Bob S

some shaper basics here...

here's one I made from a scrap point. it's flat ground on one side as Frank described.

read this thread...

http://www.iforgeiro...5-fire-pot/page

Holes in the bottom (as most firepots have) will guarantee that as clinker is formed, it will flow down and block off your air supply, which will make necessary a clinker breaker.

A better idea (IMO) would be if the bottom of your fire pot was raised so that there was room for the clinker to form without blocking the air. Imagine a ball cut in half with a hole thru the center for air. This could easily be forged and welded in place.

Your fire will be able to breathe without continuously 'breaking' the clinker and losing fuel in the process. When the clinker gets so large that it blocks the hole it can be removed from the top using a hooked poker.

Nice job on your pot so far.

Tom Allyn had the same idea and posted pics of his forge.

i just need a place to make hardie's for my anvil , im not useing the one anvil i have to beet on that hard , shes old and only 120 pounds....

there is no reason to have a swage block with a square hole to make/upset anvil tooling for your square hole. look for used or broken jackhammer points. the collar is already there for you and they are made of 1045 (or similar) steel which is perfect for tooling. check out Sam's recent thread here....



check local contractors or tool rental companies for points. usually available for scrap price.

On 11/7/2012 at 6:40 PM, smijman said:

 

 

get a parts cleaning brush and a gallon of diesel fuel/kerosene. slosh it around and brush it. no need to over do it. don't use gasoline! do it outside if you can. no open flames. be safe.

 

Hi Bob! Thanks for the fast reply!

Fridley here. My Master is based up in East Bethel in a larger shop, Irontree Works.

Have a nice shop down there in Winona?

hobby shop in garage. there is a good group up in twincities. guild of metalsmiths. very active group. use google to find them.

Ive seen everyone mention that. Most suggest a very large ball bearing however. Know a common place I can find a 1" ball bearing? Lol.

take a ball pein hammer or really any hammer and tap the face while holding the hammer loosely. you will be able to tell if the anvil has 'life'. there isn't anything sacred about a 1" ball bearing.

black pipe perfectly okay. where in minnesota? I'm near Winona.

I am sure it should be fine for cheese knives, .....right?

parmesan or brie?

I hope Larry is okay. He's a nice guy.

mousehole

pictures would be a big help.

I can save you some trouble.

It's iron.

you could cut out some 'washers' or shims out of some thin plastic like a milk jug. then cut one side of the washer and snap it over the shaft. repeat till you have taken up the extra space.

but I wouldn't take it apart.

If you're from Alabama you my even understand some of this.

Grant,

Have we met? Your name's familiar but I'm not placing you.

Bruce,

Sad to say it but Grant passed on suddenly last January. We all miss him.

http://blacksmith.or...ighlight=sarver

good looking work. are they made out of pavement breakers?

The fellow whom I purchased it from suggested wire brush and paint.

paint on an anvil is an abomination.

tru dat

very nice work.

where did my post go?

Reading about all the peak this, peak that, what will happen next talk made me think of these:
http://www.wired.com...currentPage=all

good read.

I recall seeing a show by NOVA, or similar program doing an episode on a Viking sword. The smith twisted the bars that formed the core, and forge welded them together. He then split the core, and inserted the edges. This had to be back in the 70's, but I remember it pretty well. I haven't watched my TV in probably 5 years now, so I will have to see about watching your episode on the computer.

Back in the '80's The Anvils Ring had an article about the re-creation of the Sutton Hoo sword by Scott Lankton. You can read about it here...

http://www.scottlank...oo/article.html

if you google Sutton Hoo Sword there is more info.

I bet it's a great feeling to be home. Best wishes Jerry.

Hello all!!

My name is Jason and I am addicted to metal... I have a bachelor’s in welding engineering and have been welding and fabricating for 10+ years and now I have decided to try and learn a new craft. I have some knowledge of what I am doing but also plan to learn as I go.

The one thing I am wondering is where in the world do you get coal??? I have found a few online but the price of shipping is outrageous... I am also looking for fellow smiths in the south central Wisconsin area...

http://www.centaurforge.com/

That is a very popular myth, so of course the Wiki (which can be edited by any schmuck on the planet) will repeat said myth.

Thingmaker3,

Over the years I have heard this comment about wikipedia more than once. Personally I have found it (wikipedia) to be a pretty accurate source.

So just for fun let's pick out a section or even a single statement from the page cited by Thomas Powers (above) and change it. Since you brought it up and seem to think it's easy to do, why don't you do it?

First let's agree on the section you are going to change and after a bit of time for anyone interested to see the section in it's current form we can all watch you change it.

Easy!

Up for it?