Chris C

Verrrrry nice.  I'm hoping, as my skills increase, to be able to make top tools some day.  Other than knife making, that's my real interest in forging.  I'd be tickled pink to be able to make an eye punch as nice as that one some day.

I'm still in the planning stages on my forge.  I've asked a lot of questions on different forums and have done searches until I'm blue in the face.  (yes, I'd done the off-site site search here)

I'm planning on using soft brick on my square forge.  While I may not ever get to the point of doing forge welding of billets, I don't want to build a forge that's not capable of it.  So I'm thinking of coating the soft brick with refractory material.  Good plan....................or not?

16 hours ago, Mikey98118 said:

Can you; yes. Should you; probably not.

To begin with, which type of burner works best has a lot to do with forge sizes; small diameter forges get their most performance from small high-speed single flame burners. Ribbon burners are most efficient in larger diameter forges than single flame burners. Small diameter forges with ribbon burners are no slam-dunk for design issues--thus far...; that will change by and by, but we're not there yet.

Well, Mikey, I'll defer to your experience.  I just thought it made sense................but hey, I"m a newbie, what do I know!  

5 hours ago, JHCC said:

While you’re waiting to see how this one works, you should definitely make yourself some regular C-shaped tong clips in different sizes. 

Good idea.  I've only one pair of tongs at this point, but I'll do that asap.  Thanks.

Very interesting concept.

I'm missing the ring finger of my left hand.  I hammer right-handed, so have to hold tongs with my left.  At the end of a couple of hours, my left hand starts cramping so bad my fingers try to touch my wrist.  I've been  thinking about some way of locking the tongs so I don't have to maintain the grip.  I'll be interested to see how this works for you.

Very interesting..............thanks for the link.  Stick with Frosty.................he won't lead you astray.

My questions was more about having both type burners installed in one forge at the same time and just connecting the propane via quick connectors as needed.   Lots of newbie questions running around in my old head.  Maybe one burner would be a ribbon and the other a forced air.  I've been reading too much I guess.  Seems a lot of experienced blacksmiths and knife makers have several forges in their shops for different purposes.  I'm just wondering if one forge could house more than one burner to keep from having several different forges.

I'm a newbie.  Been reading everything I can find about forges.  Seems to me that a ribbon burner is great for some things and not others and that the venturi burner is in the same boat, so to speak.   Would it make any sense to install both in the same forge and just hook the propane up to the one most needed at the time?  I've not seen any forges set up that way, so it's probably a crazy idea, but I just had to ask.  I have done searches but only get hits on one burner or the other.

You have received a gift from the gods.  You will love owning such a piece of equipment.  I could use one almost any day of the week and mourn the closing of my machine shop 22 years ago.  So many things you can do with that piece of equipment.  Once you learn how to use it, you will wonder how you ever managed to do the things you do without it.  Congratulations. 

I've heard of so many people talk of just such a "blow" in their life..............that actually turned into the "best thing that ever happened because had it not been for................."  My Dad was the best example I know of.  Long story, but he was let go from BF Goodrich because of a company "turn down".  Went from a measly monthly paycheck to starting his own business and eventually becoming a multi-millionaire.  It took 25 years of hard work, but "had it not been".

Here's hoping it's that good for your wife, JHCC.

10 hours ago, DHarris said:

Chris, I have several pieces of scrap you could probably use to make a hammer. 3 or 4 car axles, two four foot sections of some sort of 2” carbon “mystery steel” round stock, and a very largish piece of mystery steel from the front suspension of a Ford truck. I will post a picture tomorrow. You are welcome to any of it. I even have at least 10-12 jackhammer bits of various thicknesses. Some small enough to hand forge into drifts. Others a bit larger than anyone would find enjoyable to hand forge into anything. 

And you burning yourself last week is nothing. Try putting a dent in the edge of Korney’s anvil when you miss the drift completely. I felt like a turd. He was pretty cool about it though. Your memories of picking up hot steel will fade. Mine will not. I will see the bloody dent every time I walk into his shop. 

 

That hammer head turned out looking pretty darned good.  Needed to get on home, or I'd have personally felt your pain for hitting Korney's anvil with that sledge hammer.  For the life of me, I can't hit the head of a chisel (or anything else for that matter) with a sledge hammer.  Heck, I can't even hit flys with a flyswatter!  I've broken more handles than I can remember while splitting wood over the years.  Finally had to purchase a gas powered log splitter.  Since I will be working alone at home when I start making hammer heads, I'll have to use a press.  I'm sure not going to try and sink drifts and eye hole hammers by myself.  I'd end up in the horse-pital for sure!!!!!  I've plenty of material for punches, and other small hand tools, but would be interested in  a length of that larger "mystery steel" you mentioned.  Next time you feel like gettin' off the couch and coming to Korney's, I'd appreciate it if you'd try and remember to bring it. 

