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March 2003 Archive


ice storms.....: PPW, so did the storm catch you out in the outhouse and you are now just getting back in, or did you get caught out of town?
Ralph - Monday, 03/03/03 23:32:52 GMT

Ralph: Caught me in the house, with no power.
Paw Paw - Tuesday, 03/04/03 01:02:48 GMT

.....Sorry to hear you got hit by the ice Paw Paw. We had the same thing here in the Bluegrass a few weeks ago. Five days with no power ain't no fun. But I did learn I can cook meatloaf and pork roast on a kerosene heater. In fact, you could cut the roast with a fork. Must have been the kerosene fumes.
  Larry - Tuesday, 03/04/03 03:18:50 GMT

Larry:

We lit a fire in the fireplace, and hung blankets over the archways into the dining room and hall way. Left the blankets about a foot off the floor for air circulation. Blew up the queen sized air matress and cooked in the fireplace. Momma and I both know how to do that and we've had the camping equipment for years.
Paw Paw - Tuesday, 03/04/03 04:17:01 GMT

"Insurance": What kind of Insurance does anybody carry at Festivals Fairs or open markets. Any help would be great. I am in North Bay Ontario Canada. So a name or company would have to be able to service us Canadains.

PS - Its still snowing out.

www.nbaac.com
Barney - Tuesday, 03/04/03 15:36:29 GMT

PPW: So it was "life imitating art" over at your place---any insights for the next chapters of TRB? (well besides the air mattress part...)

Thomas 4 chimneys, 8 flues, *no* working fireplaces...
- Thomas Powers - Tuesday, 03/04/03 18:23:28 GMT

Still waitin' on Amy Pieh's[sounds like pay] web site to come up. I'd like to see what kind of competition she runs on Centaur Forge. Besides, I want to do some shopping for some stuff that Kaynes doesn't sell.
- Bob Harasim - Wednesday, 03/05/03 00:31:52 GMT

Bob:

I don't think it will be much longer now.
Paw Paw - Wednesday, 03/05/03 00:36:03 GMT

Star Hammer: Greg, They are like all mechanical poser hammer in that they are no longer made and there are no spare parts available (Little Giant is the exception on parts, Bradley and Fairbanks parts can be gotten special order).

The Star was sort of a copy of a Little Giant with some changes (to get around patents probably). Stars are not common.
- guru - Wednesday, 03/05/03 15:05:23 GMT

Pieh Tool Company: Amy has Vaughans tools available NOW (more coming). Vaughan makes English water cooled side blown tuyeers and forges, cast steel anvils and the English style leg vise like Centaur sold. Amy claims much better prices on the Vaughans stuff and we are working on getting info on her new web site.
- guru - Wednesday, 03/05/03 15:11:04 GMT

Pieh Tool Co: Camp Verde, AZ is about 100 miles from me. In a couple of weeks I will take a trip up there and report back as to in-store stock.
Ellen - Wednesday, 03/05/03 17:46:17 GMT

Pieh Tool Company:

Since the Cat is out of the bag, I'll admit that I already have my customer number from Piegh Tool Company. I ordered another pair of safety glasses, they should be here in a couple more days.

Oh, my customer number? 100001, thank you very much! (grin)
Paw Paw - Wednesday, 03/05/03 21:45:38 GMT

PPW's customer number: Hey Paw Paw, nice to see Amy gave you a # that was close to your age!
Looks like I'm back to being mister "too sordid" after I anted up to join CSI and got the same handle as what I use in my infrequent visits to the slack tub pub. Whatever works...
- Joe Eggleston
Two Swords - Thursday, 03/06/03 06:36:13 GMT

WTH?: Sorry PPW, there was supposed to be a after that wisecrack about your advanced age . Hope they show up this time, I'm startin to sweat....
-JE
Two Swords - Thursday, 03/06/03 06:40:18 GMT

gulp!: G.....R......I.....I....um,....N
whew!
Two Swords - Thursday, 03/06/03 06:44:18 GMT

Two Swords:

Shouldn't that be two safety pins, instead of two swords? One for each side of the diaper? (grin)
Paw Paw - Thursday, 03/06/03 07:03:52 GMT

Quietly: He strops his knife while contemplating methodology. Where to start, where to start????? Down there? No, he doesn't have enough there anyway. Up here? Might as well, all they do is break up the monotomy of the male chest.
Paw Paw - Thursday, 03/06/03 07:05:34 GMT

Not so quietly: Paw Paw; *don't* forget to wear your hearing protectors!

