pnut

Yes indeed, nothing like an expanding vapour explosion to ruin an afternoon. Be careful. Also not pre heating the stock can cause it to do some other weird things. Pnut

I don't fire the clay when I'm finished. I just put it back in the refrigerator. Clay moves just like hot steel it just doesn't take as much force to deform it. I make it about the same size as the stock I'll be starting with and use a cross pien hammer I have that's about a pound or so and do exactly what I want to do to the metal to the clay. I just don't use as much force. I like putting the clay in the freezer or refrigerator to make it a little more stiff but I do the exact same processes to the clay as I would at the forge. It's also a good way to practice when you can't get out to the forge. I use a piece of 6x6 wood for an anvil and a little hammer. I learned a lot more than if I'd have only been able to practice at the forge. Pnut

Welcome aboard, like IDF&C said pretty much everything you need to know is in the jabod threads. The info is kinda spread out over a couple threads. Look for the threads posted by Charles R Stevens. Many of the other ones are look at my jabod threads and not really helpful in building one. Remember they're not blueprints or instructions but more of a roadmap to get you going in the right direction. They take a little fiddling with especially the first one you build to get working as efficiently as possible. If you have any specific questions don't hesitate to ask. Good luck and remember it's supposed to be fun. Pnut

So sorry IDF&C, and JHCC. It seems like a cruel trick of nature to give a being that you can love and loves you back such a short lifespan. Give the little guy a few extra rubs for me and take care of each other. Pnut

There's a lot of threads asking what kind of hammer is this punch in the hammer section. Pnut

The Fibonacci sequence is also something worth looking into in regards to natural forms incorporated into design elements. Pnut

It should stay put. If it's welded it's a little more difficult to change or modify if needed. I wouldn't weld it but that's just my opinion. Pnut

For smaller items I like to make a to scale drawing on graph paper of the finished project, then I work out order of operations in clay and when I feel like I've got a good grip on it I head to the forge and put theory into practice. Pnut

I love sloyd knives, and the sloyd philosophy. You can't beat a scorp(hook) knife for carving spoons,bowls,and cups. I think a hook knife is called a kuksa also. Pnut

They don't call em tombstone welders for nothing Pnut

Chris, a simple bar might work and be a little more versatile. Sort of like a towel rack curved to match the stump. Pnut

I was just informed that my fair city is under a temporary burn ban. So it's going to be a little longer than expected until I can try out the header made from a spike. Maybe next weekend. Pnut

Have you worked on it yet? It might jump out of the recess if you're working hard. It is a very nice looking stand. Iirc you are a wood working instructor aren't you? It shows if so. Pnut

JLPSERVICES,the more I look at your hatchet the more impressive I realize it is. Just noticed the bevels on the outside of the tool that will be facing away from the wood. I aspire to be as accomplished one day as this example shows you are. Kudos. Pnut

Thanks. I once seen a kid when I was a cub scout using a carving hatchet handled for a left handed person right handed. He couldn't figure out why it wasn't working as good for him as it was for the guy showing us how to make chairs. He is now in state government. Pnut The man showing us how to make the chairs was Chester Cornett and a helper whose name I don't remember. He lived in Cincinnati but knew my stepdad from the mountains. Anyone interested in chairmaking should look into him. He was an amazing craftsman and a unique person.

Try using a stick of sidewalk chalk and coloring over it like making a rubbing without the paper. Powdered sugar might work, but I haven't tried it before. Pnut

I would wager that 1150 fpm rating is the machine running under no load. Probably no belt even. Pnut

Top shelf as always, wouldn't expect anything less from you. Did you handle it lefty or righty? Pnut

How many amps is it? Pnut

If you cover it with a dusting of talc or chalk it may be easier to see. Pnut

I watched a video on here somewhere of a production run of bottle openers being made using a hydraulic press. It was pretty cool. If I get a minute I'll try to look it up. Pnut

Yes it does. A good Dutch oven and the options are nearly endless. Pnut

Roman archeological sites are spread over a wide area. I should have narrowed it down a little. I was actually thinking of the British isles but it was a long time ago when I read the article. Pnut

I read the same thing. He wasn't from where he was found. They speculated he was traveling from village to village plying his trade. Pnut