rawtiron

I wish there were more smiths in my part of the world like you people, willing and able to take some time to teach. I learn best with someone standing by my side. Jason

You Beauty!!

Man thats done some travelling! I know of 2 or 3 other 2cwts still in use over here. I'd like to see some photos. Jason

These are the only flares that I have run, so I have no experience of any other way. I can have the burners ticking over at as low a psi as the regulator will allow and crank them up to 30-40psi without any issues. The flame is really stable all the way through the range. Jason

Hi Ian, It was a visit by another member to NZ (my place) from Alaska. I'd love to get over to Alaska some day to check out Frostys shop and Frosty himself. It all sounds very interesting! Jason

Thank you John. All I know is that came from the railways. (NZR). They say it weighs 11 ton, with a 5 ton anvil and is 17ft high. And that there were ones twice that size used here also. We will be visiting the previous owner this week, so I'll see what else I can find out. Jason

I made a flare tool at work (2.5 degrees if I remember correctly) and pressed them out of some heavy wall stainless. Cost me $35 for a metre and an hour to make the tool. I'll get 13 flares out of it. They work a treat. Jason

It's great to see so much old working machinery in one place like this. They are in there 41st year of operation. I grew up near by and got my first ever job here cleaning the brass plaques and helping out with the steam train they run. Colin was trained as a blacksmith and farrier, under his father and went on to become an engineer. He is very experienced at working the machinery he has (except that big old Massey) which is a recent purchase. The press brake came from the Luftwaffe factory in Germany after the war. Note the bullet holes/divets in it. The brand name on the next machine should be familiar with some you. They are still operating today from what I know.

Thanks James. I had thought that JohnN would be able to let me know about the Massey. I was looking at the pics from your visit there, yesterday. Jason

Had a great day with my new friend from Alaska, who contacted me through IFI some months ago about a visit to NZ. I took him out to The Tokomaru Steam Museum http://www.tokomarusteam.com/ for a look at a fully operational steam set up. Here's some pics of a couple of steam hammers and a big old Massey (10 hundredweight I'm told). I'd love to get some more info on these hammers, for the owners please. Thanks for looking, Jason.