beatamax

I used that pattern to produce this for our lass last valentines

I'm a backyard smith in Leeds.

You could look at this, there are a few academics mentioned that might be worth looking up. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSHztk9Bw_I These clips shows the process and the use of the ash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwQqtf86qOc

I wasn't suggesting anything other than not to dismiss things out of hand just because you haven't heard of it before, especially if you put someone down in the process. I dont care what you use for flux obviously the easiest and cheapest available is the way to go. "Flux is any compound used to prevent oxidation of the welding surface and aid in removing impurities" (http://www.appaltree.net/aba/terms.htm). From the pdf I linked to "This step dramatically reduces the oxidisation and decarburization of the metal during heating" so what else was the straw ash doing other than being a flux. Perhaps you should tell the Japanese that they cant make swords because they dont use use 20 mule team borax. Expand your minds dont just dismiss out of hand what you dont know, reading 20 odd books doesn't come close to making you an expert especially as you didn't read the swordmaking pdf correctly, the obvious conclusion is that you didn't read the right twenty books to find out that you can use straw as a flux, or is nothing else a fact unless its been in one of the twenty books you've read. Its not my article the two links were found after 30seconds of googling because I remembered reading that straw ash was used in the traditional production of Japanese Swords.

Coals a pain you have to faff about with it i'd stick with coke. I either use paper and kindling or firelighters if I have them. The last lot I bought came from a different supplier, they didn't have what I normally buy so I got a couple of sacks with the smallest lumps. They turned out to be mix of normal coke and what looks like small lumps made up of little round balls of coke. I've no idea what they are but once the reformed lumps are lit they wont go out, so I have to try and rake all the unlit coke to one side of my forge and the lit stuff in the fire pot to the other.

Actually Japanese swordsmiths use rice straw ash both in the manufacture of the steel to make swords and while forging. Perhaps you should take your own advice before you put someone down. Start here http://www.forging.o...paneseSword.pdf http://www.facebook....es/124863797394

I agree, looks good to me.

Your still going to have to learn blacksmithing techniques but you might find it easier to make a knife from a piece of coil spring rather than leaf spring but to be honest i'd bash a few bits of mild steel about first to see what happpens to it.

Ever since I read about thermite i've wondered wether it could be used to cut steel plate from stencils. Having made and used thermite do you think it would work or is the reaction too uncontrolled.

Have a look here this is the easy modern way http://www.twinoaksforge.com/BLADSMITHING/MAKING%20CHARCOAL.htm

On Peat Oberons beginners course your forge welding on the first morning

It should be ok for a rigid frame,there's more metal in it than a single tube. Once its all bent and welded up I am either going to braize the tubes together or tig weld them where it cant be seen. Plus i'm using a Honda 650 engine not a Harley so there shouldn't be to much vibration, it'll also be well braced.

A while ago I made a twisted round bar sissy bar for the chopper i'm building. I had bought an unfinished project that turned out to be scrap due to the worst welding i've seen. So with the sissy bar for inspiration I have twisted three lengths of 0.5" od 3/8" id tube together its ended up at roughly an inch in diameter. This was a test as everyone I spoke to thought it wouldn't be possible, i'm going to do two more lengths twisted in opposite directions. There going to be used for a double down tubed rigid frame with a 60mm od top tube

Never heard of rust rings before. I got a sliver in my eye while using an angle grinder and like a lot of others that have posted I had goggles on, which has to make me wonder about there effectivness. I use a full face mask now.