Bill in Oregon

Thanks Smoothie. All I have is a cheap Harbor Freight wire welder ...

I just discovered the world of "dark house" pike spearing and was wondering what the best way would be of forging a spear. Thinking some forge welding would have to be involved. Being from Oregon, I had no idea this fishing culture even existed.

I'm just beginning to begin -- and have been stuck at this stage for years. Gives me a great excuse to keep rereading Lorelei Sims.

Be proud, Yuppiejr. That's a really handsome shop you built. Must be very satisfying.

Bought two of those Feit LEDs at Costco as well. Completely changed my garage for the better as a workplace.

Thanks fellas. It may have been round at one time and is about 5/8 inch thick. I have only rudimentary skills, so no san mai work here. I will get it hot and brush it vigorously. I have a propane forge. Thanks for the warnings about it brooming when worked too cold.

I found about an 18-inch length of what I am certain is wrought iron while looking for agates on the Oregon coast yesterday. It is filamentous in structure, and has probably been on or under this beach since a steamer was wrecked here in the 19th century. There are traces of rust along the edges of the filaments, but the piece has a nice vibration when struck. Thinking maybe a guard for a knife? Any tricks to smithing with antique wrought?

Nobody: I thank you for the candor and humor of your post. I took notes. I have learned a few of those lessons myself just casting lead bullets over the past 10-15 years.

I'd like to take a casting class, to get this done right and get it done safely.

Very nice work, Jim!

Thanks again, gents. Appreciate the warning -- and the steel shot suggestion.

Thanks so much, gentlemen. I was indeed thinking of making a floor lamp that could be internally wired. I'll try packing with dry sand.

I have never tried this. Does it behave at all like solid stock? Thinking twists in particular.

Nicely done John!

Bringing this back up. It has been almost six years since Mike passed. For some reason he has been on my mind lately. I think I'll ring my anvil for him on Oct. 23 -- with the chain off.

Like a dope, he looks up the Blacksmith's Third Hand on Youtube, and doesn't see it coming ...

Yes, a Buffalo Climax. I had a Champion No. 40 on my first washtub forge. It was a nicer machine than the Buffalo. Haven't work with the goop before, but it might be a good solution.

It doesn't look like the gear case ever had a gasket on it, but I am thinking of adding one just to help keep the gear oil from dripping on my washtub forge bench. Any thoughts?

JHCC, you can always just plug the end with wet clay.

Hmm, I just bought a Buffalo Climax at our local steam/hit and miss gathering. It seems to work pretty well, a little rattly. Good chance the shaft is worn like yours. I will open it up, clean it out and re-oil. I am seeing traces of green paint and a red-orange paint. Guessing green was the original color?

I missed my old Tim Lively washtub forge so much I just built a new one -- and realize I used galvanized pipe for the tuyere. Guess I had better use it only in a strong breeze.

Thomas, a few years ago a friend gave me a large copper electrode plate -- or so he called it. It was probably 3 by 10 inches and perhaps a quarter inch thick. I had a lot of fun cutting off chunks and forging/annealing things out of it. It gave me a deep appreciation of copper, and I have been collecting scrap wire ever since -- not much, but enough to support many more small and pleasing projects. I have also long wanted to attempt to make bronze and pour some simple things inspired by bronze Age artifacts. Being able to melt my copper and alloy it with the tin I have at hand intrigues me.

Great advice guys. I have been casting bullets for years, but lead, at 620, is much less scary than copper at 1980. Thanks for jogging me on the Gingery furnace, as I have a couple of the books. I also have done the vast majority of my limited smithing on a Tim Lively charcoal washtub forge with a Champion hand-cranked blower. I really miss that set up.

Any critical information here? Can anyone recommend a suitable crucible? Want to turn electrical wire into useable material.

The two pieces of wrought I purchased online allegedly came from a 19th century silo in the upper Midwest. I would sure think there would be some lengths approaching Jim's preferred dimension out there somewhere. What a great project. And Mick, good gosh, man, that's a beautiful pattern you acheived!