Chris C Posted March 14, 2020 Share Posted March 14, 2020 Well, much like the useless fretting I did over casting the KOL30 in my forge, (which turned out to be a total "piece of cake") I've put off the casting of my ribbon burner for the same reason. Next to connecting all the pieces of my 2" air and propane piping to the forge, I'm finished building my forge. I cast the ribbon burner today and it took right at an hour...........start to finish. Easy Peasy! Can't really believe I fretted over it for so long. It's got something like (I've actually forgotten how many now) 179 1/8" straws for the holes. This is a forced air burner, so the size of the holes won't be a problem. Started asking questions about building a forge in May of 2019 and am sliding into "home" 10 months later. Took too long in my opinion, but I spent an unusual amount of time and effort doing what I do best, which is being OCDC. I don't want to do anything half-heartily and mess it up. Besides, I "needed" to put in all of the fretting and procrastination time for good measure. Many people have told me differently, but this is my last forge, if I can help it. (bet I take a lot of ribbing over that one!) I've never liked doing things over or having to buy/make better because I didn't do it the right way the first time. We'll see if I accomplished that this time. If it doesn't blow up and level my shop, I'll try and post a video when I get it up and running. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted March 15, 2020 Author Share Posted March 15, 2020 Pulled the casting from the mold this morning and pulled all the straws out of it so it could soak in water for a week. Gettin' excited to have a forge here are the house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyGoatLady Posted March 15, 2020 Share Posted March 15, 2020 I'm glad you are in the home stretch now. Soon you'll be putting out those neat knives of yours on a regular basis. I look forward to seeing your forge running Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted March 15, 2020 Author Share Posted March 15, 2020 Thanks, CGL. Hope to catch up to you in hammer control someday. You've been turning out some mighty nice forgings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyGoatLady Posted March 15, 2020 Share Posted March 15, 2020 Thank you Chris. I still have a long way to go. Constantly learning and tweaking and getting those ah- ha! moments are fun. Not nearly where I'd like to be, but enjoying the journey on the way. You'll do just fine. Are you interested in doing general blacksmith work as well as knife making? I've never thought to ask before Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted March 15, 2020 Author Share Posted March 15, 2020 While general blacksmithing isn't my primary goal, CGL, I figure to do a lot of it if for no other reason than to gain hammer control and general knowledge as to "what moves where and why". So I have in my future lots of leaves, hooks, blacksmith knives, table-top nick-nacks, shop tools, etc., etc., etc. I've a long list of "someday" projects. I'd really like to make hammer heads. We'll see how well that plays out considering I don't have, nor will I ever have, a power hammer. Anxious to get my journey started. It's been frustrating watching so many of you getting started and leaving me in your dust. I hope to correct some of that. I'm within a week or so of having the forge ready to fire. I need to take my big tank and have it filled with propane, but I'm on a weight restriction from a surgery I had this past Tuesday. Not supposed to be lifting more than 10 pounds for the next two or three weeks. I'll probably break that rule if I'm feeling good. Today is the first day I've felt completely human since the surgery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyGoatLady Posted March 15, 2020 Share Posted March 15, 2020 Whatever you do, keep it enjoyable. You are like me in that you have perfectionist tendencies and that can be an exercise in fustration! I have to make myself relax sometimes. But striving for something to be just right ain't a bad thing either I hope you recover from surgery quickly. Take care of yourself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted March 15, 2020 Share Posted March 15, 2020 I wouldn't break the rule if I were you. I did that years ago and it took me three times longer to heal and to this day it reminds me about it. Always use a mechanical advantage when lifting heavy loads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted March 15, 2020 Author Share Posted March 15, 2020 Me...............a perfectionist, CGL...............NAW, not little 'ol me. There are a lot of things in this world I won't even try because of being a perfectionist. It's maddening sometimes. I tend to miss out on a lot because of it. Oh, IFC, I'll be a good boy. My wife screams at me all the time about not paying attention to the Doctor's instructions. Between the nagging from my wife and my conscience, surely I'll do this thing right! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maple smith Posted March 15, 2020 Share Posted March 15, 2020 Been there, done that. Do not lift more until the prescribed waiting period or you can very likely pull a muscle loose from the surgery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted March 15, 2020 Share Posted March 15, 2020 If you get impatient and injure yourself lifting something I'm going to berate you publicly and privately! Don't make me sorry I helped you get that thing going. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted March 15, 2020 Author Share Posted March 15, 2020 I promise I'll be a good boy, guys and gals. Thinking about finding someone to go with me to do the lifting and then following me home to lift the tank out of the truck. It's a big-un! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 17, 2020 Share Posted March 17, 2020 How big? I put 23 gallons of propane in one tank today at lunch and it wasn't empty when we started. I had help lifting onto the truck once it was full. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted March 17, 2020 Author Share Posted March 17, 2020 It's a 100# tank, Thomas. About 48" tall. I figure when I get my weight restriction lifted, (supposedly another 3 to 4 weeks) I'll be able to get it into the truck............not quite sure if I can get it off the truck when it's filled though. At least not until I'm completely healed from this surgery. Don't know when that'll be. The Surgery Doc called today and cancelled my Post-op appointment. Said at my age and just having had surgery, he didn't want me out and about to possibly be exposed to this virus..........and that definitely included his office! Said my immune system is compromised. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted March 17, 2020 Share Posted March 17, 2020 You need to find an engine hoist Chris, I can lift my 100lb. tank into the pickup over the gate with no more effort than pumping the handle. It's got to be one of my best ever yard sale scores to date. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted March 17, 2020 Author Share Posted March 17, 2020 Would be nice. Now that I have a welder, I might be able to make an A-frame and use my wire come-a-long. Needed one for the past 20 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted March 17, 2020 Share Posted March 17, 2020 I made an A frame out of ten foot pieces of 3/4 inch water pipe that came out of our well, then forged the top bar from sucker rod which fits inside the pipe legs held in with set screws. works well for lifting stuff out of the truck which fits under the frame. Heaviest load so far is 1200 pounds using the wire ratchet come along. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted March 17, 2020 Author Share Posted March 17, 2020 That's kind of what i had in mind, IFC. Needed one when I moved here 20 years ago and need one more and more the older I become............not that I'm "old", you realize. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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