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I Forge Iron

Welshj

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Everything posted by Welshj

  1. I drove home from work today in my old chevy... kept seeing something flapping in the rear window! Got given eight or so 4x10ft sheets of old semi rusty galvanized sheets around .020? thick. Going to use them to line the floor and bottom of the walls in the shed to semi fireproof plywood floors. Just looking to cut down on sparks getting into nooks and burning down the shed. At least then I won't have to forge outside in the winter!
  2. To resurrect another interesting thread... One of many very different jobs I've held over the years, I currently work in a sign shop. We do everything from coraplast yard signs- to full on hand built contour and can letter signs, to stretching and eradicating vinyl awnings. Not a very technical job, but hand forming aluminum in anywhere from .020 to .090 can be... trying. The other day I put over 300 hand drilled, hand installed 1/8" pop rivets in two sets of letter cans alone. Something you might not know is just how difficult and frustrating it can be to wrap a printed non-stretching foil based, perforated vinyl sheet on a simple compound curved- car rear window... Think scotch tape on tin foil that wont stretch- that sticks to everything it touches and wont come off your fingers... applied in a one shot manner... on an egg.
  3. A few attempts at here and there, it's been awhile since I've done it.
  4. I use a forced air burner in my forge- so something I do to help cool things down is leave my blower running on for a bit after shutting down the gas. I've tried it both ways, blower and no blower... and it seems to cool the inside of the forge down in around ten? or so minutes? Around twenty or so without the blower on . The fire brick I use for a floor right now will still be a deep reddish, but the forge itself will be mostly cool.
  5. Kimber ultra carry II in .45 ACP, two extra mags. I unfortunately lost a nice little benchmade pocket knife my niece bought me for christmas... and I have yet to replace it. Working in a sign shop, I use break off disposable razor knives all the time, so it finds itself in place of the bench made. Sigh...
  6. I did this with a mapp gas torch some time back. My stepdaughter battled breast cancer and won. She wanted a door hanger to represent breast cancer awareness. Enter me, and copper sheet. Then, I hand hammered a copper grasshopper logo for family's restaurant. Flame painted that with oxy/act torch and brazing tip. I coated that with lacquer, and promptly killed the colors. I found that water based poly acrylic doesn't kill the colors. I got it in a spray can and started with light coat, dry, light coat as suggested earlier in this thread. Worked well. When you're posting, or posting a reply- theres a box at the bottom just above the submit reply button that says "notify me of replies." It shows up on my phone that way. If you go into your settings under your account- you can modify how you're notified.
  7. That's a picture I wanna see. I've always loved gargoyles... and cant get my wife to let me carve one for the roof of my one story house... you know, like six feet tall, right on the top peak, with spread wings....
  8. That is pretty interesting. Thank you! It was the standard greeting of the day from most of the troops and officers I met on base in the 6 yrs I was there. I got the gist of the basic story behind it, and like most things in the army- generally fell in step with it. Lol. In my years in, I've come to find that many army officers were military history buffs. I learned much from many... the tradition continues.
  9. George- "GARY OWENS!" Have several Cav friends from my ft hood days. I actually got to tour and hang out in 1st the cav horse stables on post with one... beautifully trained animals.
  10. Totally agreeable Glenn. Posting in this thread at all is not even required. The ARMY term is OPSEC. Any of the information I posted is already out there online about me on a couple unit sites. That's my reason for posting it. The only reason I mentioned years is because I've had the honor to meet some wwii vets, I have friends who are gulf war and vietnam vets, family to Korean vets. The history interest me. Thank you Glenn for fixing that for me though as you're correct sir.
