John Martin Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 (edited) Well today, when I got home from work around 3, I went straight outside, fixed the post vise, and fired the forge up. Overall it was a really productive day. The draft is amazing, it's like a vacuum. I went through 20lb of charcoal in about 3 1/2 hours, so it costs me about $2.84 an hour to run the forge. Today, I just worked on tapering and getting cleaner cuts with the hardie. I was limited to tapering and scrolling, as I only have two pairs of tongs, I'm ordering steel to make about 6 different kinds that I need right now. One of them will be a specialized one for holding the head on the end of railroad spikes. My younger brother joined me around 5 and he did a really good job of taking round stock and turning it into flat stock, and then hot-cut the flat stock off of the round stock. Here are some pictures of me forging. Not the best pictures....or technique ever. LOL. I still have to raise the anvil and level it real good. NOTE: I DID NOT WEAR SAFETY GLASSES, I ALSO HAD SANDALS ON, GOT A NICE BURN CUZ OF THAT. I AM GOING TONIGHT TO GET ALL OF THE PROPER SAFETY EQUIPMENT. I AM NOT AN EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW IN THE PICTURES. SORRY. -John Edited August 8, 2008 by m_brothers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Martin Posted August 8, 2008 Author Share Posted August 8, 2008 (edited) Here are some pictures of my younger brother forging. I also did a faggot weld in the forge as well. I have some pictures of it as well, not the cleanest weld ever, because I did not have any flux (I use borax). It welded really good on one side and not so well on the other side. You can tell in the pictures. Oh and the picture of the blower is how wide I have to have the air-gate open to forge weld. Otherwise, it's closed for general forging. If I open 'er all the way, I can literally blow charcoal and wood up into the air. The forge and blower are amazing. A special thank-you to Art(Finnr) for the blower, anvil, post vise, and misc tools, and to everyone for their support and encouragement. Forgot to mention that I got some wood, and am going to be putting a shed up with my dad this weekend. Will take pictures. The first picture is the two pieces after my first hot cut in a long time. Otherwise the rest are of Owen forging and hot cutting, the blower, and faggot weld. NOTE: THE SAME GOES FOR OWEN ABOUT THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT. -John Edited August 8, 2008 by m_brothers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabre Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 nice!!!......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie Zietman Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 (edited) Very nice! two things: EDIT: I just read the words again and realized that you know the anvil height is too low. also, if you chop up your charcoal into thumb-sized pieces you will get a denser fire, it will serve you better heatswise (your metal will heat quicker) and it also looks much much neater. great work guys! keep it up! be merry, Archie Edited August 8, 2008 by Archie Zietman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Martin Posted August 8, 2008 Author Share Posted August 8, 2008 (edited) Thanks Archie, I know the about the anvil height. Hate where it is right now, but either have to get a taller stump, or fab a stand with my welding teacher. And I'll make sure to chop and break the charcoal up into much smaller pieces. It was bright orange to a dull yellow most of the time while forging, camera doesn't do a good job catching the colors of the metal, and it was really bright outside. lol. -John Edited August 8, 2008 by m_brothers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie Zietman Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 My anvil height had the same problem. I just jacked it up by sliding a few flat paving slabs and wooden board between the stump and the ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Martin Posted August 8, 2008 Author Share Posted August 8, 2008 (edited) Oh good idea for now, I'll just jack it up with bricks. And then once the shop is put up, I'll get the stand fabbed up. -John Edited August 8, 2008 by m_brothers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug C Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 Good work. Looks like a heck of a draft. I used a white plastic bucket to crush the coal. Pour it in, crush with an old piece of two by four. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keykeeper Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 Looks like you and little brother had a good time. I know you mentioned getting proper safety equipment, so I'm not gonna harp on ya for that. You'll find when you have some closed toe shoes on and pants, you can step up to the anvil and really get hammering. It'll maximize your hammering to a whole new level. How scale down the shoe or between the toes isn't very fun, eh? Keep on forging! -aaron c. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 Your forge looks to be working very well all round John. Well done. Seeing as you've acknowledged your safety gear situation I won't chew on you for it. THIS TIME! Everyone gets hurt now and then no matter how careful we are but there's no excuse for being careless. Whatever you do to yourself, just don't get your little brother hurt for lack of basic good sense gear. Once you have long pants and shoes on you can lose the tongs on pieces that long and everything will get easier. You will need to cool the end you're holding onto once in a while but that's no biggy. What are the pieces of yellow painted angle iron on the tong rack for? I may like the idea and use it. Congratulations John, you've got yourself a real live, honest to goodness smithy. :cool: Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finnr Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 Looking great John. Does me good to see those tools being put to a good use. Keep hammering. It all comestogether real fast after a while. Finnr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Martin Posted August 8, 2008 Author Share Posted August 8, 2008 Looks like you and little brother had a good time. I know you mentioned getting proper safety equipment, so I'm not gonna harp on ya for that. You'll find when you have some closed toe shoes on and pants, you can step up to the anvil and really get hammering. It'll maximize your hammering to a whole new level. How scale down the shoe or between the toes isn't very fun, eh? Keep on forging! -aaron c. Yeah, hot scale and sparks in between the toes and under the foot aren't fun. Lol. But back when I had one heck of a make-shift setup, I could get right up and in there.Your forge looks to be working very well all round John. Well done. Seeing as you've acknowledged your safety gear situation I won't chew on you for it. THIS TIME! Everyone gets hurt now and then no matter how careful we are but there's no excuse for being careless. Whatever you do to yourself, just don't get your little brother hurt for lack of basic good