pnut

I like it Thomas. Nothing wrong with a realistic heart shape. It reminds me of a new school style scared heart tattoo. Pnut

I've heard the same complaint from others about NC Tool anvils. That doesn't mean they all weren't working the stock too cold though. Pnut

Thanks. After pricing them there's no reason not to spend twenty more dollars for a forty pound tank versus a thirty pounder. It usually doesn't get below twenty degrees Fahrenheit here. So now I just have to get to TSC and pick it up. I'm off Wednesday so I'll do it then I suppose. Pnut

I'm about to go buy a propane tank that will be used outside and it gets a little cold in the winter here. Not usually below zero but below freezing for a few months. I know a little grill tank isn't suitable but would there be much of a difference between a thirty and forty pound tank regarding slush and freeze up? I'll be using a two burner forge for basic hobby blacksmithing and occasional forge welding. I usually run my solid fuel forge for a couple hours at a time if that's pertinent to answering my question. Thanks Pnut

Pine is what I prefer. It's easier to source hardwood pallets for me though. I don't have to worry about the neighbors so smoke isn't an issue or I'd definitely have to burn the off gassing by products. Do you plan on scaling up? I didn't really need to. I usually make three buckets at one time. If I had more time to devote to forging I'd probably have to up production. I try to stay one step ahead of my use by running two batches before I started using any. Pnut

I've met Sam. He has a horse powered shop. It's amazing. I'm in KY. One day when I can afford another anvil yours will be the one I will buy. Pnut

Absolutely. If you can hit someone with something that heavy your obviously bushwhacking people. An average person can probably move faster than you can swing it. Pnut

I've been making pretty high quality charcoal in a five gallon bucket with holes in the top. I just build a fire around it and when white smoke stops coming out of the holes I cover the holes with dirt and restoke the fire. I'm getting a pretty good return also. I haven't made a batch since about April though so I'll have to wait until I make another to post some pictures. Your retort looks effective. I was trying for the simplest way to go. Pnut

Kusari Gama are one handed sickles with a chain, correct?

Adjusting the f stop on the lens will create an out of focus background. The little circles of light and color you see in the background of a photo are called bokeh. Anyway depth of field means how much of the picture is in focus from near to far. Shallow depth of field means that the area in crisp focus is shallow. Say as an example from the front of the lens to five feet away from the lens is in crisp focus and then things start to look "dreamy" or diffuse. Pnut

I like something to produce bokeh in the background when using a shallow depth of field. Dandelions are great for it. Pnut

Steel toed leather work boots with some orthotics. I remove the insoles every night so the inside fully dries. With padded insoles you can trap sweat under them. Pnut

My anvil gathers rust every time the sun goes down. I have it in my vehicle. Everything metal gathers condensation after the heat of the day. I put an oily rag on the face of my anvil now. Pnut I had to use a wrecking bar and sledgehammer to break mine apart after about a year. It wasn't even frozen. Water didn't help either. It just rolled off. Pnut

The forge got here today. Still have to put the IR re emission coating on when it arrives and it will be time to fire it up. Pnut

I'm pretty tool poor at the moment and I don't like making do with something inferior when trying to build something. Nothing is more frustrating to me than knowing I'm not using the right tools and then messing up materials. My local affiliate is not having meetings for the foreseeable future unfortunately. I will at some point build my own forge but until then I think for me a purchase was the right path. It should be here Sunday by the end of the day. Pnut

See if you can find a copy of the textbook Industrial Hydraulics written by Richard W. Vockroth. It's pretty informative and easy to follow. It also has tables for most of the calculations and if it doesn't there's examples. It even has quizzes and review chapters. Pnut

You're setting a pretty high bar for yourself if you're just starting out and are jumping right into welding damascus billets. Simple forge welding can be a tricky skill to learn without in person help. Pnut

The question is are they really wrought iron or mild steel. I've only found one piece of actual decorative wrought iron for sale. Most people use the words wrought iron to describe any decorative steel railings and cast iron fencing etc. Pnut

I've read a few posts here where people say they sprinkle water on their charcoal to reduce sparks but I've never tried it. When using some charcoal that inadvertently got damp it crackled and popped like rice krispies and spit sparks and embers like the fourth of July. Ymmv. I've also never had a problem with any creosote build up. Charcoal burns pretty clean because it's been pyrolized already. The inside of the cans I make charcoal in definitely get build up though. Pnut

I considered building one. It seemed more practical to just buy it. I figured I'd end up with a better end product and a lot less frustration. I'm also a world champion procrastinator. Pnut

I only posted in this thread because I had posted some questions in it earlier. I wasn't concerned with comparing them. I didn't want to start a new thread that would be repeating info that had been touched on here previously. A diamondback forge was at about the limit of my budget and I try to get the most out of my money whenever possible. I wish I could have bought a two hundred dollar forge of the same quality but wish in one hand and you know the rest. Pnut

Very nice. How did you like working with copper? If you live where it's cold in the winter and don't have a heated shop copper is a material you can work with inside the house. I'm thinking about giving it a go myself. Pnut

I thought so. Thanks. I pulled the trigger and ordered the series III two burner blacksmith forge this morning. I'm stoked to not have to put together a brick and cat litter jabod and then take it back apart every time I want to start a fire. Pnut

Holland has a double horn 100 pound anvil for 700 USD. I'd love to have it. You're getting your husband a very thoughtful gift. I just want to say thank you. Too bad everyone's SO isn't so supportive. Pnut

I worked at one of those pay by the day places when I was younger and waiting to start my new full time job that charged YOU for ppe. They nickel and dimed you at every turn until you would only end up with about 25 dollars for an eight hour shift. This was in about 2007. I only worked there one day to get lunch money for the job I was starting on the following Monday. Pnut