keithgartner

Frosty, my best thoughts and prayers are with you. This is just a set back to be overcome. I look forward to your posts and replies, going to anything with your name on it first. Your wit and humor is surpassed only by your knowledge and guidance. Come back to us quickly.
Sincerely,
Keith Gartner

Sam, here is a link to forge chimneys, scroll down there are,good pics of brick forges. I haven't found plans yet, but, you could count the bricks on a picture and get sizes. Steve Sells has a great brick forge, look in his gallery.
http://www.beautifuliron.com/chimneys.htm

[Now just explain for the uninitiated what a caltrop is?] A caltrop (also known as caltrap, galtrop, cheval trap, galthrap, galtrap, calthrop, crow's foot) is an antipersonnel weapon made up of two or more sharp nails or spines arranged in such a manner that one of them always points upward from a stable base (for example, a tetrahedron). ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caltrops

Your hammer looks great, as does your shop and other tools. The barbecue looked good also.

I mowed Federal levees on the Missouri river, 4 miles 4 passes a side 2 sides, (do the math for acreage) with a 20' Bush Hog brand rotary mower.I hammered my blades for 20 years, by hand. heat to yellow , strike for a 20 degree angle, I had a holding jig made out of 6" X 6" X 24" mild steel with 2 c-clamp vice grips bolted to it, and the whole thing bolted to a 6 cyl. ford block. I used an 18 lb sledge. NEVER harden or fast cool.In cold weather I put them in dry wood ashes to slowly cool. Hammered blades cut three times longer. And last till the bolt holes elongate. I did this for my own machine, not for hire. In todays litigious society I don't think I would sell that work.

Steve, please accept my heart felt condolences on the loss of your friend. I will join in ringing my anvil, from a rendezvous, on Sunday.

Thank's for sharing. Are you near St. Louis?

If your grandfather gave you a car with a blown engine---would you refrain from replacing it?



Great analogy!

If you would do us the common courtesy of letting us know where you are located, on your profile, I know one of us would know where you could buy "smithing coal".
So in which, part of Nebraska are you located?
Keith

My recollection, is $67.00 @ lb, US, in 1998. I played with it as a youngster also, and I'm only half as "mad as a hatter". Keith

Dodge, thank both you and Dale for, passing the newsletter along.

There should be a corrisponding hole under the heel also. These were to accept tongs to move them during manufacturing. The tongs would be for two or more men, similar to R.R. track tongs, or a large version of an ice tongs for use with an overhead hoist.

I use a draft inducer blower from a 90% AFUE high efficiency gas furnace, 80% don't move as much air but are useable, both are quiet. This one supply's plenty of air to my 7"x9"x7" Vulcan tyeure. You should be able to find one at a heating contractors, or scrap metal yard.
forge blower
Keith

I have had the symptoms you talk about, I guess I can say they will go away, mine did, after a week. The way I, see it is , coal smoke is unlike charcoal smoke, as charcoal smoke (fumes) are acrid and offensive, and cause an immediate reaction, and you leave. Coal smoke (fumes) are more laid back and you don't feel the need to get out, it kinda, sucks you in, ( it doesn't feel bad so I'll stay). Wrong, get out, sulfer dioxide is the only chemical I can think of at this moment, but it is one of the many contained in coal smoke, that are toxic. Please see all above responses, to rectify your venting issues, and enjoy years if blacksmithing.
Keith

I'm proud to welcome you to IFI. I also wish you a speedy and complete recovery. Nakedanvil ( Grant Sarver ) Is ( in my opinion) our resident induction guru ( sorry Jock ). He will probably reply to your post, if not though, send him an e-mail, find him on the members list. Good luck in everything you do.
Keith

I'm planning on going Sat. to walk through. I'll be the 6'8" guy wearing blue Carhart bibs and a dumb look on my face.

You cannot draw through the home appliance regulator, (that's what's running your water heater and must stay in line) tee into the fuel run before that regulator, and install your forge regulator. Or get a separate bottle (tank) for your forge.

Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, condolences, they really do mean a-lot, and help.
Dan,
please accept my condolences for the loss of your Christopher.
Wayne,
I hope everything is going well now, it is a roller coaster ride of emotions, savor the highs but don't despair in the valleys.
Steve,
there are no petty problems, when it comes to our children's health, nor the emotion every parent feels when one of ours is ill, I'm so happy your son is better.

Again THANK YOU ALL
Keith

Easilyconfused, actually isn't. That's all I do, use them more. My tools, rust some over winter. 1000 degree steel going into the slake tub doesn't help.

My son Eric has had Nephrotic Syndrome, since he was 18 months old, 1984. In 2001 in a 9 hour operation, that was supposed to take 6 hrs., he recieved my wifes kidney. That transplant lasted about 8 months, then his body rejected it. He was understandibly bitter and would not accept living donors from any of us for a new transplant. Through all this he played bantam and high school football, at the same time he was on the chess team. After high school, though he could have chosen disability, he delivered pizzas for Pizza Hut, and went on to manage that store. after awhile he got a union job at Integram, a seat supplier to the Chrysler plant in Fenton, MO. We know where that went. These were both night jobs because he underwent dyalisis for 6 hrs. every other day.On January 18, 2010. he took his own life, jumping off a bridge over the Missouri River. His body was found 2 months later, this past Thursday, March 18 almost 75 mi. downstream in the Mississippi River. Eric never got close to the top of the transplant list. Please become a donor.


I'm trying to get back to the smithy.....

Steve, so sorry to read this, I have been away from IFI, and smithing all winter. Having fought kidney disease with my son, for over 25 years, and one failed transplant. I know the anguish you went through. Your son and entire family are in my prayers. Keep a close watch on the diet.
Keith

You will have to wash all the oil off before the vinegar. I would wash it with dish soap and hot water, rinse well, put it in something plastic, a wheel barrow, Rubbermaid tote, even a heavy plastic trash bag, use at least 2 gals. of vinegar ( three if you use a wheelbarrow ) fill with water, let it sit a few days............rinse with water and wire brush, WD40 it immediately while still wet.
Also I wouldn't get in too much of a hurry to "repair" the top face, you'll be surprised how good it works as is.
Keith

GEORGE;
Jock Dempsey has some lessons in I-Forge, on Anvilfire.com, lesson number 139. I couldnt get links to work. Good luck!
Keith

Looking good! What part of Missouri?

Put the the torch tip through the side, closer to the front door than center, and angle it towards the back, to induce swirl.
Light it, close the door and wait for the exterior of your box to come to bright orange, then it's ready to open the door and start forging.
Hope that handle ain't hot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Then you can bare your teeth and spit in everybody's eyes!