Double Y Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 Happy Easter to everyone on IForgeIron. I have been meaning to properly introduce myself. My name is John. I live along the bank of the Yellowstone River in South Central Montana, USA. I was born and raised in Montana and love the "Big Sky County." My wife and I have two kids that keep life interesting. I work a full time job aside from my metal work. We also raise a few cows, put up hay and run a few horses too. What ever it takes to keep from having any free time on our hands. I thought I would attach a few photos for you to see what the shop looks like. Seems like there is a lot of anvil envy here, so I included a few shots of my two main anvils as well. I built my forge myself and used burners from Zoeller Forge. They work great and get up to heat in a hurry. This is a great site and full of loads of usefull info. If you have time I would love to see some pictures of your shop setups as well. All the best, John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Y Posted April 12, 2009 Author Share Posted April 12, 2009 My son is 7 and likes to help in the shop. The small anvil was a gift to him from my Uncle, who is also a blacksmith. The tumber is obviously a used 100# propane bottle. It works great, but makes a significant amount of noise. I use fence staples for matrix in the tumbler. The press is obviously homemade. I bought the cylinder, but used parts I had around the shop for the rest. I have long hoses so I can hook up to the hydraulic connectors of my 35 horse Kubota tractor. I can leave the tractor outside and shut the door and still run the hoses under the door. I don't know how to tell the exact tonnage, but I guess the press will push about 20 ton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurlyGeorge Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 (edited) John, that shop is too clean!! You sure that you work in there? LOL. Nice looking shop. Welcome to IFI. You're right in that there is a wealth of info on here. Keep that young man hammering. Here's a picture of my shop. Not nearly as big as yours.http://www.iforgeiron.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/11082/ppuser/1675 Edited April 12, 2009 by CurlyGeorge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DKForge Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 John welcome and nice shop! I have shop envy! I went to your website. Nice work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 Nice shop John though clean is a disturbing sign. If you wrap the tumbler with felt it'll deaden the ring considerably. Contact cement and it doesn't have to cover the entire thing. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian D Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 John, Nice shop you have there! I also have shop envy. Sounds like we have a few things in common. I also have a wife and two kids, keep a few horses, and have enough going on to prevent spare time to get into trouble. Look forward to hearing from you on the site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Y Posted April 12, 2009 Author Share Posted April 12, 2009 I have to be honest....I actually swept the floor and cleaned off the layout table before the pictures were taken. I try to keep a tight-ish ship out there, but it had gotten away from me after a "Hammer In" last weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J W Bennett Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 Nice shop, I like the tumbler... consider the design stolen. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fe-Wood Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 Hi John- Welcome! I spent about 6 years in the yellowstone country... Over on the Madison. Went back a few years ago and almost cried, all the development thats gone on.... Nice shop and I agree, too clean! Looking froward to seeing some of your projects!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bsiler Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 I've learned a bunch here so far. Now something else I hope. I've heard them mentioned a couple of times, what all is a tumbler used for. And yes " a nice clean shop ". I like the size, mines so small and over 100 years old. It was my Great Grandfathers so I like it no matter the size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Y Posted April 13, 2009 Author Share Posted April 13, 2009 I use the tumbler to remove scale off all sorts of forged pieces. If they are small enough to fit in the forge they go in there. I put a timer on it so I can turn it on when I leave for the office job and it will turn itself off after a couple hours. I used a 3/4 sucker rod as the axle for the tumbler. It runs completely through the barrel. A note to anyone building one of these with a 100# propane tank. The top of the tank is not necessarily true to the rest of the barrel and for that matter neither is the base. I have the impression the top and bottom are welded on by a monkey in a hurry. And as long as it doesn't leak no one cares what it looks like. Getting the barrel to roll true was a big project. It was a must for me, because as you can see I used the barrel itself as a pulley. I welded angle iron baffels on the inside to help stir the matrix as it tumbles along. All the best, John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CBrann Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 Too clean, but very nice!! Keep up the good hammerin! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yesteryearforge Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 i use one of those cheap cememt mixers with the plastic tub as a tumbler / its a lot quieter than a metal drum. medium is used carbide inserts and silica sand mixture. Mike Tannerwww.yesteryearschool.comBlacksmith Guild of Viriginia - Home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rokshasa Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 love your shop freind and cant wait to get mine all done up. i'm working out of a baby barn and its getting full fast lol , the sad thing is i'll probebly have the same problem with my new one . looking good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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