  11. I searched, I searched some more... and I could not find a thread like what I have in mind. So, moderators- if it's not frowned upon... I'd love to have a roll call! Mod edit. Name, rank, unit, deployment or years of service is not required. What we would like to see is what branch of service you were in. Keep in mind this is a world wide forum and details are up to you. I've had a few discussions with some military veterans on here already. And as the saying goes, once a marine, always a marine. It, like forging... stays in your blood once there. And as former or current military, we have a tendency to perfect our practice- so I'm curious how it led to blacksmithing. I'm just curious how many worldwide we are here? If you're willing, introduce yourself as such here? Just the basics... xxxx (name not required), rank, unit and years... anything else you're up to sharing. I'll start. SGT Joel Welsh, US Army 88M20 1995-2007 Last duty station was Ft hood TX, 4th Inf Div. I was stationed in germany, hawaii, and texas with three deployments. Hungary/bosnia, and two tours in iraq. Went to Ft knox Ky for basic. Picture is me in 2003 in iraq.
  12. Have had a couple good friends. The first in brown-is my buddy rico... I to this day credit him with saving my life, he would not let me sink into my own worst PTSD after returning from iraq. Goofy and loveable and smart all in one tough little bundle. I lost him in 2015, and still miss him. The little white holy terror I currently have is Stewart little. He's crazy, runs like the wind, and has so far destroyed half the socks I own. Goofy, fierce, and loveable yes... but stubborn.... gah. The blonde was the other lady in my life... blue. She was the only one who actually was my dog... she used to sleep between the wife and I, and push her away with her paws. Lost her in 2016. My wife is Mexican, and loves chihuahuas. I love not having to pick up huge messes in my yard.
  13. Finished cutting my grass today, worked on swapping radios out in the cars as I'm trying to sell one of em- and I love my radio... so im keeping it. Lol... But then- got a little hammer time in on the blade I'm making for an army buddy. The weather hasn't been cooperating lately with cold, rain, etc. First nice day in a week or more. But, it's a military vehicle leaf spring I've been holding onto for 14 years. 3/8 to half inch thick... and its moving slow!
  14. Kind of exactly what I was thinking about- claying. Was wondering how the mild steel would hold up with a coat of clay in comparison to cast like a rivet forge? Or if it holds up un-clayed relatively sacrificially? Secondly, I'm in the planning phase of what William made, as I got some 1/4" mild plate free. I was debating on doubling the floor/bottom of the fire pot to make it 1/2" thick to help combat that. Sorry William- I wasnt even thinking about the surface of the forge... was just thinking of the fire pot. Plan modified- I'm going to plan on extra room in the fire pot for a clay lining.
  15. I'm in the states, so brands of manufacture are different here. I'm not sure of your "advanced" statement... But how I judge mig welders for use: primarily, brand name. Is it a well known company? Do they have a reputation for decent products? How much amperage can it handle? The higher the amperage rating- the better the weld penetration/capabilities. Fine tuning controls- the selector knobs for amperage and wire feed speed... are they a "set selection" meaning you have only certain positions to select? Or are they a variable selector that you can adjust smoothly across the range? Is there only three or four power/amperage choices? Or ten that you can adjust to or even between? This allows you to more competently adjust your weld to the materials you're using. Ergonomic design, or clean lines on the trigger and the stinger head. Cheaper ones tend to be blockish, uncomfortable to hold and use, and hard to get into tight areas. Older spool type guns are notorious for being heavy, and hard to use. Dual capabilities- is it just a flux cored welder- or is there a decent gas connection for the shielding gas? Can you attach a good regulator? Does it come with a good regulator? What can you set it up for? Can you weld aluminum with it as well with the right setup? Portability- there will be a time you need to weld and move it to what needs welding. Are you going to be able to move it easy? Will it fit a good cart? Can you readily organize cables, cords and supplies all together for it on the cart?
  16. I'm still working... a sign business is essential? I'm not complaining... Got my first blade laying in the forge, been hammering here and there as the weather seems to allow. Couple weeks back it gorgeous out, in the 60's. Last week, snow and cold. Still raining and high winds so I haven't even messed with finishing the blade. Been doing a bunch of vinyl work- made a sign for a friend's machine shop, and several decals for my brother. Got a firearm dropped off to re-finish- a desert eagle .50 cal that a friend wants to make look like a nintendo blaster from back in the day. He dropped off an old Nintendo game console from the nineties- that were going to make into a case for the .50. Have an old Steven's 410/22lr combo to tear down and refinish for another brother too... Have none of the energy to do it. Been hand building can signs at work all week- so far I went through 400 pop rivets by hand. Edit- pics not uploading. Sigh....
