channels from Ohio and Kentucky without cable. It's all I really watch. There's about eight or ten to choose from. A Craftsman's legacy was on the Ohio channel.

I hope you don't mean you won't be going to any more meetings or doing anymore blacksmithing?

Just got a pleasant surprise before heading to work. The Lorelei Sims episode of A Craftsman's Legacy is on PBS. I've been seeing a lot of blacksmithing on PBS here in KY. The other day Sam Stoner was on a show called Kentucky Life. There was also a segment on a different episode of KY Life that was about a farrier in Louisville who's been working since just after WWII. I'm glad it's getting some exposure besides just Forged in Fire. Pnut (Mike)

James, on the very next page is a thread titled reviving a proforge posted by Charles R Stevens. He has been using a proforge 200 long enough to have to have relined more than once. You may want to check with him as he has experience with this very forge. He will probably reply to your post here before long. If not maybe a PM. Pnut (Mike) As an afterthought are you keeping the door closed while your stock is coming up to temp? Also are you letting the forge heat up to full temp before attempting to heat stock. I'm sure you know about those things but I'm just checking.

Just got back from the library and borrowed these welding books and the usual suspects practical blacksmithing, New edge of the anvil, and the art of blacksmithing.

Happy thoughts , glitter, and fairy dreams will hold it together quite nicely;-). Just kidding Don't Know how I missed it. I'm gonna blame it on the early hour I was posting. Thanks for keeping me on my toes. Pnut (Mike)