blacksmiths, I have a question...

[3goodeggs]

I was looking at his anvil today, and it has no holes to bolt it down to an oak log. If the cement anvil pad is level, and we get the oak piece level, does it need to be bolted? it is around 70lbs. It isn't a shoeing anvil. It has a bill instead of a horn. (I do not know how he is going to make all of the decorative hooks I will be needing

)... I think we need to start hitting the flea markets. It might be fun. All we seem to do it work. A saunter though the tool isles might be pleasant. I want to also get him a vice. Do you have suggestions on the size? I guess it will need it's own log too? will a tool bench work for the vice ?

I am glad you are getting back into it! I think if you make hooks and hearts and just the things that cost a few dollars to buy, you can sell them at chickenswaps!...support your iron habit.

We have noticed that leisure takes time and money also, and we can't get seem to get either, so we are making time to do this before he is grown and gone.

There is a place about an hour from us that buys a boxcar load of coal and then sells it to craftsmen and farriers.it is $35/50lbs. Apparently this load is sulfur and gets..slag/ clinkers? Dunno, I never did learn all the names to the transformers and lego thingies, maybe I'll be better with this interest.

I work with plants and my hands look so awful. But I can not wear gloves because it just slows me down so much. But, hot metal...? I dunno. Burns hurt so badly. Funny thing about glass too, It doesn't need to be red to be hot either. Someone said that toothpaste immediately put on a metal burn works? does it? What do you all use? Because it is only a matter of time. I am thinking an ice chest full of ice at all times. (The worry has seeped in.)

oh, and as far as the junk goes, all trash is treasure now! Everything has potential. The guys are pile makers, and I am a file it by shape, size, length, and type...*sigh*. I need to just give that up now don't I?

I do appreciate the time you are both taking to help me with this. The husband and son are all into the building and I am into the planning and doing it correctly the first time.

 

[kfchickenlady]

First project, take 2 flat pieces of steel and use them on each side of the anvil to strap it to the stand. You will have to heat these to shape them, and then drill holes to hold the bolts. On an anvil that size, you can also use U bolts. I would start looking for a bigger anvil with a horn too, one thats 70lbs will be pretty limiting as to what you can forge with it. 200-225 lbs is my recommendation, you will have a bigger horn and face on that and its easy enough to move around. Another reason to hang around the blacksmith assoc. meetings, ha ha.
Also, you can make a pretty solid stand with 2x4s. I can get some pics of it to explain on here tomorrow night, we are having a power outtage at the moment...how old is your son?


Vice advice- traditionally blacksmiths use a post vise, found at flea markets because most ppl dont know what they are! The reason being, you want to be able to work all around your vise, and one mounted on a bench wont give you that option. A lot of shoers use a spring loaded vise, because its foot driven and you dont have to tighten anything by hand as you are working. It might be helpful to order a Centaur forge catalog, you can look at pictures of tools, anvils, etc.
There are a lot of blacksmithing books available there.
Good price on that coal.
Burns- aloe vera and duct tape. esp the duct tape, its therapeutic.

 

[3goodeggs]

he's 14. he is 6', at last count

I keep asking him how much further he is planning on growing, because I do not want to design the slope of his roof too low.
He will laugh when I tell him about the duct tape, he has a t-shirt that says "duct tape, it holds the world together." and the national duct tape council. His favorite saying when he uses duct tape is,"This is only temporary, unless it works."
At the age of nine I made him write 100 times, " I will not put duct tape on the furniture."

Well, off to the flea markets. I think that will be best. There is a scrap metal place in town that I dread them going to because ,"it's all good.!" But we will do a more thorough search, they have vices and things. I am kind of afraid it is stolen metal. It is more valuable as a vice than as scrap.
(I put my foot down last time that ''we were only going to get a top for the forge, nothing else.'' I left with a stainless steel strainer and 4 almost new aluminum bunt pans.

I think they set a trap for me.)

He will be delighted with his new project. I will tell him this morning. He has to design and build a project for the metal working merit badge. This will be useful. Thanks for the idea. I was not looking forward to buying a bit that would drill through an anvil. You saved us some $$. (Okay, it just postponed it.

how does one get a 250lb anvil HOME?)
I will order a forge catalog this morning.
Thanks.

 

[kfchickenlady]

KFCL here...omg that duct tape thing is insane, my son age 12 actually believes there is medicine in the duct tape glue. He goes to work w/ dad sometimes and has come home with cuts, etc covered in duct tape, they dont think about what it will feel like when they pull it off!!!

Ive heard so many times, All Steel is Good Steel, I had to laugh when I read your post! We will get some pics on here of the anvil stand we have at home, its pretty simple to make, just hard to explain in words. My son also in BSA will be glad to know there is a metal working merit badge, right now he is obsessed with shooting, it will be a nice break for me...

PS my DH is having a good time with this thread, send pics if you have em and keep asking questions

 

[3goodeggs]

Oh, whew.