  17. Buffing wheels- I have removed the guard from my bench grinder for this very reason. When grinding- usually you're working a specific smaller area at a time. Even in the case of a blade- you draw the blade across the stone, but the contact area is still small... just the surface of the wheel. Buffing/polishing you are spreading the force across a larger area. The cloth buffing wheel will compress and spread out across the flat surface of the steel. Instead of removing a certain area at the contact point- you are fine finishing across a surface area. This, and the ability to turn, get into grooves, polish along the length of a blade... makes it easier to do without a guard. Like the others stated, temptation to grind on the side of the stone, unbalancing it, having hard mass... you dont have that with a cloth buffing wheel. They flex, they give and move around in use. This is also where a guard can cause issues catching on a cloth wheel. A decent cloth buffing wheel will come with shaped washers to mount on your grinder shaft with. They're necessary... won't work without them.
  18. I wouldn't say your struggling with fit and finish... more like perfecting your fit and finish. I'm with frosty- I really like the simplicity and clean lines on the paring knife. No fuss, basic and fit for job. But that damascus though....
  19. Jon- welding... Been doing so, both arc and mig welding since I was 18yrs old. Now, 47! Lol.. a few tips? Definately get your power source sorted out. Here in the states we run on a different Hertz cycle I believe... and 110v/220v but normally I'd run on a 20 amp circuit if possible. You run on 220v there correct? Don't run on an extension cord if you can. I know it sounds dumb... but the shorter the electrical cord to the socket, the more amperage increase, less resistance, the better your circuit breaker will like it. I currently have a 110v mig that runs just fine on a 100ft extension cord in my shed. As long as I'm tack welding, or running very short welds. Any longer than an inch or so bead- and I'm blowing a breaker. Move to my garage, off the extension and I can weld all day. Arc welder vs mig- be happy to start with the arc first. Challenge yourself to learn the method, and when you move to mig welding, you'll be so much more the better welder for it. You still have to use the same exact skills in mig welding, to get a good weld and fill. It's not just point and shoot. The only real skill difference is that you dont have to physically compensate for length of the rod burning, the mig automatically feeds it. Later, when you have a mig... you'll understand the differences and limitations of each. And you'll have both machines already to do almost anything you need to. The penetration and fill you get from an 1/8" welding rod- will never completely match a .030 wire in comparison. Apples and oranges... (I've said that backwards- a larger, deeper burn and fill from arc weld than mig weld in one pass.) Theres so much more, but nothing that patience, practice and time cant teach you. Good luck with a new skill!
  20. Being prior military too- that sleep eludes issue rears its ugly head often! I'm fortunate enough to live far enough out that my neighbors put up with me pretty patiently. Lol. One thing I can tell you is the guys here love pictures to clarify/better see what you're doing. Another thing that I forgot to do when building mine was to double the refractory/wool thickness in figuring my build. Started with a 12" dia shell, thinking I'd have a 10" inner diameter with 2" of wool. Ended up with just under an 8" with the refractory cement coating. Just a moment of non-clear thinking in the rush of working.... Good luck brother, and thank you for your oath too.
  21. Welcome raptor! I'm a relative newbie myself. I haven't even made my own tongs yet. You came to the right place- I've already learned alot just by reading... I lurk alot. Lol...
  22. How'd the plate hold up? Thinking of building one similiar with a bunch of 1/4" plate pieces I was given. Worried about the heat on the plate- may double it, and thinking of lining it somehow.
  23. I literally suck at haggling... I lack the social skills to finesse a better transaction. I'm even worse at setting prices on my labor, or work. I own a commercial grade vinyl plotter, and make stickers/artwork and stencils for my custom gun cerakoting. I, because of that reason- only usually do work for friends and family. That way, I dont have to set a price... we usually just work it out. When shopping- I see a price and make my choice. Period.
  24. I checked the dates today. One tank was 12/17, the other was 06/18. I think I got a pretty decent deal then. Filled one today with no problems!
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