August 1, 201213 yr Hello! This forum was suggested to me by a friend. I'm hesitant to call my self anything other than a newbie, but I have made a couple very simple things ( removable pins for a folding chair ) in my forge and burned a LOT of scrap wood from my shop... and this.... It looks great and fits inside the Altoids tin, but apparently it was the wrong kind of steel. I guess the pretty sparks my grinder made was from the case hardened surface. It was a cheap combo rasp. I managed to draw out the handle nicely, the offset was not too hard to do, the little twist was fun... and it will not throw sparks at all. I've tried to temper it a couple times.... no difference. I've been working on a hand cranked blower to replace the electric one I have now... Not so much replace as it is to give myself more choices. I had the blower fan and the spirit of Rube Goldburg spoke to me and this was the result. I still have to hook it up and try it out but it looks like it might work.... Since the picture was taken I've removed the pedals and replaced them with handles. I'm thinking seriously about going to Quad State this fall...http://www.iforgeiro...for-a-beginner/ I just wanted to say " Hi! "
August 1, 201213 yr Hello Jim and welcome to IFI. Great little sight here with lots of info and a great bunch of guys! Did you harden that item after you forged it out? This may be why it won't spark for you. You mention a temper but no hardening! Just curious.
August 1, 201213 yr Author oops, I got the terms backwards.... I've tried to harden it a couple times.... Heated to cherry red and quenched. If i make it to Quad State ( and can find it ) I'll bring it and see if I just didn't do it correctly.
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