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I Forge Iron

The Tilted Anvil Visits Cream CIty Forge


Drewed

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Yes, I love my stand that Mr.Lyle made for me. I welded on two tool racks, and will soon be cutting out one side for the sole purpose of doing longer bends.

I agree-do as much forging and refining by hand as you can as it's less work in the long run and saves you (top) tools. I'll say though, whatever that bick was made from was awfully tough stuff. Did not move too easily. and yeah, the edges on that flatter were pretty scary-it probably does not have too much life left unless you build it up with weld or the like.

the bick we were making started out as a very rough hardy that I found in the scrap pile. It was only about 5" long not including the shank. We ended up drawing it out to around 10" and then I bent it at near 90. I'll have to appologize for the mess in my shop-still in the process of getting situated, but too busy with work to do what needs doing. We've been in the process of doing some tear downs, renovations, and even restoring a few bigger tools littering the floor. All part of the game I suppose.

After everyone left, John and I made a flatter. started out with 2" round and upset it on the anvil, then in a swage block till it was about 4" in diameter. next time we forge we'll clean up the lines a little. We actually broke the swage block. This was a very old swage block that I knew was cracked-it was being held together with a large forged U bolt. We've used it many times before, but not that particular hole. Well looking at the block now, we saw the one major crack, but more than a few smaller almost hairline cracks. We still have 4-5 useable pieces/shapes, but have lost the good mass we need. Live and learn I guess; I'll be picking up a larger swage block and matching top tools from a friend in Iowa in two weeks.

since we're on the topics of flatters, how would you go about hardening one, if at all? I generally do not harden my top tools, but I think it may be wise to harden this, however I'd have to draw the temper back from the struck end. So heat the face to cherry, quench in a shallow amount of water, and let it temper with the remaining heat, then quench the whole thing in oil once the face is barely straw?

Well I'm hoping to be forging tomorrow, but I'm getting all four wisdom teeth pulled at 6am, so we'll see how I'm feeling.

Aaron

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Well got them pulled with no major complications. I'll be on meds for a couple days though. oh well.

Why don't you make one? or have yours welded back up...you said you don't use it often-at least for heavy work like we were doing, so after you grind the edges you should fine with it for a little while. If John and I had it, it probably wouldn't last a month more.

I've got a couple spares-smaller 2" ones that might be better suited to small work. next time I see you I'll show you the couple spares I have. I have two working ones that you saw and a few in reserves as John and I will go through them.

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