pnut

Here's a picture of where I forge behind my Apt building. Total cost $0.00. I scrounged everything or got it for free. This was in the beginning. It's grown and evolved over the last several months. It is about to be changed considerably. I'm going to build a different jabot out of a SS prep table I got for free from a restaurant. I don't think the night stand forge will make it through the winter. It's been in the weather for about nine months and it's showing it's age. Pnut

It makes pretty good sense to me. I'm surprised there wasn't an anvil. You're likely to find anything in a prop warehouse. A lot of props are poor replicas but not always. It's their job to collect as wide and varied an array of objects as possible. I used to have a friend who had a prop business in North Hollywood. I never knew what I might see when I'd stop by. It was one of my favorite places to visit. I sold quite a bit to him also. Good find. Any time a prop business is selling it's inventory it's worth a look. Pnut

It would have killed me holding that posture off and on for three hours. It does look incredibly crowded in there. Good work under adverse conditions is a mark of real expertise. Pnut

Was the anvil uncomfortable to work at? Pnut

Try standing it up in about 3/8 or 1/2 inch of BLO with the wedged end submerged until the end of the handle won't absorb any more oil. It might take a couple of days. Pnut

That's what's insidious about some respiratory dangers is they're cumulative and may not produce symptoms for years. I spent a few years on the compound line at a rubber refinery and didn't always wear proper ppe. Three years of pouring Hi-Sil into batches of rubber I'm sure I caused some damage to my lungs. I knew the dangers and chose to take off the respirator due to the extreme heat on the line but I wonder how much damage I actually caused to myself. Pnut

Anthracite isn't bad after you get used to it. If it's cheap enough I'd give it a go. I'd go with the rice or nut size though. I'd like to give the dust a try. It might turn out to work great but I'm just guessing and am aggravatingly optimistic sometimes. I have a suspicion it may burn hotter than the nut size chunks. Pnut

I know it's been identified but I would try using it for tenons. I'm not sure how well it would work but I would like to try it. Pnut

You definitely got a deal. I don't have anywhere to put one anyway. My forge is in a little patch of woods that's owned by the landlord of the apartment I live in. Every one here has as much access to it as I do. Pnut

I'm glad you got some relief. It's very true the powers that be do not make it easy. They almost try to stymie you at every turn. Giving you the wrong forms, losing paperwork, and just making the process seem like it's shrouded in mystery and not transparent whatsoever. I'm glad you got an extension. I bought a house at 18 and paid for it in full. The neighbors were jealous the town didn't want no longhairs living there and made my life miserable until I finally got so sick of it I sold it at a small loss and moved across the country. I'm glad you got an extension Pnut

You lucky dog. I seen one in Mt orab for 65$ but it was only four inches. They claimed it was in good shape but who knows. It's a bit out of my driving range for a while. Pnut

Your not the only one. I feel off a roof when I was about 16 or 17 two and a half stories and landed on cobblestone on my rear end. I broke my tail bone and compressed some vertabrae. 10-50 feet makes my palms sweat but after I get higher I'm fine. Rappelling doesn't bother me till it's almost over. Same with skydiving, and small aircraft, rock climbing or whatever. Ladder height is what gets me nervous and makes my mouth go dry and palms sweat. Pnut

Nice job. One of the most important things is does it feel good in the users hand? Nothing better than a knife that just feels good like it's supposed to be in your hand. I hope your former employer does well with it. Pnut

You can also look up BP0238 simple sideblast 55 forge. It's located in the100 series blueprints. Pnut

The link in the post above by Buzzkill is the one I was referring to. The sideblast 55 in that thread looks nearly identical to what you have already. Your forge is only missing a notch for the pipe for the air supply to come in the side. You nearly have a working forge. Good luck pnut

It could be used as an anvil. Mount it up and hit some hot steel on it. It's pretty interesting. As to what it's original purpose I'd only be guessing so I think I'll wait a bit before I take a stab at it. Pnut

Are you planning on a production run for an entire house or something even larger maybe? For one or two I'd just use a hammer and chisel and clean up the edges with a file or grinder. Pnut

Hopefully there will be lots of pics of the workers at task and the facilities. I agree the people's stories are fascinating and help a person get a more complete sense of the history behind the company, because after all a company is it's people. Can't wait hopefully I'll not have to wait till work picks back up to get it. Pnut

It looks like a nearly finished sideblast 55 forge. Check out the 55 forge thread and go from there. If you prefer a bottom blast it covers that too. Pnut

I'll be looking forward to reading it. Spring 2020 is right around the corner. Pnut

I have been following along since the beginning of the thread and am impressed by the progress that's been made. I'm not planning on building a burner/gas forge any time too soon I have started collecting materials for when I do decide to go ahead and take the plunge. It's been fascinating watching the evolution from the beginning and all who have contributed my hat's off to you. Good work and I can't wait to see where it goes from here. Pnut

njanvilman, She's a beaut. Isn't new old stock great? JLP, yet another great find. I get the feeling it was used to produce a few specific things, or the smith who used to own it liked working in just a few spots. I'm glad you got another anvil for the teaching center. I hope your students realize the time, effort, and forethought you've invested in making your vision come to life. I hope to attend one day but who can say what the future holds? Pnut

Let me start by saying I don't have a ton of experience I just didn't want to see you use a hot work steel for cold work. H-13 is more valuable in situations where the tools will heat up but it won't lose its hardness, H-13 would definitely work I would save it for hot work though.With that being said, 5160, 4140, 1045 up to 1095 there's many good option. I would bend it hot in the forge and heat treat per requirement for the specific alloy you choose and then draw a temper back to a dark straw or maybe just a bit farther. There's many more experienced members here that can expand on or correct anything I've overlooked. I have a cold chisel made from H-13 and while it does work I'm afraid it may chip so I don't use it much. I hope I've been of some assistance. Pnut

Are you actually going to make a blade or is it just an example? H-13 is alloyed for use in situations where it will be getting hot, up to red hot and will retain it's hardness. If you have a bunch of it laying around I wouldn't see it as a problem but it's more suited for hot work tools like punches and drifts, but if you're just using "blade" as an example then the previous posts have answered your question. I did notice the quotes around blade that is why I'm asking. Good luck and remember it's supposed to be fun. Pnut

You just have to be able to keep the animals pace above a walk. I've read accounts of San Bushmen in Africa keeping up the chase for 8-10 hours before the animal collapsed. Pnut