K. Bryan Morgan

Way to go. Thats a great find. Have fun with it.

Hey Clinton, where I come from they still call them 2x4 studs. I know they haven't been 2"x4" for a very long time. But that's what they still call em. I didn't know everyone saw it I thought it was just me. :D

Here is a gentleman that is using concrete block to make his charcoal retort ovens more efficient. I don't personally see a problem with it. Also if you notice in the pictures that there is a minimum of smoke being generated using this method. Once the woodgas inside the barrels lights there is almost no smoke at all. This is how I plan on making my own charcoal when I get things set up for it. http://www.twinoaksforge.com/BLADSMITHING/MAKING%20CHARCOAL.htm

Thanks Jake, funny how it all came together. You suggested I get a hand crank blower and a few days later I got the email from a gentleman who had one. Plus all the other stuff I got from him too. I am very pleased. Thanks Frosty, I've been running an ad in Craigslist wanting to buy blacksmithing tools. I'll keep running one, you just never know what may pop up.

I have some wrought to work with too. I need to get going on it and make something. Anything. Of to the shop to grind some mushrooms. :D

It's working out very well. I would advise one thing though. Get the biggest propane tank you can afford to get. My little 30# tank freezes up after a couple of hours. I need to get a big bucket for it and put it in some water. From what I understand the 100# is what you really want. I use the forge often and am only 1/2 way through the tank. I usually run it in the 7-10 psi range. I would estimate about 15 total hours on it so I'm happy with the amount the forge goes through. I just need a bigger tank.

I’ve had an ad on craigslist locally here for several months. I was, truthfully, getting frustrated with the lack of response to the ad. I was complaining, upset and generally being a brat about it. I mean really. There are literally tons of blacksmithing tools in Fairbanks. Well today, I found some. A response came in to my ad and I went to take a look. Holy moly, I hit a jackpot. A Champion 400 blower. It really moves air well. Has no skips in its rotation and moves smoothly. The clinker breaker and mounting bracket for it. Several fullers and swages. A couple of hot cut hardys and a pair of tongs. One of the fullers is an Atha, one is a Champion. Several of the fullers and swages are made by Ballard Ironworks. One of the hot cuts is a Champion and one is an Acme. The tongs are Ballards 5/8th inch. I couldn’t be happier. I do have some work to do on them. The fullers and swages have seen hard use. They are from an old mine area on the Yukon River. I’ll need to grind off the mushroom heads on the tools. Narrow down the shanks on the hot cuts. And, we both feel we got a good deal for everything. So all things considered, I think I did good.

Ya, Frosty is exactly right. Today it was 40f a great temperature. Tonight the forecast is for it to drop to 12f. So still pretty cold here. I was able to get some more forging done today. Nothing fancy, made a nice looking S hook, a little J hook and a clip to put a hammer or two onto the anvil with. Still working on basics to get them down correctly.

Philip, I have a good sized chunk of railroad rail I could use some of it to do just that. Make a hot cut for the hardy. I'll need to fire up the grinder and cut a chunk off. I need to square up one end anyway and this is as good an excuse as any to do that. blksmth, Thank you for that information. I will put that to good use. I've been working on it a little bit at a time. Not wanting to over do it. I have a brand new mill file I've been using. It works, barely, and cuts easier doing draw filing that just pushing it. If I don't bear down when I push the file, it just skips. I'll see if I can find what your talking about here. Sometimes things just aren't available in Fairbanks as in the rest of the country. For example. There is not one Burger King in the whole area. Can you believe it? Barbarism. I think the closest one is in Wasilla, a 5 1/2 hr drive south.

Hi George, thanks for the comment. I am having a good time. Thank you Phil. I'll get something for that. Only thing is I would have to empty the water every day I use the forge. Still freezing temps here and will be for a while yet. But other than that, a good idea.

Thats quite alright Jake, I just love new toys, I mean tools. I have plans in my head to someday actually make one. So, who knows. At some point I'll get one. Thats a good idea about Dick at Alaska Feeds. I have his phone number. Wouldn't be hard to get hold of him and find out if he has something like that laying around. As far as going out of my way. Nope, I don't feel like that at all. I feel very lucky and blessed to have the resources to have gotten the anvil and gas forge. My mom wanted me to follow this path after she found out how much it meant to me. As I was caring for her in her final time her with us. Her artistic ability and love of art inspired me to begin this journey. That's why I named my forge after her. And why I was able to afford what I have. Sadly, she is gone. But her spirit and love of live and art made me want to be artistic too. I am a good draftsman. I can draw plans. But, unfortunately not all that artistic. So this is a way for me to express myself that way. Plus I really like playing with fire. Thanks Alec, I'm getting things done. Or at least trying to.

Thanks Jake that means a lot to me. I've been looking for a hand crank blower but I am quite sure I won't find one here. I think there may be a way I can get one thats made in China from a guy on another site. He plans on getting some and reselling them. But he has to get 35 people before he can make an order. It would be about $50 plus shipping. But he has no idea about CFM. So it may not be a good purchase. In the mean time I keep looking.

