AndrewOC

Way cool Wesley. An excellent experiment in living history, thanks for sharing. A.

Corin, sounds great, I can't wait. One gas forge for me and one for Hugh. I'm also interested in the price for the optional extra kit; would make it extra great. Do you have someone to pick up the insulation yet? I could do it this Saturday or maybe Friday arvo. I'll ring you tonight. cheers, AndrewOC

Real neat whirly! Lots of detail there. Andrew.

Waaay Cool! ;)

No power hammers at Menangle/ Campbelltown, YET. (hint, hint, nudge, nudge to those with many). I have hopes for this place; enthusiasm, steam, 415V, and flat belting power is on hand, just a lack of serious money for a shed. So the 13/14th Oct weekend will hand powered, so far as I know. AndrewOC

G'day Lee, do you think you could make it to Menangle on the 13th and 14th this month? A few of us are doing some 'smithin at the Campbelltown Steam & Machinery Museum open 'day'. see; http://www.csmm.com.au/ All are welcome! I'm thinkin of it as a prelude to Get Hammered. AndrewOC

Over here we could pay $425 for the 'die' steel by itself. Sounds like a good thing. A.

check out; http://www.buau.com.au/english/b_2488.htm includes bar weights temp colours hardness conversions alloying elements/ effects I also had a look for a beaut wall chart i got off Bohler a few years ago, but just came up with this; http://www.buau.com.au/english/files/AL006-BEG_Survey_of_Grades.pdf specific grades have individual files on the Bohler web site eg for 4140; http://www.buau.com.au/english/files/4140.pdf general T.T.T. graphs are also found in metallurgy text books. tell us how you go, it is a fascinating subject. A.

Welcome Gibbo and Rod, Sure ta find some good stuff here. Definitely others around Townsville and all over Sydney. Gibbo, have you heard of the Campbelltown Steam and Machinery museum? They are having an open 'day' on the 13th and 14th of October, I intend to be involved with the blacksmithing area which has just started out. see; http://www.csmm.com.au/ cheers, AndrewOC

Peter, I replied in 'Oz roll call' first; # 326. A. PS Jondarin museum, Ipswich Railway museum and Timbertown (outside Wauchope) are worth a visit if you like museum things.

Another bit of info for the Rapid blower file; gear case contains two 88 tooth gears and two 14 tooth gears. One of mine is exactly the same as mat's- 'B' model with the vertically split case. I have another that has a 'cap' screwed on as the top half of the gear case and the bottom half is part of the main body. Makes a better oil bath, but i imagine would have been trickier to produce- requires a core to cast. AndrewOC

Welcome to Oz, Peter. Post on iForge when you stop by at anew location, we have friends around Townsville, Brisbane, North Coast NSW, Newcastle region (and inland of there). If you get to Sydney, i could suggest a few visits. Mid September I'm probably doing something at a market in Menai, mid October is the Campbelltown Steam and Machinery museum's open day, end Oct there is a do on near Braidwood... on and on it goes! Then there is surely woodie stuff which i know little about. enjoy, AndrewOC

Remembered to write down the dimensions inside the tub today; 610mm x 750mm x 660mm deep. By using the ever helpful Mass 3j calculator, the weight in water would be ~300kg or 665lbs. Add the plate; (+150kg), 450kg or (+331lb) 996lb. coool! Should be able to tweak crow bars in the vice without pulling it over now. a.

Ah, another great idea! Handy, because the background of photo is Sydney Harbour- home of our tasty prawns and 'Balmain Bugs'. A.

Welcome Andrew! Ya could consider the iForge site a tool of the trade cos there is so much useful information on it. Have a look here for the other SA forum-ites, the workshop at the museum looks great. enjoy, AndrewOC.

Yeah, quenching, puttin out fires... plus the extra uses above. Could be a new challenge thread; see how many 'unusual' uses can be thought of for slack tubs. Not for knife making specifically, we do industrial/ toolmaking bis and pieces at the sydney heritage fleet, but the tank is meant to be adaptable. a.

G'day again, have ya visited Illawarra light railway museum? I reckon it is ripe for an in-house smithy, they do have in their aims; "To educate the public in the mechanics, manufacture and operation of steam engines and other mechanical devices used for light railway operations and industry." see http://www.ilrms.com.au/index.htm AND they do have a nice looking Massey steam hammer hanging about... enjoy, A.

Thomas, definitely next on the drawing board. I'm thinking a pair of flip over lids in 1/8" steel or maybe the 3/4" ply i can lay my hands on. I'm a bit stuck for the sieve bottom though how fine is a good size? Don't have any material already. Thinking of a shelf and strainer bucket hanging over the side. Sam and Iron, thats' the coolest idea! I had only thought using the tank as a blacksmiths' hot tub- ya know, heat up a 5" ball and drop it in... A.

Have finally got this tank and stand to a stage where it will hold water... and is worth showing. Vice is a 6". Plate for tank is weathered 3/8" hull plate circa 1927. Has sleds to allow pallet jack to easily move around. There is a chrome tap (american-speak=faucet?) for filling bucket or watering can. Drain cock on lower corner. Overflow point at top with hose fitting to lead water away. enjoy, Andrew O.

Yep, well spotted Bruce, thanks for the pics. If anyone ever has the cushion cylinder apart on one, i'm sure we would all like to know details of the ports and piston... A.

Pug-man, a pair of the first 'A' type frames that u showed us pictures of would handle whatever long pieces u have. It does take up more floor space though... a.

3 why wasn't i invited?!! ;) a.

They have also been used as stock for lathe faceplates and chuck backing plates. Have been complaints of it being tough to machine material, but we clever blacksmith types anneal our mystery materials before machining... A.

Cracking good day, if i may say so myself. About 30 turned up (too busy to count...), two furnaces, 9 anvils, 2 big forges, 1 small. Thanks especially to Jim, Phil and Moony from the forum, great help from the TTTG guys as well. I hope everyone enjoyed themselves, thanks for coming. No photos from me (sorry.. too busy!) A.