Frazer Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 Well in that case, *disclaimer: for entertainment purposes only* And in the beginning there was steel. Formed by quite industrious fellows under the oversight of... *insert expansive and eloquent dissertation pertaining to the character of the societies/organizations/institutions responsible for defining the metallurgical standards by which various material properties are achieved* Then came the shadow, cast upon the fruits of these men (and women's) labor by an enclosure which had been formed from the carcasses of pulverized trees. For 3 days the darkness remained, while the contents lay nestled in a bed of compressible materials, safe from potential harm during the treacherous journey. Finally, upon reaching it's destination, there was light, and these fruits were removed from their safe resting place and placed firmly in the rigid jaws of a vise. Promptly, and with all of the precision that can be achieved with a hacksaw, the materials were dismembered and stacked, separated from its former self by the thickness of its neighbor, where they were together electrocuted quite intensely. By now the base brute, who was now their keeper, was wielding a blunt instrument. He cast the conjoined materials into the fire from which they were formed. And here they lay. When it seemed the heat was almost unbearable, they were removed from the fire. As the brute faced due north, and while muttering an incantation of sorts under his breath, they were struck. Pressing their faces together with such force that they had no choice but to join together to resist his blows. The beatings persisted, and only ceased when the heating resumed, or to be once again dismembered and rejoined with it's former self. And in the end, abrasives. Such a collection of abrasives that it would be impossible to recollect them all. All the while the brute continued to mutter his incantations. Although they were quieter now, and they were directed at the material itself. The same material which he had abused so mercilessly before. If you follow the steps performed by our anti-hero, and perhaps add a few of your own, you may indeed create a similar pattern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLAG Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 Mr. Frazer, sir, Should we, then, consult the expertise of an alchemist? I wonder. SLAG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frazer Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 If one has such a contact, that may be slightly more efficient than the swing and pray method I have described Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLAG Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 Frazer san, We are diligently trying to establish contact at this very moment. Our myrmidons are hard at work. We will keep you posted as soon as we establish such contact. Regards, SLAG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peppie Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 Finished up a twisting jig today. The twisted bar in the jig is 3/4". The jig was first mounted on a bench, but I found it awkward to twist large stock. So I thought I would jig up a mount for my anvil stand. It is easily removed, and can be mounted back on the bench to twist smaller stock in the wrenches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shoshinjoe Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 Peppie that is a great bit of fabrication. i had to re-heat treat the claw hammer I made and finally got a handle on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnut Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 2 hours ago, Peppie said: Finished up a twisting jig today The crescent wrench caught my eye. I can think of many reasons for it to be there but I was wondering ,what was the reason you put it there? I'm guessing it's not just a shim. Pnut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc1 Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 3 hours ago, Peppie said: Finished up a twisting jig today. The twisted bar in the jig is 3/4". The jig was first mounted on a bench, but I found it awkward to twist large stock. So I thought I would jig up a mount for my anvil stand. It is easily removed, and can be mounted back on the bench to twist smaller stock in the wrenches. Peppie ... the reason the twist in your machine is slightly bent, is because the bar does not seem to be properly supported and is allowed to wander sideways in a larger guide. You need to clamp top and bottom firmly in a bush that can only turn with no slack. The handle should have a similar bush turning inside a tight guide that allows turning only and sliding along the axis to compensate for material shortening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlpservicesinc Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 Marc, the tight fitting items in bushes ( is so true this will get rid of any bend and is great to keep in mind for any one building this type of twisting jig.. As an addition to the great info, a piece of reasonably tight fighting pipe loose on the stock will do it too. if it's smooth inside it won't scratch the outside corners. Shoshinjoe, looks good.. Be sure to sign it.. someone 50 years from now will be wondering what it is, and who made it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 10 hours ago, Frazer said: If you follow the steps performed by our anti-hero, and perhaps add a few of your own, you may indeed create a similar pattern. Peppie, As with everything else you've shown us, that's fantastic. What a twister! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peppie Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 Pnut- the wrench are for smaller reverse twists, when the jig is mounted on the bench. Marc1- that was my first twist with the jig. The round hole at the end of the jig is @ 1 1/4". What you explained is it's intended use. I will be tweaking as I go. Chris C- TY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlpservicesinc Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 So I was asked to compile edged tools for show and tell. It's amazing to me for someone who forges so little how much I have done in the last 3 or so years of coming out of retirement especially since I only forge on average about once a month or less. This photo doesn't include all the knives or hatchets sold nor all the other thumblatches, hinges, handled punches, hammers, hardies, etc, etc. Funny really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 That's some good lookin' work right there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les L Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 Frazer, I really like the pattern on your knife and was planning on trying one....until I read your how to article. I'm pretty sure my neighbors would call the cops when I started muttering my incantations. Great work everyone! I'll have more time to be in the shop in the near future and hopefully I'll be able to start posting pictures of items I have learned to forge from the pictures and advise on this forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 13 minutes ago, Les L said: I'm pretty sure my neighbors would call the cops when I started muttering my incantations. Depends on where you live. I know some places where folks would want to join in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 John doesn't live in the "Pitchforks and Torches" Belt..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twigg Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 Made myself a casting forge yesterday by sinking a 12" x 8" diameter piece of stove pipe into an 11" x 11" x 4" quikrete slab, and lining the inside with 2" of 8# kaowool, rigidized with cement sealer. Used a 3/4" burner following David Hammer's design. I know that 2" of kaowool isn't a real lining, but I'm only trying to cast aluminum for now. The slab fell apart today when I took the form off and picked it up (this was after about 12hrs of setting). Oh well. Still usable, but it makes me sad. Guess I can add masonry to the list of things I suck at haha. I'll give it another whirl with a metal form, and I'll leave the metal form for support in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 Concrete "Sets" in a few hours but takes up to 7 DAYS to cure. It's also spectacularly, even dangerously unsuitable for any kind of furnace, forge or melter. We'll just hang, hoping not to read about you in the papers and your next await version. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twigg Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 Yeah in hindsight that makes a lot of sense. I did isolate the concrete from the heat with 2" of kaowool, but still I did not have a plan for if the concrete cracked from thermal stresses and the forge spilled. It's times like these when I'm really glad I joined this forum. I really appreciate the save Frosty What if I make a metal form for the slab, and leave the form on? That way even if the concrete cracks in half, it won't cause the forge to fall over. I just know that material as thin as this stove pipe is beyond my skill with welding, and if I tried to braze it I'd end up with a potato chip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 to be clear ------> the concrete can explode Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 Steve is correct: the heat decomposes the calcium hydrates, and the water thus released can flash to steam and go boom. Not good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 You should be OK if you set the forge in fire clay or adobe inside the metal form. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 Or make it a bit deeper and pour oil-dri or cheap clay based kitty litter around it---won't cause problems even with spills if then kept dry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GolFisHunt Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 Since I saw no path to get this knife to pretty, I chose to finish it. Just short of 8". Amateurish, I know, but I'm an amateur, so I'm reasonably pleased with it. No close up photos were warranted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 It should cut, just might have to sharpen it more often. BTW: You might want to edit this and resize the large picture, there is a 30 minute window in which to edit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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