Jason W

Did you just use your body weight to press into that piece? That's fantastic!

With all do respect I would like to keep this idea to myself at the moment. I have a feeling that it may not have been tried yet so I'd like to see if I can perfect it then share it : ) I know I'm asking a lot but only sharing a little information, for that I apologize.

I guess the thickness would be dependant on the piece... It would be decorative but I would only need to press the die into the piece up to 1/2"? 

I was also thinking that I could dip the die into oil to prior to pressing to create a vapour jacket around the die. This may stop it from deforming for just a few seconds longer...

I don't have a press yet so I wouldn't be able to show a picture. What I was thinking of is making a die for a one time use only since each mold would be different and not replicatable. There really would be no point in making something that would withstand multiple uses so using a tool steel would be overkill and not effective for what I'm thinking about. The reason why I was thinking aluminum or brass is that it can be re-melted and poured again into another mold. 

I have a question, I was day dreaming a bit the other day and came up with a bit of a head scratcher. If I were to pour aluminum into a mold for a 1 time use, would it be strong and stable enough to use as a press die for a piece of heated mild steel? Walking through it in my head I think I've come up with the answer, that aluminum would be too soft and I'd need to use something like brass, but I'd like to hear your thoughts. 

Thanks. 

Helped the boy make a book mark for his grade 7 teacher today.

Aaand it was my lack of ability reading instructions. "Out" to the forge not "out" to the propane tanks. I had it on backwards... It's alive! Alive!!! 

Good to know thanks. 

Thanks again I'll give it a go in the morning and see how I make out.

Cheers.

Thanks I'll give that a try and see if that fixes it. 

That didn't seem to work but when I turned the propane off then turned the knob clockwise/counter clockwise on the regulator I hear something internally clicking and the psi gauge increases and decreases so I think I might pull it apart tomorrow and see if something isn't lining up quite right. 

I did send them an email just before I posted this question so they haven't had time to reply to me yet. It's a great forge and I believe it will be very capable when I get this minor issue sorted out. I was hoping someone here may have some knowledge on the subject. 

Has anyone had any experience with a Marshall Excel regulator? I'm having some challenges with mine. I bought a new forge and I'm just setting it up. The regulator has a turn knob that either increases or decreases the psi of the gas but no matter which way I turn the knob the regulator gauge hits the pin past 30psi. I've seen this forge run at 1 psi on youtube and know that 30+ is way too high. FYI it's a Mighty Forge draft pro.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

I don't think you're going to be interested in smithing for a least a month. Unless you wear a welding shield. I got PRK done about 12 years ago before I ever got into smithing but I stare at a computer all day. I think I was off work for 4 days (2 days and a weekend) then went back and had to wear sunglasses inside the office for close to another couple weeks. PRK is way different than lasik so expect longer recovery. And the recovery wasn't uncomfortable, it was the most exquisite pain I have ever experienced. Mind you like a typical Canadian I decided not to take the pain killers they gave me because I don't need xxxxxx pain killers! Dude,TAKE THE PAIN KILLERS!!  Probably would have been way easier. The only thing that helped me find comfort was sitting in the hot shower with the lights off. Seriously, you'll thank me. Not trying to freak you out because I'm super happy I did it, just expect it to be a nasty recovery.

Once they take the contacts out it does start to get better but your eyes are still super sensitive. Dark room with no lights or tv for at least a week after. I'd recommend creating your music playlist now. 

Thanks for the replies guys, I'm not going to risk it for the little free steel that I might get. I'll stick to coil springs, sway bars and tie rods for now. 

Hey all I apologize if this has already been covered but I am curious about strut shaft steel. I mentioned to my mechanic that i'm looking for steel that he's tossing away so he was nice enough to cut the shafts out of some struts for me. My plan is to use them for tools but because they are so polished I'm concerned if they might be chromed and I don't really feel like poisoning myself today... or well, ever...

Does anyone have experience with using strut shafts? Does anyone know what steel is typically used? 

Thanks. 

So I had something kind of odd just happen... Hopefully someone can explain this to me. I live in Canada which believe is relevant for this cicircumstance.

I currently use a 20lb propane tank that you would for a BBQ that is filled by weight, I want to upgrade to a 100lb tank that is filled by pump, like you would fill up at a gas station for a propane powered car. The main reason is cost, the liquid propane pump is WAY cheaper than propane paid for by weight. So I made some calls to local gas fitting companies to find out what to do, where to go, what regulators I need, stems, valves etc. I was finally pointed in the right direction but when I asked about the valve for pump filling the guy put me on hold, came back on the line and flatly told me they don't do that and they can't get me what I'm looking for. His whole demeanor changed, it was really weird! What the heck did I say? 

