Paul TIKI

Heavens no!  I'm kind of a dinosaur, I prefer manual Transmissions in most cases.  The exception is the van.  That thing is waaaay too comfy on road trips and the automatic contributes 

Gewoon IK yes, it's a manual.  It's seems so uncommon to come across those anymore.  I wasn't even aware that trucks still had Manual transmissions anymore.  I look foward to seeing how much better mileage it will get compared to my last truck.

Anyone want a wrecked Silverado?

Dave 51B... three on the tree?  That's something I haven't heard in a long while.  even longer since my last attempt to drive one.  I was the new guy on a used car lot and they told me to move an old dodge truck around to the back.  That poor truck's clutch when I got done...

I just recently found a place nearby that fills tanks.  the downside for me is they operate on farmers hours and are only open till noon on Saturdays, so If I run out in the evening, I'm out of luck.

I'm thinking about getting a backup tank, but it hasn't really inconvenienced me too much so far.  Last time the tank ran out I was tired and it happened at a good stopping point.

I have been hearing ads lately for a service called Cinch or cynch or some such that does tank exchange deliveries to your door on kind of a subscription basis.  They don't serve my area but may be something for other folks around here

M.J.Lampert It's a 1500 2wd short bed with a v6 and a Gen Z Anti Theft Device, I mean Standard Transmission, which surprised the heck out of me.  A very pleasant surprise.  Stereo's out.  Heater is iffy, and it needs a throttle position sensor, a whopping 18 dollar part.  I also want to put a deer strainer on the front and get a camper shell for the back.  along with an actual towing receiver on the back.  Right now it just has a ball on the bumper, and I never did trust those.

Well this followed me home last night. Sure it's twenty years old, but it will definitely help move stuff around.

I had a busy day.  Reorganized the shop area, added some pavers, strung a tarp over the top, and re levelled the anvil at the correct height. Then I started to try some tent stakes out of some cheap rebar.  I need them to re set some landscaping border since the old stakes pulled out over the winter and let the border plastic flop about this past winter.  Also re seeded the lawn and planted some watermelon and pumpkins.   Anyway the first tent stakes looks like I wanted.  The other two I got started but I got too tired to complete.  Turns out I'm more than a little out of shape.  Also, the new propane forge heats fast enough that my shoulder didn't rest enough between bouts of hammering.  Also finished cleaning out the two empty grills to use as a place to keep tools dry, the forge dry, and work in process dry.

So I'm not entirely certain where this belongs.  It maybe should be here, or in the Prayer List, or something.

This isn't a typical happy post.

We have to admit that we can no longer keep one of our dogs with us anymore.  I guess I should explain why.  McFadden came to us a few years ago.  We were volunteering at the local Humane Society.  He was brought in with a group of dogs where the previous owner had passed and her husband couldn't manage the dogs.  McFadden is around 110 lbs, so he's kind of hard to match up properly with a good home.  We took him home to foster since we have dogs and cats, and then after a few months we went ahead and just adopted him outright.  He seemed to adjust pretty well to our chaotic household.  The problem started a while later.  He would sometimes kind of snap at things that startled him awake.  It was always when he was asleep and then surprised awake.  There were a couple of close calls.  One day, one of the cats, who likes to cuddle up with big warm dogs got too close and McFadden Snapped and grabbed the cat by the head.  He must have sensed what he was doing because he didn't bite down hard, but Freddy the cat got a puncture wound and some swelling around his eye.

Just about a week and a half ago, though, we had a tragedy.  My wife's favorite cat Guy must have gotten too close.  I found Guy, and the most likely scenario is that Guy startled McFadden and that Snap response got him.  I don't know absolutely for sure, because I didn't see it happen.  Guy was very sweet, and he has cuddled up with all of our dogs we've had over the years.  I even have pictures of Guy and McFadden together.  The whole thing doesn't really make sense, except for the possibility that Guy startled McFadden, and that big dog jaws ....

So we no longer really trust McFadden.  But, I can't just give him to the nearest shelter.  They might try to find a place for him, but a dog that size, with his history, would likely end up being euthanized.  As angry as my wife is, because of that sliver of uncertainty, neither of us want that.  I have been calling around to various animal rescue organizations but the closer ones, well, there is no room in the inn, so to speak.  So I'm widening the search, and I hope that maybe I can find a home this way.

To the more Positive side.  McFadden would be a wonderful shop dog.  He is a Black Lab/(possibly) Newfoundland cross.  He likes people.  He seems to have a bias towards women.  He's ok around the noise of me forging.  when I first started he would watch me and come beg a charcoal lump off of me when I would be adding more to the forge.  The noise of the hammer hitting the anvil doesn't bother him.  The noise of the new propane forge doesn't seem to bother him either.  He doesn't bark at nothing, like another one of our dogs.  His voice does carry though.  He takes the whole protection thing seriously.  I have observed that when he sees another dog, especially while on a walk, he will try to get between me and the stranger danger.  He would probably be best in a home with adults, No small children, no small cats.  Other dogs he seems to be fine with after an introduction period.  We have two other dogs that are about 70 lbs each, and they never had a problem.  The home he first came to the shelter from had 5 dogs, three little ones and another big dog like him.  the more room to run, the better.  He is house trained and he usually sleeps in his crate at night.

So I'd like to know if anyone here may have room for him, or may know someone who has room for him.  I don't know if I could make it all the way up to Alaska, or fly him to Europe, but I'm willing to drive a long way to meet someone who can give him a good home.  I live pretty close to the geographical center of the continental US, so...  Any ideas would be welcome.  I'm going to gradually widen the search for rescue programs that might take him, but a home run would be good people like we get on this site.  I should add he's current on shots, he has been neutered, and he is microchipped.

