Rusty Jones Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 I just stayed away too long! Trying to decide if I should go back to work after retirement. But the work finds me, and I just bought a great 4x8' table made with 3/8" plate on channel with angle iron legs that I will be putting in a 2-1/2 car garage. I have a buzz box stick welder and access to a 110v wire welder and I own the "pony" size oxy/acetylene cutting and heating torch set. I am a retired Millwright with all the hand-tools a tradesman carries. In short, I am going to start-up a shop. This is a great website and I sort of forgot that by staying away too long. My first action was to check out the video on anvils, which helped a lot. I'm interested in ornamental iron-working but not necessarily in going all the way back to traditional blacksmith methods. I received a birthday greeting from I-forge Iron that reminded of the resources at the site, so birthday greetings are not the corny idea one might think; score one for social media and the administrator Glenn. I hope I got his name right because he knew mine. Like Dale Carnegie said: "Everyone loves the sound of their own name." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweany Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 come on in the waters fine. I've known some Millwrights, fussy guys, when it comes to their work. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francis Trez Cole Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 Rusty check out FABA Florida Artist Blacksmithing Assoc. good group of people who are interested in all types of metal work good source of local contacts. They meet once a month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 Rusty, There is a little trick blacksmiths do where we can put a rod into a hole and the fit is so tight that you can NOT remove it by hand. And we do that using a 2 pound hammer. Now that your retired, put the micrometers away, just eyeball the sizes, and enjoy life. (grin). Welcome back to the site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Jones Posted July 24, 2009 Author Share Posted July 24, 2009 You're right about Millwrights being fussy. But it's mainly for the sake of the trade. Working with metal is integral to Millwright work and has always been a favorite of mine. I consider myself in good company here at the forum and I am always willing to learn something new. I have cut many holes with a torch eyeballing the the bolt that goes into it, and to make the hole handsome I drive a drift pin into it while the iron is still red. Often I could produce a sized hole that at first look appears drilled. I am looking forward to being here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Jones Posted July 24, 2009 Author Share Posted July 24, 2009 Rusty check out FABA Florida Artist Blacksmithing Assoc. good group of people who are interested in all types of metal work good source of local contacts. They meet once a month. @Francis Cole: thanks for the FABA tip, that is just the kind of information I was looking for! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Jones Posted July 24, 2009 Author Share Posted July 24, 2009 @Glenn: Thanks again for reminding me about the forum. I'm happy to be back. I just set the table up today, and talk about fussy--this hunk of iron ain't pretty; but it is heavy and flat. I will get pictures out as soon as I figure out the process here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mod07 Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 Rusty, click Post reply, then after entering text, scroll down to Manage attachments, then click the method you prefer to locate and upload your photo's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Jones Posted July 25, 2009 Author Share Posted July 25, 2009 @mod07: thanks for the help and here goes . . . Looks like it worked, I'm going to preview to check it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piglet_74 Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 (edited) Rusty, There is a little trick blacksmiths do where we can put a rod into a hole and the fit is so tight that you can NOT remove it by hand. And we do that using a 2 pound hammer. Now that your retired, put the micrometers away, just eyeball the sizes, and enjoy life. (grin). Welcome back to the site. First, Welcome Rusty. If those are Pony bottles then what did I buy :-) But, hey Glenn, you grabbed my attention! Can you describe the "trick". Thanks Rob. Edited July 25, 2009 by piglet_74 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Parker Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 Welcome Rusty, As Francis pointed out you should get with the gang at FABA (I am a member from Tampa) the meetings are every week; one at each corner of the state. We alternate Saturdays, different groups meet in different locations. That is done so members can occasionally visit other groups. I normally go to the SW (3rd Saturday) I will be there hammer in hand tomorrow. You are closer to the NE group but can visit any or all of them. We would love to have you visit and that goes for any of you, pass through Florida and visit the FABA group near you. Checks us out at:Florida Artist Blacksmith Association Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Jones Posted July 25, 2009 Author Share Posted July 25, 2009 @piglet_74:"Pony" to me, I'm used to the full size commercial tanks and these seem small. Thanks for the welcome. I'm still not sure what I want to work on, but I found some great information about gas forges on the forum. I really just want to have fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Jones Posted July 25, 2009 Author Share Posted July 25, 2009 @swordsmandp: I just got "back" to Florida about a year ago. I intend to get in touch with the Florida groups. I apprenticed out of the Tampa Millwright local over thirty years ago. I was already a welder when I started and that fact often meant the difference between getting placed or not getting placed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweany Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 Rusty, I was watching a millwright cut a bolt hole with a torch once. The job enginer came up and was giving him, hedoubletoothpics for torch cut holes. The millwright just kept at it, shut off his torch, picked up the drift and worked over the holeand dropped a bolt in it. The engineer just turned around and left. LOL :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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