Thomas
- Thomas Powers - Thursday, 03/06/03 14:32:45 GMT

ouchie-ouchie-OW!!: PPW, I did go to the extra effort to get a grin in there after THREE TRIES -- isn't that worth something? Well, I guess you are at least using a SHARP knife, after all.....
Two Swords - Thursday, 03/06/03 15:42:50 GMT

Thomas:

You know, that may be why my hearing isn't as good as it used to be. Course, nothing else is, either! (grin)

Two Pocket Knives, (grin)

I always use a sharp knife. (grin)
Paw Paw - Thursday, 03/06/03 15:47:35 GMT

Burners: [/lurk]

Tony/Adam/VIC: Followed with much interest your burner experiments. The thread seems to have tapered off. Must be a pipe thread. (G) Any big conclusions?

Two Swords, I think the grin doesn't show up if you enclose it in less than/greater than symbols.
Jim Wilson -- not PPW, quite - Thursday, 03/06/03 17:02:59 GMT

Sharp Knife, work and life, Burner experiments:
Paw Paw, sometimes I find skinning a little easier with a knife that is not dead sharp. Just a thought. And ya know.... skinning can sometimes be done by just pulling the skin off if the carcass is warm. Make the neck, chest and belly cuts, leg cuts, and just pull down from the neck. Especially on thin skinned ones. Grin!

Frank, Annabel, et al, life and work from the guru page. A couple of statements for discussion purposes...

Work should never detract from spending reasonable time with family unless it has to in order to feed and house the family.

Anyone who does work that is distasteful to them on a regular basis, and is not doing it in order to feed and house the family and self, with other viable options available, is part of their own problem. I see many people doing jobs they don’t like or are not well suited to. They hate their work and they are not doing a good job. They have the ability to switch jobs but don’t. Either out of fear of the unknown or they think it doesn’t get any better.

One should examine their likes and skills, examine different jobs, try quite a few, and select one wisely so that it isn’t drudgery and doesn’t affect family badly. The world would be a better place.

Anyone who neglects their family to do more work because they prefer their work more than their family, should not have had a family.

Or, more simply stated........ Family first. Having fun with your family, and teaching kids how to have fun, as well as how to work and interact, is a responsibility in my opinion

In a perfect world of course.

And I always strive for what I opine to be perfect..... grin.

Annabel, life should drive work ,not the other way around, in my opinion. But as John Ruskin said....

Life without labor is guilt. Labor without art is brutality.

I hope I remembered that right.

Jim Wilson (not Paw Paw), As for me, the orifice had less effect once the burner was in a forge due to the back pressure of the forge on the burner flow. I still have some other stuff on tap, rumbling around in the noggin, and will report when I try them. Other interesting stuff jumps in some times. Grin
- Tony - Thursday, 03/06/03 17:51:46 GMT

Creative knifework: PawPaw; Don't forget our ever-popular "Native American" technique of flaying the soles of the feet in narrow strips. Exquisite! Warm regards, 3dogs
3dogs - Thursday, 03/06/03 19:10:40 GMT

Jim Wilson (Not Paw Paw):
I probably will catch the dickens for saying this, but the only difference between (Not Paw Paw) and Paw Paw is the addition of Jr. instead of Sr. to our name.

Hi, son! (grin)

And before you guys ask, no he's not as mean as I am. (nother grin)
Paw Paw - Thursday, 03/06/03 19:34:49 GMT

Differences::
Let me clarify that a little. That's not the only difference, between us, but it's the only difference between our names.
Paw Paw - Thursday, 03/06/03 19:42:48 GMT

Differences: No worries! I almost said "Old One," but then I remembered you've been outmaneuvering discorporation fairly well, so that title can't quite be bestowed, yet, can it? (BG)

Just finished tuning my first RR-type burner -- modified, of course -- aren't they all? It runs steadily oxidizing to reducing, from idle at ounces to roar at over 60 psi, outside the forge. I am quite pleased so far; honestly didn't expect it to run so well on the first go. The fiber blanket and kiln shelf haven't even arrived, yet! Still, I hope to have my first real forge operational within a week.

It will be good to work with something better than my old makeshift MAPP torch/insulating firebrick forge, although I must say the old stack-o'-bricks has served quite well enough for longer than reasonable. It is even helping with the birth of its brother; the new burner flare was forged from its rapidly disintegrating innards.

Hmm...I need a handle if I'm going to keep opening my yap around here. Ah, what's in a name? A rose by any other name would -- Hey, Paw Paw, you remember what roses smell like, don't you?! I'm *sure*! (even bigger grin)
Jim Wilson - Thursday, 03/06/03 21:28:23 GMT

Not Paw Paw:
I could suggest a couple of names, but you want a name you can use in public and that won't get me in trouble with your mother, don't you? Hmm... That makes it a bit more difficult. (grin)

Well, Paw Paw II isn't taken yet, and you'll have grand children before too much longer. LOL
Paw Paw - Thursday, 03/06/03 23:20:33 GMT

Burners: Jim the Younger,

I got distracted by building the nouveau neo-Gothic senile dementia forge, and progress on the burner issue has been at a standstill. In all fairness to myself though, I've had a bunch of extra stuff dumped on me at work lately. It all conspires to take time away from my dabbling at discoveries. Such is life, eh?