Does anyone have any insight for a noob?

Thanks. 

Welshj do you have a jig that you use or just eye and practice?

ThomasPowers thanks for the heads up. 

Sharpening - That's what I'll do. At worst it will be a conversation piece and a cool letter opener.

I'll try the dip for longer too. Like I said before, one of the things I want to improve on is the thickness in the centre of the blade. I think that because it is so thick is why the hammon line isn't really prevalent since the core is still covered with mild steel. I could take a grinder to it too I guess but I don't have one of those fancy smancy 2" blade sanders yet.

Ah! Yes, it's been tempered. So I don't need to worry about that now? 

The ferric acid showed up today so I gave it a shot. It didn't turn out how I had hoped so hopefully you guys can give me some suggestions. I did a 3:1 ratio and dipped it a few times for 30 seconds then dipped it in water and cleaned it in between. I've also posted a picture of the spot where I need to improve next time when I'm making the well so the insert fits and welds better.

Unfortunately when I file tested it again is didn't skate so either I heat treat it again or start on the next one. Thoughts?

ThomasPowers that makes a lot of sense I sure wouldn't want spikes snapping either.

Goods I could see carbon migration as being an issue since I took me a few welds to get it set. I didn't really think too much about why we heat the oil other than it can't be a solid mass of course. I was told by one of my instructors a couple years back that the oil should be at 130f for quenching and assumed that if it was hotter than that it wouldn't harden. 

Rashelle I used spring steel from a coil spring I got down at the local 4 wheel mechanic shop. I went in, told him I was an amateur blacksmith and he threw me a couple that he just pulled off a truck he did an upgrade on.

Same way, I tried an oil quench first but I think I heated the oil too much so the file didn't skate. I'm using a gallon of olive oil and heating it with a hot piece of steel from the forge. The xxxx dog keeps drinking the oil so I don't have a gallon anymore but the dog's coat is so shiny! I do cover the oil now : ) I did a water quench the second time and that did it. I'm a hobbiest blacksmith so I don't have all the fancy stuff for knives yet.

Thanks for the heads up with the colours, once I get it sanded and etched I'll put up another picture. I'll definitely do more of these, it was a fun process and I can see lots of different things to improve on. I definitely didn't draw it out enough since the middle of the blade is quite a bit thicker than the spine and the well I made wasn't super clean on the end so there's a small space between the insert and the spike right at the transition from the blade to the handle. 

Wait, you meant after the temper did the file skate. Sorry I misunderstood. I haven't checked that yet but I will. Thanks for the suggestion.

Thanks Steve I'll check that out and thanks Welshj that's a great idea. I was on the way home today from doing errands with the wife wondering how I should set up a dip tube. Your timing is impeccable. 

Daswulf  ya, I had read that spikes were on the lower end, that's why I thought it would be a good test to do a san mai on. That and my neighbour keeps bringing them to me lol. I made him about 20 hooks out of them for his stables and noticed some having the "HC" so I started doing some digging. 

Good morning! So I finished tempering last night in my easy bake and it doesn't look too bad. I tempered at 425f for 2 hours. I'm a little concerned about the blue on the edge since it's pretty thin and really surprised about the straw on the spike. Can I assume the blue edge is from the spring steel insert? Interestingly enough the spike has an "H" on the head so I'm assuming it's high carbon. 

As for the ferric, Amazon is the route I went. It should be delivered before Wednesday and was cheaper than ordering online from Walmart. They wanted 17 dollars plus 16 dollars shipping.

Huh! Good to know. I'm in Langley BC. The Source took over Radio Shack up here years ago so I'll check there. Thanks Welshj.

Thanks Thomas I appreciate that. I'm tempering it now, hopefully it stays in one piece. I don't have a vacuum furnace, just a toaster oven so we'll see what happens there. 

What do you recommend to use as an etchant? I went down to Canadian Tire, Home Depot and Walmart, none of which have Ferric Chloride. They looked at me like I was going to make a batch of meth or something : ). I do have muriatic acid and I grabbed some instant coffee. I'd rather use the coffee but either works. Does one make a more dynamic colour difference than the other?

Yes I did harden it last week : /

Ah well, live and learn