ThomasPowers Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 deep texture on a blade comes under the term "stress concentrators" and makes the blade weaker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 Today, I made clinker. (Actually, I made a bunch of stuff, but I'm not really happy with most of it. A rather frustrating session in the forge.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John McPherson Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 Yesterday, I did a demo for the Boy Scouts in the open and was rained out. First time I have ever had an anvil rust *while* I was demonstrating! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 1 hour ago, JHCC said: Today, I made clinker. (Actually, I made a bunch of stuff, but I'm not really happy with most of it. A rather frustrating session in the forge.) I know days like that. Call it a night and make better things next forge time. 1 hour ago, John McPherson said: Yesterday, I did a demo for the Boy Scouts in the open and was rained out. First time I have ever had an anvil rust *while* I was demonstrating! What were you going to demo for the boyscouts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John McPherson Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 Flint strikers and arrowheads. Mostly talking about the history of American Indians and forged trade items on the frontier, 1500-1860. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 I'm game to listen . Tell us a story. Please? As a boyscout I never got to meet a blacksmith all through Eagle Scout. Sad really. No one to teach or inspire metal work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tubalcain2 Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 5 hours ago, JHCC said: Today, I made clinker. (Actually, I made a bunch of stuff, but I'm not really happy with most of it. A rather frustrating session in the forge.) that sounds like my last shop day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gergely Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 11 hours ago, ThomasPowers said: deep texture on a blade comes under the term "stress concentrators" and makes the blade weaker. Thanks for the actual words, Thomas. Bests: Gergely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausfire Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 Demos at different locations for the last three days. Pack, unpack, pack, unpack - just gotta get a lighter anvil block! One location was an open day at our local railway so I put together a display of railway spike stuff. Forged a lot of bulls head things - camp oven lifters, billy lifters, hat hooks etc. Also spent a lot of time talking. The last picture shows what happens to a rail spike when you talk too much and forget to turn down the forge blower. Folks watching thought it was funny. (And it was sparktacular to pull out!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 Interesting rim around the head of the RR spike. I don't think I've seen one like that before -- must be an Australian thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Ling Posted October 9, 2017 Author Share Posted October 9, 2017 I was gonna say. Littleblacksmith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwj Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 10 hours ago, Daswulf said: I'm game to listen . Tell us a story. Please? As a boyscout I never got to meet a blacksmith all through Eagle Scout. Sad really. No one to teach or inspire metal work. Das, check out what's available here in Virginia for the youth thru the "Blue Ridge Mountains Council" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 The Blacksmithing Merit Badge was rewritten fairly recently with the help of actual smiths! Philmont Scout Range here in NM has some great smithwork in the "BigHouse". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 Okay, here's one thing from yesterday that came out okay. This is a section of truck leaf spring made into a scrolling hardy (since my anvil lacks a side shelf). I think I may need to touch the edge up a bit with a file. Reverse view showing doubled-over stem: And here's the spring cut to shape before bending. I do love that PortaBand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLAG Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 Aus, After the spectacular railroad spike fireworks, ends. Quench it, pick it up and announce, solemnly, that "the local termite problem is getting out of hand". And Parliament should DO something! Just sayyin, Regards to all the folks down under from us, up over. SLAG, The spectacle and display will make your performance dwell in the spectators memory for years to come. It is surely worth the cost of a spike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Cochran Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 6 hours ago, ausfire said: There's some really nice looking stuff there but I have a question about a couple of the pieces. What is that you have right under the toasting fork? The two mirror image pieces. I could see them used for a couple things but don't want to assume anything and have my foot lodged in my mouth. Btw, I may have to copy a couple of them to see if they are capable of doing what I'm thinking even if that's not what they are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausfire Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 Hi Michael, The pair under the toasting fork are hangers for plant baskets. The spike is split from the head end and the other end forged into a hook. They are actually upside down in the pic. They look good on the walls of the railway station holding colourful hanging baskets. I'll find a close up picture of one: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judson Yaggy Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 5 hours ago, JHCC said: I do love that PortaBand. Ha! Told you so! (Grin) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 And how right you were! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Cochran Posted October 10, 2017 Share Posted October 10, 2017 15 hours ago, ausfire said: The pair under the toasting fork are hangers for plant baskets. The spike is split from the head end and the other end forged into a hook. I appreciate the quick reply. That's a fine looking plant hanger and I never would've figured that was what it was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Ling Posted October 10, 2017 Author Share Posted October 10, 2017 This was done today and yesterday. Sorta restored an old rivet forge I dug up a couple years ago. Yesterday I forged a bulldog bottle opener, a feather wall hook, and a business card holder. Finished up a screw driver forged from 3/4" coil spring, and handled a 1 1/2lb rounding hammer. Also forged a little stump anvil. Quickest thing I've done, just a block of mild steel, a square taper welded to other end, and then I took one heat and upset the top a little just for fun. Littleblacksmith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted October 10, 2017 Share Posted October 10, 2017 Nice work LBS. they all look great. Aus, I'll guess that the heads of the plant hanger spikes were cut with a bandsaw? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausfire Posted October 10, 2017 Share Posted October 10, 2017 No, Das, my bandsaw is just for wood. I cut the spike with a thin cutting disc on the angle grinder as far as I could and then (laboriously) with a hacksaw. And yes, I agree with you about LBS's work. The copper rivets on the card holder look really good. I am constantly astounded by the quality of his work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeroclick Posted October 10, 2017 Share Posted October 10, 2017 LBS that work looks brilliant. Wish I had half your skill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasent Posted October 10, 2017 Share Posted October 10, 2017 Yeah that^^^ very nice work! Lbs Is that stump anvil for Ryan? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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