Here are some pictures

Nice work Ohio Rusty.  About how big are the fire steels.  I'm just getting back into the swing and those look like just st the thing

Shucks, I hit send when I didn't finish what I was trying to type.  Got a new forge, and been out for a year, so I'm thinking my technique is shaky.  I also just moved everything around in the forge.  I need to be more methodical with the regulator.  The knob feels sloppy and it's the kind that you have to turn three full rotations to open all the way. With no guage it's hard to tell how much pressure I've got.  I also need to pay attention when fiddling with the choke.  I want to have a tank lasta while and not waste heat.  

I do notice that it heats way faster and steel stays hot longer than I'm used to.  And I'm moving it faster with a lighter hammer.  I'm not as controlled with my heavier hammer, but that'll come with practice I suspect 

Well, I don't think the steel 

I have them on the back. I only have the soft thick ones to create a front door.  I'm also learning to control the heat and fuel use.  Three approx two hour sessions, and it started stuttering a bit.  This particular model came with a high flow regulator but no pressure dial, so I don't have a means to consistently monitor what I'm doing.  I'm having too much fun with it though.  

So I completely reorganized the shop area today.  I have a good wind block on two sides.  And spots to spread a tarp over the top in case of rain.  I then lit the forge and and was trying to get back to making leaf key chains.  What sucks is I broke two of them at the stem before I quit for the night 

Thanks George!  I'm kinda looking forward to being the grumpy old guy with a heart of gold.  However, I will not be yelling "get off my lawn", as it would be hard to make my lawn worse than it is under the careful care of my brown thumb.  

Thomas, it's good to see you posting again.  I'm praying for you sir. 

Get better soon Frosty.  I'm just getting back to the site after being away and I hated to come across this.  Prayers going up for you and positive vibes going in a generally northwesterly direction to help with a speedy recovery 

Hello all, 

I've been away for a while, thanks to a series of unfortunate events. I'm surprised it's been more than a year, and I haven't been on the site.  I haven't been at the forge in that time.  The charcoal fire was aggravating my wife's asthma, I had a severe couple of bouts with a pinched nerve, A couple of coronary arteries needed stents.  On the positive side I also got another grandson to spoil, more responsibilities at work along with a substantial raise, plus a whole raft of benefits.  

Anyway, my Wonderful wife bought me a propane forge for Christmas and I can get back to heating and hitting hot metal.  I feel like I'm back at square one though.  

I've missed you guys though, and I look forward to bugging you curmudgeons soon 

pnut That same heatwave is killing me as well.  we might get below 100 today, but not by much.  It looks so inviting to go forge from inside, but then you open the door...

Nice find there!  I have been coveting band saws lately.  It's on my "Save cash for one later" list up near the top, right after a better anvil.

I now live in mortal fear of my table saw and angle grinder.  

kinda makes me glad I don't have more power tools.

OK, yeah, it's a serious respect thing for me.  one second of inattention is all it takes to have a really bad day.  If you behave like your power tools can and will try to kill you you will hopefully never have that one second.  We had a lady where I worked ages ago get her hand caught in the die of 20 ton steel press when she knelt down to pick something up, and didn't take her foot off the pedal.  there wasn't enough of her hand to reattach.

So just remember kids, your tools are actively trying to murder you, take necessary precautions.

Super Excited now.  I FINALLY got to light the redesigned forge and it mad an enormous difference.  Lots more heat, easier to get to the sweet spot, and a bigger fireball means I can heat bigger and odder shapes.  

New tongs worked really well.  It held the steel well and kept it from turning or rolling.  It took a bit to get them adjusted right.  Then I used them to take half of a 12 inch nail and I turned out an ugly, but much thinner leaf than I ever have before, and in less time and fewer heats.  I think I have about 90 more leaves to go to meet my goal of 100 leaves.

Thanks Dax.  I tend to be the same way.  Once I get them straightened out a bit they should work pretty well.  I have high hopes for the forge redesign as well.  The dang weather is being contrary and I may not get to try it for another week though.  It's making me crazy

Well, after a few months out of the forging world thanks to a pinched nerve in my neck (and work and extreme heat and rain)  I have finally been able to do a few things around the forge.  I redesigned the forge to be a bottom blast rather than a side blast.  I used the top of a 55 gallon drum and a section of handrail from an old dead treadmill.  I cut some channels into the handrail and peeled them out  so I could have some tabs to bolt to the oil drum lid.  Once attached, I drilled some holes through to allow the air.  Folded the lid to fit inside the grill body.  made the fire pit with bricks and filled the remaining gaps with sand.  Was Losing the light so I haven't lit it yet to test it, but I have high hopes.

I also drilled out the holes I drifted in my tongs project and dropped a bolt through  they need tuning and aligning.  they are also UGLY, but they ought to hold things nicely.

Well, after a brief visit to Albuquerque and then the Sangre de Cristo mountains for a family reunion and memorial for my  parents, aunt, and uncle, I had some pictures follow me home.  I hope they aren't too big

Very Nice DHarris.  I'd love to have one but I hate pulling a trailer.  

I had an opportunity when I was 15 to buy a '70 Nova with a 350 for $500.  I passed, but now I really wished I hadn't.  We also had a neighbor with a 67 Chevelle SS he was selling for $1500.  Missed that one too, dang it