pnut

It's certainly cheaper to buy remnants. I do the same. Unless I need something specific I'll just buy as many different sized remnants as they have. The place I go still doesn't have any steel with a higher carbon content than 1045. I guess they haven't had any large orders for anything higher. 

Pnut

I enjoy hardware and decorative projects like leafs most. I enjoy making tools for those projects also. I need to get another coil spring so I can finish up the tooling from The Skills of a Blacksmith vol one and attempt a wizard bottle opener and hook. 

Pnut 

The garage across the street is open so I'll be walking over there shortly to see if he has any non coated coil springs on the scrap heap yet. I don't like messing with the coated ones. I'm not sure what they're coated with. 

It took me a couple builds before I settled on a good set up for me. It's pretty close to the MARKIII jabod with the exception that I have bricks on both sides of the firepot sometimes instead of just the tuyere side. 

Pnut

With charcoal there's really no need to have the tuyere raised higher than the floor. With coal you want an inch or so below the tue for clinker to collect but with a brick firepot like that it can be level with the floor. Any fuel under the tue is being wasted. Check out the MARKIII jabod thread .https://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/55467-mark-iii-jabod-forge/

Pnut

Always check the remnant bin too. That's where most of my stock comes from. 

Pnut

My forge uses one inch vacuum formed ceramic board coated in plistix and it works fine. It could be more fuel efficient I suppose but I have no complaints. The question you should ask is what trade offs are you willing to make. 

Pnut

Mine has the open ended screwbox as well. I'd have to check on the leg though. I didn't pay much attention to it. Just wire wheeled it coated it with BLO and put it to use. It was in pretty good shape when I got it. Just surface rust and I wasn't worried about getting it back into like new condition. I was just happy to be able to put it to work. 

Pnut

Yes indeed. I bring the forge, hose, and regulator into my apartment after it cools down so there's a slim chance it'll be infested and use the plastic cap that came on the tank.

Pnut

The dog days are also a good time to re coat anything that needs it in BLO so it can bake in the sun. 

I'm keeping my eye out for some copper to give chasing, raising, and repousse a go. 

Pnut

That's when I break out the hand files and do all the tedious filing I've been ignoring for ages. I'm all caught up now. 

Pnut

That's exactly what I was asking. Thanks. 

Pnut

I don't have a copy to hand but I think Practical Blacksmithing in Four Volumes has a section on forging nuts. I'd have to check to be certain though. 

Pnut

I've been using the yellow PTFE tape for my gas line. I'm about to switch to Harvey white slow setting pipe thread compound since it's what the plumbing supply place near me stocks and I'm out of tape. My concern is that since I have to disconnect the tank from the regulator after every session that I'll have problems with particulate matter getting into the regulator. I plan on using a brass brush to clean the threads and fitting every  time the same way I've been cleaning them up when using tape. Does anyone foresee a problem with this? 

Pnut

It's pre 1950's Peddinghaus if I'm not mistaken. Someone with a little more knowledge will probably be along shortly with a more accurate date. Welcome aboard, be safe, and remember it's supposed to be fun. 

Pnut

15 hours ago, Ted Ewert said:

I made a simple door knocker using a large ball bearing. I made the socket out of 1" round stock, which I drilled out and peened into shape. 

Is the ball just pressure fit into the socket hot? 

Pnut 

I see you answered the question already. I needed to hit refresh..... sorry. 

1 hour ago, SinDoc said:

I had to get to the bottom of the state before noon

I'm about thirty minutes south of the Ohio river. Closer to Cincinnati than Louisville. Holler if you make it through this way and have some time to spare. Might be able to turn some steel into scrap steel

Pnut

2 hours ago, SinDoc said:

Went down through cinnci and down through Kentucky on I-75.

You drove right past my place then. I'm about a mile from the expressway past where 71/75 splits. Did you see any signs for the Ark Encounter? I'm one exit north of that. Yeah after Covington and Florence it turns into tiny towns and farms. Not much to see. I live on Dixie Highway. 

Pnut

That sounds right. I enjoy weather cool enough to work in short sleeves but need long sleeves to just stand around. 

Pnut

Just about any product is nasty on an industrial level. Vulcan corp was in Clarksville TN. You wouldn't think that just going six hours south would make such a dramatic difference in the summer heat but any day in the summer that was below 95 degrees outside was a cool day believe it or not. The only place I've worked that was hotter was an aluminum casting plant and I was only there until a job opened at the rubber plant.  I'm eagerly awaiting autumn through spring. I don't know when I'll be firing the forge up again. Hopefully the weather breaks soon. I think I'm just a couple hours south of you Sin. I'm outside of Cincinnati so the weather is pretty close to what you've been having. 

Pnut

I can't remember the name of the electrolyte tablets they had placed around the rubber refinery, but I think it was the same brand. I used to take them year round. It was also mandatory to take your breaks in the air conditioned break areas. It was always hot in there. I worked second shift so all the machines and mills were running for at least eight hours by the time I came to work which made it even hotter. 

Pnut

It's been hot for sure in the greater Cincinnati area. We were under a heat advisory the other day and the sun was barely up. The older I get the less I like the humid summer days in the Ohio River valley. 

Pnut

Lovely work. Are all the scrolls hand forged? 

Pnut

I very rarely use self checkout. I feel like every time I do it I'm making a person obsolete. I like to chat with the cashiers too. It's not as fun talking to the self checkout kiosk. 

Pnut

10 hours ago, jlpservicesinc said:

  A good set of hinges won't show any light in the joint.. 

That's where I have the most trouble. I was improving before I hurt my shoulder. I'm hoping I didn't lose the little gains I'd been making. I'll find out soon. I'll be able to light the forges when the heatwave breaks. I'm chomping at the bit. 

Pnut 

Nice hammer. The hinges look excellent. I can't wait to start making scrap again 

I've been back since Sunday night but it's been hotter than a twenty dollar pistol outside so I haven't gone outside unless absolutely necessary. When this heat wave breaks I'll make sure to post a pic of the new forge Turby. 

Pnut