Ya wouldn't that be kick. I would love to know what the heck I'm doing. Thank you for the compliment, it means a lot to me. Thanks for the tip Mike and Frosty, I'll make sure I do that next time in the shed. Should be easy enough. I know I need to put the tank in some water. I haven't had time to find one big enough for my 30# tank. I just use a small bucket for my slack tub it sure is not big enough to put the tank in.

Frosty, I tried to PM you but your messages were full. I would love to come down for a visit. I'll bring a couple of hammers and some sweets. Anytime is good for me. When is good for you?

Here are a couple of things I got a hold of recently. The little stake anvil is about 1 1/2 inches sq. and 2 inches tall not including the stake. I know its old, aprox. 100 yrs. Its stamped Bohler Stahl on one side and Made in Austria on the other. So, I know it was made for the import tool market here in the US and was manufactured around 1900 ish. I looked the company up and its still in business in Austria. I thought it was pretty cool and will be nice for little things to work on. The other is a piece of wrought iron chain link that Jake Pogrebinsky sent to me. I don't know what to make from it yet but I'm gonna do something soon. First will probably will reduce it down to a more manageable sizes. I sure am happy to have it.

Got some work done yesterday. It was lots of fun. I made some tools. Had done the hold fast several days ago and sure am glad I did. When I was working on the nail header, which I’m going to have to do over, it sure came in handy. The spring fuller gave me a small amount of trouble getting all the bends in it right. But I was able to straighten it back out to the point I was able to rework it and get it right. It works very well. I used it on the piece that I show on the anvil in the last shot. Also used it on the nail header, and bent the end down some, but I don’t think that is an issue. I started my day working with the gas forge, but after about an hour it was frozen up and only putting out about 3 psi. It’s been in the mid 20’s in the shop. So, I shut it down and fired up the coal/break drum forge and promptly burnt some metal. Ok, lesson learned. Don’t let the metal sit in the forge that long. I used mild steel for everything. I’m pretty satisfied with everything except the one hook that I broke the end off of, and the nail header.

Yes, I am figuring out fire control. I think I have a little bit of a handle on it. The coal I've been getting from Alaksa Feed is real easy to work with. I have found that using green coal is alot easier than I'd been lead to believe. I don't water it. And I have gotten what I consider good results. I do need to put a layer of brick on my forge hearth though to raise it so I can easily pile up green coal around the fire. It's a break drum forge and the lip of the break drum is set into a hole I cut into some floor plate. It works quite well, and I have burned up more than my fair share of mild steel in it. I understand what you are saying about gaining experiance with the wrought. I will do as you suggest and "go for it". I never thought of forging as a zen experiance but I can see what your saying. To me, zen tells me to do the best I can possibly do. And I always have. I will have a blast and thanks.

Hello Jake, I love the picture of the axe in the fire. Very artistic there. I really like the shape and look of your work here. Would you mind explaining what a scew-weld is? I havn't done anything with the wrought you left for me yet. I will do a project with it soon. I really don't want to mess it up though.

I would really like to see that.

I'm using 1" sand paper strips per the advice of Brian Brazeal. It's not a fast process but it is working. I'm just taking my time and going slow with it. Like many have said its easy to take off metal but darned hard to put it back.

Our most sencere condolences to your family from Bryan and Renee. I know and understand the feelings of loss that you and your family are going through right now. I've lost both of my parents to cancer and many friends over the years due to various things. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your loved ones in this time of sorrow.

I could not agree more Ken. Co will put your lights out in a hurry if your not careful. I have a CO/Co2 detector and I keep the door to the shed open for ventilation. That, along with the two dormer and many eave vents makes the shed safe. I also run the forge at about 7 psi and have very good success with it. It's not a gas hog. I went to the fireplace store here localy and picked up a dozen fire bricks, the hard type, I use them under the forge and to close off the back door. It works very well. I also put 2 layers of Hardy board under the bricks for additional bottom insulation. Just a safety thing. It's on a plywood bench don't want to burn anything. One of my projects will be to fabricate a table/bench out of steel for it so that will no longer be an issue. All in all I could not be more happy with the forge.

I got the 2 burner Blacksmith model from Diamondback Ironworks in North Carolina. Ordered it online and it showed up a week or so later. It's a good beginner model in my opinion. Easy to use and set up. Good directions included with the forge and I'm very happy with it. Here's the link to the website. http://www.diamondbackironworks.com/GOOGLE9e64d9483d5b3dca.html

Thank you Alwin, I haven't radiused it yet. I am kinda nervous about the process. I just got it I don't want to screw it up. On another note. I did get the "I'm afraid to ding it." out of the way. I put a couple in it. Small ones. But its a start. :rolleyes:

Yes, Frosty that's exactly right. Its a cement board. Hardy is a name brand. There is also Durarock. Used mostly for tile work and in bathrooms to prevent mold. On a floor Hardy board is used with thinset under it then screwed to the wooden underlayment to stiffen the floor so the grout won't crack when you lay tile. It, also being a cement product, is kinda on the fire resistant side of things. And get used that way too. Although its not its main function. Well I used it today and it worked very very well. The wood wasn't even warm. I made a hold fast and a big staple to hang some tongs off of the stump with. Dang it forgot to take pictures. As for what I learned. A hold fast is very easy to make.