58 minutes ago, DHarris said:

I have only been there a few times, but I have hung around for a few minutes after Korney loaded up my barrels. I’ve only seen a couple of people forging while I have been there. Maybe all the forging happens later in the evening. 

It's a strange group.  Got there at 7 one evening and the place looked like everyone was worn out from being there so long.  Got there at 6 the next week and the place was hoppin'.  Got there at 5 last week and not a forge was burnin' nor anvil bein' rung................and there were only 3 of us working hot metal.  Just never know.  Korney says sometimes folks start gettin' there at 4 and sometimes they don't quit pounding steel to late at night.  Ya jus never know!

I was "surfing" YouTube videos last night and came across one where a fellow was cleaning and restoring an old anvil.  He used a mixture of Bees Wax, Boiled Linseed Oil and Turpentine in equal parts to coat the anvil after all of his paint stripping, etc.  (I think that was the recepe, but it was late and I didn't write it down)  Is anyone familiar with this?  I'm wondering if it would be a good protection for all metal in my shop.  I wiped all my hammer heads down with Boiled Linseed Oil after I cleaned them up and dressed them. 

DHarris and Bill, I look forward to meeting you both.  Not often do I actually get to meet people I talk with on forums. 

Last Thursday there were only 3 of us who were at the equipment.  Think there were 5 or 6 "old-timers", but they were mostly sittin'-n-chewin' the fat.  Tex, the oldest in the group (I think) was busy makin' horseshoe hearts.  The week before he was makin' dinner bells. Interesting old fellow.............hardly ever smiles.  (but you can always see a smile in his eyes)  First night I attended, there were 6 or 7 people at the equipment.  The traffic from the forges to anvils and several power hammers, presses and 2x72 belt grinders was like watching  a busy bee hive.  Boggled a newcomer's mind, to say the least.

pnut..................I intend to keep going to the open forge night....................I'm just not going to forget that even though the metal has been sitting on the floor for 20 minutes and is black, that it's still hotter'n a asphalt road in the middle of the Summer in Oklahoma.

DHarris,

Yup, I'm talkin' about Korney.  That "monster" in the North end of his shop is the biggest power hammer I've ever seen in person.  I asked someone if it's used and they said he's afraid to fire it up for fear he'll crack the concrete floor.  They say he's going to do something about reinforcing the floor before he uses it.  Can't imagine why anyone would need a power hammer that's what, 15' tall and sits on at least a 10' round base!?!?!?!?!?!  Sure did catch my eye the first time I walked into his shop.

I understand if you close that forge off completely, the burner won't "breathe" right.  You'd be check with someone who has that particular forge................I was just puttin' in my two cents worth.

Don't know if this'll be much help to you, James, but there is a forge at the open forge night I attend that has a side door like the Pro Forge, as well as 5"x7" openings on the ends.  Everyone leaves the door closed and uses the open ends to do knife and tool making work.  One loses a LOT of heat when that side door is opened.  Looks mighty convenient, but proves to be might wasteful of heat.

Well, I thought I was a quick study, but learned I wasn't that quick a learner last Thursday night.  Got laughed at a lot.  That's okay, I won't be doing that again.

I got it.  Just  tryin' to be humorous.  Guess I'm not too funny late at night.  No challenge to your pun...............sorry.

WOW!  Are you ever the lucky one.

   Television commercials, Frosty, tele-commercials.

I know this is an older thread................but I, also, am older, so............................................

I keep a gallon of Evaporust on my shelf all the time.  It's great stuff and has never let me down.  I've cleaned up so many "lost and forgotten" rusted items and made them almost new and totally practical again that it's paid for itself many times over.  Love the stuff.  Highly recommend it.  I'd do tele-commercials for them, if they'd hire me.  Did I mention I like Evaorust?   Go buy a gallon.............you'll never regret it.  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

On 3/20/2019 at 2:02 PM, fleur de lis said:

Does anyone here have a formula or recipe for dying maple with a more natural method.

Others have said it........................but please, oh please do not stain wood with that kind of chatoyance.  If you just have to color it, use denatured alcohol based aniline dyes.  I wouldn't do a thing to that piece of wood except put a nice penetrating clear finish on it.  Who needs dye when God does a great job on his own?

Thanks, JHCC, all good advice.  I'll learn............albeit very slowly.  I'm usually a pretty fast learner, but I have to admit I'm embarrassed I burned myself so much last night.  Didn't really "burn"............but a quick pull back and "Ouch" and a couple of other expletives when it would happen.  The guys all got a good laugh out of it.  That's okay, I don't mind adding levity to the evening.

Sorry, I didn't bring the evidence home.  Maybe an honorary membership???

Is it wrong to covet another man's hammer??????