I was afraid I was getting annoying.
I told my son about the duct tape and burns, and he smiled really big and burst out laughing. Then his eyes widened and said,"How do they get it off?!"

BSA has been wonderful for him. We home school, this is his last year before high school and I want to get as much done before -everything drops on him. They lose a lot of boys once they hit high school. Something about girls.

He should get his eagle scout service project done this summer. So I won't have to worry about him dropping out before it is completed.
I ordered the catalog, and wow! the online store is...wow. Shinny new stuff. ( It is like guy bling.)

 

[3goodeggs]

Here is the homemade forge. It was made out of an old grill my grandfather made for me to grill steak in. That never happened, at least now it has a use, I think he'd be happy.
The top is a something or other (tray?) that we found at the scrap yard. stainless. The part that holds the coal is a rim from a golf cart tire, and the blower is one of our old green house fans that keep the roofs inflated. I want the blower further away from the forge because it has to be plugged in and...mom worry, I do not want the electrical cord melting and the wires exposed.

I can't figure out how to post the other pics on the same post. I have that problem in email too. Please bear with me. or bare with me or something. Long day at the green houses, sorry.

ah HA! the edit button.

I would like for them to cut a hole in the side and have the blower with a flexible tube go into the air intake. I suppose the front could be called the "back" but then maybe adjusting the air would be awkward.
I know he will get burned, I just do not want anything tipping over on him while he is fiddling around.

 

[kfchickenlady]

yeah, keep the blower away from the forge, use a flexible pipe. you can also control the air by putting a rheostat on the blower and an air baffle at the pipe connection. Make sure the pipe is the same diameter or bigger as the blower exhaust. We tried a really cool trick one time with an air compressor hose, the smaller the diameter of hose, the higher the pressure, it tends to make the coal rain all over the shop...
I like your set up, if the golf cart rim wears out, semi truck brake drums work really well.
off too BSA meeting, will try to post pics of anvil stand later.

 

[galanie]

You'd be surprised how close things can be to the sides of the forge and not get very hot. As for the vent coming out the back, make it come out the side instead.

Also, for burns, well, tongs are for holding hot metal, not hands

And besides, it really doesn't take long to look at a hot horseshoe like the joke says LOL. Young people's reaction time is amazingly fast. Anyway, those who work with their hands know that bungs, scrapes, burns and cuts are just part of life

I'll be cobbling together an anvil stand today. I've got an idea how to do it and make it somewhat mobile. My anvil is a 100 pound horseshoeing anvil which is plenty fine for anything I'd actually do. Now to relocate my hardys. And punches.

What got me started, I saw a video of a guy processing chickens and extolling on the virtues of his curved knife. I thought "Hmm.. I could make one of those out of an old handsaw blade (wood cutting handsaw, not hacksaw)." And I did. Darn thing has an edge like a razor and so far holding it well. Saw blades are made of nice tool steel. It's also a bit flexible which is a plus.

This topic boring? No way!!

 

[3goodeggs]

A guy was telling me of a demonstration that he saw where quarters were put into the steal for a cool swirl in a knife blade. I need to see if there is a YouTube vid on that. Knifes sound like a long process.

I am glad you are getting back in it. Please show me some pictures of what you are making.

We watched-and I say 'we' loosely because I fell asleep- a Nova program last night on materials. They explained how the carbon atoms in steel 'wedge' the iron atoms together so that they don't slide and give it toughness. It was great timing and I wish I had not nodded off.

Benefactor number one called last night to light a fire under our fannies to get going on the shed again.
I had not realized I was slacking. It's funny in a head shaking sort of way. But I understand, this isn't Nintendo or ipod or whatever other kids seem to be interested in. He doesn't want the interest to fade before the parents get it together.

Benefactor number two left a long message on the answering machine about 'char'.
so I guess this weekend we will try and get the posts anchored and start what my son refers to as the 'smith.'

 

[galanie]

Your son is the "smith" and the building is the "smithy." Get him straight! LOL

Found coal today for $17 for 50 lbs. If a person is anywhere around the Houston, Texas area go to C&M Horseshoe Supply in Conroe. I remember going there 35 years ago so they've been around a LONG time. I was shocked to learn they were still around. New management and new building, but still I loved it. My huge forge experience today was heating a great big nail and pounding on it LOL. After the trip, and setting up a speed control on the fan, plus making a good base for the anvil, that's all I had time for. Now to dig around in the old Blacksmith book I have.

Encourage him! Build the thing NOW.

Creative hand work is the best there is. My kids are so very self-sufficient and handy now because they are not afraid to tackle things they know nothing about going in. Working with your hands does that. Having a mom and dad that same way helps too I suppose

But I've seen it develop in kids whose folks weren't that way.

PS - I hate to post a pic of the knife, it's so, uh, not perfect looking. Grinder marks evident and imperfect handle. I'm a woodworker too and after spending HOURS making a great handle, it split when I applied it. So I just put on a normal everyday handle that I made in a fraction of the time. It works GREAT though so maybe I will. Donno. But some pics of something will be posted eventually.