Chris C

9 hours ago, Glenn said:

Chris, please review the "Turbo Encabulator" video.  Once you understand how the "Turbo Encabulator" works, IForgeIron going sideways starts to make sense. A few puns and some unrelated material, and you have a thread. 

Got it, Glenn, thanks.  That clears up everything.

10 hours ago, ThomasPowers said:

Frosty, having more extensively stirred the grey pudding than even I have; I expect *you* to get my jokes even before I make them....I expect Charles to read them in such a way that they have him rolling on the floor and Slag to be sending anonymous tips to the Feds about me...

Aye-aye Sir.

And all that has what to do with my just ordering my materials?  Maybe I should go pour a drink!!!

Got it.  I understand.  I sometimes have to substitute when I can't find the proper tool.

I know I haven't had anything to drink, Thomas, but I still don't have the slightest idea what you are talking about.

I'm no attorney, Steve, but I used to own a plastic manufacturing plant.  We were making a line of catering products for a company.  They had registered their name and done everything prim and proper.  We had been making the products for them for about a year and a half when they received a "Cease and desist" letter over their choice of name from an attorney, along with a threat to bring suit if they didn't.  His attorney told him the Cease and Desist letter was more than likely a bluff................but if he refused it could be VERY expensive.  There was no discussion.  He ordered us to re-tool and change the name immediately.  If I were in your shoes, I'd spend a little money to protect my forges name.  Hiring an attorney to write a letter doesn't cost a lot of bucks.  Losing your name and reputation will cost a whole lot of bucks.  I'd bite the bullet and do it.

pnut, I don't have a whole lot of experience brushing scale off hot metal, but the few times I've pickup up that kind of brush to do it, I found it pretty lacking in it's ability to move much at all.  Just my opinion..........uneducated, I might add.

Sorry, Thomas, that was over my head.

Well, I sent a money order off today for all the "stuffin's" for my gas forge.  That's the first concrete step towards joining in on all the fun.  The commitment has been made.............now lets see what kind of a forge I can build.

Way  too scientific for my feeble old brain.  Let me just just sneak in here  and say this..............as a wood carving instructor, the very last grit after sharpening is 3 levels of leather strop abrasives, last of which is aluminum oxide.............   .5 micron.

Same concept............different manufacturer.  Designed to work against a resistance, which will allow it to be throttled back with a gate valve.

I bought a Bouncy Castle blower.  Little over 1/2hp.  Only $71.  Sure beats 200 bucks.  Way more air than is needed.

That's absolutely beautiful. David.

Well said, Frosty.

Alas...................everyone has their own definitions of everything.

I love Northern NM and Southwestern CO.  Beautiful country.............it's where my heart lives.  Just can't afford for my body to join it!

  Good point.

Don't blame you for leaving.  I've been here all my life (with the exception of "free room and board" for 4 years with the military) and have wished only to leave.  I'm a "mountains" kind of guy.  Spent 27 years as a professional photographer, backpacking to do my work.  99% of it in NM, CO, WY, and MT.  Only thing keeping me in Oklahoma is all the "anchors" that would make it too hard/costly to make the move..................plus the fact I'm gettin' too old to shovel the amount of snow I could 50 years ago!

Well, Thomas, I for one am glad he's back.  He always gives me solid advice.................not that others don't, but he most always puts it in a way my feeble brain understands.

Thanks for the advice.  Can't really "listen to the fire" because I'm practically deaf from flightline work in the military and industrial work at my family's plastic manufacturing plant.   For some reason (and I know I'm going to get pounded for this) coal/charcoal just turns me off.  I know it's traditional, but it's just not something I'm at all interested in.  The only "fancy" thing I'm working towards is a good propane forge because I can hook it up to a PID for consistent temperatures.  Everything else is just garage sale finds and Harbor Freight Engineer's Hammer kind of stuff.  

1 hour ago, Frosty said:

Chris: How are you holding up in the storms? 

 

Well hi there, Mr. Frosty.  We've missed you this past week.  Ran off to have a face lift???

The tornado that went through Norman, OK headed right at our house at 4am.................lifted off the ground 1/4 mile from our house (because we were praying) and landed 1/4 mile beyond our house.  We were in the storm shelter in our garage floor.  The only damage at our place was a few limb tips laying on the ground the next morning.  Oklahoma has been suffering  extensive flooding and water rescues are up drastically.  At our house, all is well.  I just keep my head down and keep working on knife making projects.  But thanks for asking.

Also, thanks for the comments on uncoiling garage door springs.  Looks like one or two would make for a good source for blacksmithing projects for me to practice on.

Thanks, guys.  This newbie is all ears. (eyes)  Learning lots.

20 feet?  Wow.  Never thought about how long one might be.

Good idea on the "thank you" gift.  I was thinkin' steak flippers made from rebar.

Good suggestion Thomas.

Thanks, John.  Just got off the phone with a garage door repair shop.  They said they just toss the old springs into a recycling bin.  The person who answered the phone said she'd e-mail the party responsible for that and have him get in touch with me.  I don't know how long a typical unwound garage door spring is, but I imagine it would be useful for a lot of projects, saving me the cost of practice materials.