sense gear. Once you have long pants and shoes on you can lose the tongs on pieces that long and everything will get easier. You will need to cool the end you're holding onto once in a while but that's no biggy. What are the pieces of yellow painted angle iron on the tong rack for? I may like the idea and use it. Congratulations John, you've got yourself a real live, honest to goodness smithy. Frosty Don't worry, Jerry, I went out and bought six pairs of safety glasses, one pair of fire gloves just in case (and if anyone insists on wearing them), a few earplugs, but the anvil doesn't ring like at all with hot metal on it, without the hot metal. You'd better hope you got ear protection. I'm getting a pair of work boots as well. But otherwise, right now I have, 4 pairs of ear plugs, 6 clear safety glasses, 2 shatter proof shaded glasses for forge welding, and grinding. Need a full face shield, but I'll get there someday soon hopefully. Thank-you Jerry and Aaron for the thoughts and tips. Right now, I'm ordering steel for tongs, s hooks, drive hooks and J hooks. Jerry here are some pictures of what those "yellow (actually orange, bad lighting and bad camera) angle iron pieces". The pieces that are identical can be used as adjustable S Hook jig, and the piece with the pipe on it is a set S Hook jig. The red fuller tool can be used in the anvil hardie hole or the vise, and all of these items were made by Chris (Hammerkid) as a trade for a blower that I sent him. However I have plans for a stock extension for the forge with the adjustable S Hook jib pieces. I'm going to make a stand that they just pop into, and then are held in place with a screw. They'll each sit in a pipe and both pipes will be welded into a stand. I held them together for what it would look like. Multi purpose Tools. Right now I'm in the process of making stands for all of the tools (anvil, post vise, stock extension, hammer rack/stand) lol.... Thanks for the interest in the tools. Thanks again Art. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 I know you're a careful guy John, I just can't help getting preachy sometimes. I'd feel terrible if someone got hurt and I had a chance to say something and maybe prevent it beforehand. I don't have so many friends I can afford to lose one if I can help it. I like the "S" hook jig, very slick. If you slipped a larger dia. piece of pipe over one of the pins you'd have an adjustable version of the other jig. A double arm on the fuller and the dies will stay parallel for you and you won't have to reset for depth as often. Thanks for the explanation. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Martin Posted August 8, 2008 Author Share Posted August 8, 2008 Thanks Frosty. I don't want anyone to get hurt or worse. And the Fuller can be set to different heights. The bolt on the back just loosens. I do not understand the double arm fuller that you were talking about. Sorry, lol. Could you please explain or describe what it is. -John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 Have you seen a treadle hammer with two sets of arms, one above the other? The double arms keep the hammer oriented with the anvil in two dimensions, vertical and side to side. The natural swing of the arms will alter the orientation longitudinally. (in line with the arms) The attached picture isn't great but it shows how the arms are arranged and how the ram is held vertical. It's more complicated to make but not too much so. The important things to have right are the holes. The holes in the arms must be the same distance apart or it'll bind. Same with the holes in the ram and vertical frame member though they don't need to be the same as the arms. I get them the same by clamping everything together before drilling. Arms to arms and ram to vertical member. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Browne Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 You are off and running. But not for long if you don't get the safety gear Enjoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MRobb Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 Great start! Looks good. I like your enthusiasm most. That will overcome most obsticals. Can't wait to see what you forge. How about posting pics of the spike tongs. I need a pair & would like to see your design. Thanks! Mitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rlarkin Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 Man, my feet are in pain just looking at the images. How about posting pics of the spike tongs. I need a pair & would like to see your design. Thanks! Mitch Here is the set I made. Simple rebar and some 5/8 chanel. Work great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammerkid Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 keep up the good work / fun john. yes get the safety gear beforwe you forge again. you have the sam sanders as i do that came from walmart for $2.00lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Martin Posted August 8, 2008 Author Share Posted August 8, 2008 (edited) Lol, Chris. 2 bucks sounds about right. I'll make the tongs into a blue-print. And then will submit them to Glenn. I like the bolt tongs rlarkin, but my are going to be specially designed to fit the head of the spike. I am making six pair of tongs. One for RR spikes as mentioned above, then two different sized square stock ones, two round ones, and one square stock bolt tongs. John and Owen Edited August 9, 2008 by m_brothers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabre Posted August 9, 2008 Share Posted August 9, 2008 man ive tried tongs a few times and awlys mess up LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finnr Posted August 9, 2008 Share Posted August 9, 2008 keep trying they will come to you. Finnr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug C Posted August 9, 2008 Share Posted August 9, 2008 If you are an ABANA member the last two issues of Hammer's Blow had very detailed instructions on making tongs with lots of images. If you are not a member you can still order back issues on their site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Martin Posted August 9, 2008 Author Share Posted August 9, 2008 Art, the book that you gave me, A Blacksmithing Primer, is what I'm using to make the tongs, but I'm not using the same material, I'm using all square stock. I'm trying to set my own tongs apart from other ones by decorating each one differently. Yes more time, but I have time. It will also help with other skills I need to get a lot better at. Lol. Once I get tongs down, I'll teach Owen how to. As I learn new skills, I'm going to get better at them, and then teach Owen them. This is really going and is a lot of fun. I'm learning a ton. -John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finnr Posted August 9, 2008 Share Posted August 9, 2008 Way to go John!!! it's been said many times that teaching is the fastest way to learn. Just make sure you have good knowledge to pass along. You have a good start with that book. Finnr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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