Strine

Rantalin
It's amazing what people come up with. A pro blacksmith up the bush was getting rid of all his gear due to a restrictive medical condition. I went up to proffer my commiserations and perhaps help with the disposal. Under covers was a twisting machine that would twist anything, especially hollow square tubing up to about 15'. From the examples laying around you'ld swear he'd filled them up with something to make them act like solid bar. Not so, it was just a really good machine. So good that he wouldn't lift up the covers to reveal the secret unless the colour of my money was displayed. He told me the thing was so simple just showing a dill like me would spoil its uniqueness and blow any chance of protecting a patent. "No worries mate" I said

As for anvils in garages. That's where my 187 pounder come from. I spotted it in the corner and asked what he used it for. Apparently he just used it on bits and pieces; nothing too elaborate and certainly no heat involved. I suggested a swap with my 100 pounder to which he said bring it around. So I went to the bank, then home to load up the anvil. He was more than happy with mine. "Give us ten bucks and the deal's done". I slipped a disc in the rush to get my wallet!!

Crawl...Walk...Sprint..., is pretty much how I see the road ahead for you BW. Don't get me wrong it's an interesting track with plenty of challenges along they way. And I for one would like to hear how you're travelling from time to time.

While working in the bush last year I came across these sheds. These old buildings really get me worked up so I had to investigate. The boss's job could wait! I walked around the site which comprised about six buildings, taking a heap of photos from interesting angles to add to my collection of such things. There was the house of course still with piano in the front room, a pig shed, barn, chook house and a couple of outside dunnies. Eventually I got around to actually looking inside one of the sheds. Normally they're just shells to I hadn't bothered too much.

photo 1


I neally had kittens. Beneath the collapsed roof was a complete blacksmith's shop albeit with a much reduced head room. There's the anvil, forge and bellows and had I had the nerve to go inside in the hope the shed would not crash down around me there were probably all the necessary accoutrements like hammers tongs swages fullers etc etc

photo 2

Eventually the owner came down to see what I was up to. Fortunately I didn't see a shotty under her arm. We had a long chat about the site and and about the old bloke that had just walked away. By the way I promised I wouldn't reveal the location to anyone but promised I would offer any assistance if they were ever going to retore the place.

photo 3

Are there any gems that you have come across?

BW. This is my forge. (cut down 44 Gal drum, cast iron pot with clinker breaker, original end replaced with 1/8th plate, removable handles). You would not have to leave this one behind you could just wheel it to North Carolina. As for drums, 44 Aust gal =55 Us gal and the old petrol drums are much more heavy duty. The one shown has been going for years and years.

Speaking of heat at the bottom of the fire. Many's the time I have found bits of unburnt newspaper at the bottom of the duck's nest after a days forging. I'm at a loss as to why but then I don't worry about it much. It;s just a curious thing.

My best advice is to get your hands dirty. Do anything at the forge but take a note of the results. What was a stuff up now may well be the perfect approach to a different job in the future. And enjoy it.

Ed I'd love to send the hat but I'd miss all my pets too much. :cry: If you had seven rabbits you could make your own. For an 1850's/60's lid you could easily get away with a Civil war thing couldn't you. There must be heaps of them around. There's certainly plenty over here, goodness knows why :?:

What are you doing for a shirt. We all get rigged up at a demo and mostly the fellas go for the collarless 1920's shirt with a waistcoat. I would like the flannel? undershirts? in the picky to match the high back canvas trousers I already have. Any clues on a pattern. BTW I must have been off watering the horses or something when the photo was taken....I wish!!

I use coke rather than coal or charcoal. Imagine my surprise when I found a pile of the stuff by the side of the road out in the country. I scooped up 2 40kg bags and left probably another bag for the next bloke. Luck's a fortune.

Being and old Scout leader and keen on "turks head" knots the Twisted knots by Hans and Bill in the Tools/Twisting section really got me intrigued. I can knock up a 3 lead 4 bight (toggle) knot in rope with one hand behind my back and the other in my pocket, but are there any clues on these steel babies either in the BP's or elsewhere.

They're back! Thanks for all your help folks.

I wonder if anyone else is suffering this frustration? All the pictures in the gallery have disappeared and have been replaced by little crosses. This is making me a little cross :cry: But the blue print pikkies still work OK. What have I been unknowingly mucking around with?

Looks like that worked. Thanks Ed. Another facit of modern science mastered now I'd better drop back a thousand years and belt the daylights out some hot metal.

Here's hoping this works.

Ed,

I'd reckon you'ld look a bit of a dill with a brand new hat! Do you have Opportunity shops over there? They're best described as fund raising shops for charities. They might have one for a few bob that you wouldn't mind authentificating with a bit of grime and coal dust etc. Unfortunately a good hat needs a lot of preparation say about 5 years of constant wear. Give me a minute and I'll post an example in my gallery. :wink: If I new how I could attach it here...any clues?

Some bloke rang me one time out of the blue for a few tips on welding. I talked about all the usual things eg clean fire, flux, being organised to get the job done quick etc etc. "Yes yes," he replied, "I've done all that."
"How many goes have you given it?" I asked
"Four"
"Give me a ring again if you haven't managed it in four ...hundred attempts" was my terse response just before hanging up.
The moral is that forge welding is something you have to practise and practise and practise. But boy when it works it's pretty satisfying eh? to unite two pieces of metal into one with just your hands and a bit of fire.

I'm with you Ed. That would have really been something to be part of.

To turn the beast, remove all the packing underneath so it's sitting on the ground, then rehitch to another mighty oak fro a different direction. What a pity there isn't a knarly old redgum nearby. You could hang the thing from a branch and spin it around like a top. Once you're ready to take up the strain in the new direction grab the wife or whom ever to steady it so it wont topple over. Don't go too quick either or you'll need to lift it UP as well as along. Once you're pointing in the right direction replace all the packing and rollers and the like and heave ho.

Personally I would have built the new shed around the hammer it seems like an easier job. :D

Well done Woody. My first effort which sounds just as ugly is still hanging in the shed.

Alan...I didn't realise punching holes in a bar by heating it up and driving a suitably sized slightly tapered round bar with a flat end into it from both sides was not a common pratice in the 1700's. You live and learn.

"Hooks Rings & Other Things, An Illustrated Index of New England Iron 1660-1860"; Frank T Barnes; The Christopher Publishing House, Hanover, MA; ISBN 0-8158-0440-7; p73 shows examples of saw tooth and holes in bar models dating from 'the 18th Century'

Ground up granite dust does not possess magical properties in relation to fire welding. In fact the trial test today suggested you'ld do just as well without flux at all. Looks like I'll have to find another use for the stuff!

Scuse me Jim while I recompose myself ...(insert think music here).... Nup I just can't think of a comeback. And Ed, rocks is rocks to me. Alls I know is that when you drill a hole into them they make a lot of dust, and noise which makes the place downright uncomfortable. I just tell 'em where to put the hole.

Ed, I'll give it a go tomorrow and let you know. Don't lose any sleep over it

And yes Woody I have all the good oil on silicosis and rock dust. This dust is everywhere in the quarries I work in and they're forever telling us of the dangers.

G'day Prime,
I stood on the wrong side of the "rope" for a full six hours one time at an historical village. In the end it was as if there was nobody else there; just me and the smith although the smithy was always full of visitors. It got a bit embarassing at times as I felt I was hogging the man's attention. (I now know from my own demonstrating experience that he was just glad of the relief from the all too common inane remark). The smith's every comment was directed at me. So was every answer even though I hadn't asked the question. He had an unfortunately severe stutter and an even more severe Scottish brogue but the understanding between us just grew and grew; He realised I was very interested and I realised that he was not going to waste his time on a 'tyre kicker'. He wanted committment!! Anyway just before knockoff he invited me over the rope for my very first hands on lesson. A mini horseshoe which was my first and last in the twenty years since. And I still have the bird cage handled poker he gave me. Thank you Alex. Btw the horseshoe is probably still in the bottom of the slack tub!

I'm reminded of this little tale even to this day during heated moments about the house, especially if the topic turns to selfishness. You see, my wife had to endure the six hours mentioned, in a place she found only mildly interesting.

I have access to literally tons of ground up Granite as fine as talcum powder. It would seem a shame to find that it's no good as a welding flux. I know the obvious way to test if its OK but I wonder what others reckon.