Annabel,

I've been at the side of a number of dying people and not one of them ever said that he wished he had spent more time working and less time with his family. When I thought very seriously last year that I was about to croak, I never gave a single thought to how it would affect the people at work, either. There's a message in there, somewhere.
vicopper - Thursday, 03/06/03 23:48:58 GMT

Vic:
Twenty two years ago, I had a mild heart attack. The folks at work were the LAST thing on my mind. I pushed a little harder to tell Sheri that I loved her and to be sure and tell the kids the same thing. THAT'S what's important. Family. It's importance and value stand head and shoulders above every other consideration.

I wish I had known that a little better 40 years ago.
Paw Paw - Friday, 03/07/03 01:02:56 GMT

Paw Paw: You been talking to my kids? We just got word that Andrew's first is due October 7. And Lisa called today and announced she is due October 24. Sheesh, I'm way too young to be a grandaddy! You ready to be a great-grand Paw Paw?

Been thinking on what they should call me. Of course, Paw Paw's no good (G). Mary suggested "Papa" (Poppa?). Tyler said, "Grandpappy!" I vetoed that one in a hurry!! Hmmm, maybe "Grampa." *sigh*

Ever notice how the foibles of your youth are invariably repeated by your children? (G)
Jim Wilson - Friday, 03/07/03 04:53:45 GMT

vic's forge: vicopper: I saw your nouveau neo-gothic senile dementia forge. What a cutie!!! I love it!

Q: How many cubic inches inside?

Q2: What kind of burners will it get?
Jim Wilson - Friday, 03/07/03 05:09:45 GMT

The forge: Jim the Younger,

The inside is about 12" long by 6" wide by around 5" high. The sidewall are vertical for about 3" before the roof starts to curve. I'd guess the total volume is about 320 cu. in. More or less.

Right now I'm using a single kinda poorly made atmospheric burner that is similar to a miniMongo, but with sloppy workmanship. My plan is to use two lightly smaller burners, still atmospheric. Or I might build a manifolded set of blown burners. It depends on what I can scrounge for a blower, etc. On the one miniMongo, it works fine for forging, but takes half an hour to get close to welding temp. It never really reaches welding temp unless I crank the pressure up to 25 psi, and the heat distribution is not exactly what I want with only one burner.

The working design of the forge, aside from the decorative stuff, wroks very well. The clamshell front door and back port are great. No more fighting to cram a recalcitrant scroll through a too-small door.
vicopper - Friday, 03/07/03 05:40:22 GMT

Great Grand Paw???:

Who, ME? Twice? In October??

No, I'm not ready for this! (sigh)
Paw Paw - Friday, 03/07/03 05:46:29 GMT

WOW that smarts!: Tony, 3 dogs, both of you Wilsons - holy cow. Hope I never meet all of ya at once in a dark alley (grin) (hope it shows up). Young (er) Jim, thanks for the grin help, serious, not sarcastic. I really started to sweat when they didn't show up...again, and again...No hard feelings, Paw Paw?
Two Swords - Friday, 03/07/03 05:56:49 GMT

James das jungere:

> Ever notice how the foibles of your youth are invariably repeated by your children? (G)

Yea, I noticed that. Did you notice that, too? (wry grin)

Congratulations, son.
Paw Paw - Friday, 03/07/03 06:04:30 GMT

Two Swords:

Hard feelings? What for? (gently stropping his knife)
Paw Paw - Friday, 03/07/03 06:19:01 GMT

(grin)
Paw Paw - Friday, 03/07/03 06:19:53 GMT

WILSONFIRE!: Has a nice ring to it, don't it PawPaw? Best regards, 3dogs
3dogs - Friday, 03/07/03 08:49:53 GMT

PPW et al: Paw Paw, shouldn't you be moving up to Paw Paw Paw? Better finish off that story so's you'll have something to read to the younger young'uns!

As for a "use" name how about "Dennis" since he used to rile "Mr Wilson" a lot!

Thomas preparing to be skinned alive with a dull anvil dipped in kerosene
- Thomas Powers - Friday, 03/07/03 13:31:34 GMT

Skinning: Two swords, rhetorical only. No worries about meeting me in a dark alley. Grin.

If you go back a month or so, Paw Paw was stropping his knife for me too. Grin.

Congrats Jim the younger! And Paw Paw. You guys breed like rabbits or what? grin. A good thing at any rate. We need more good people in the world.

Tony - Friday, 03/07/03 13:40:46 GMT

Tony,:

Hey! If something is worth doing, it's worth overdoing!

Got a story I should tell on James Das Jungere, but maybe I'd better not, he's got a few he cold tell on me, too.
Paw Paw - Friday, 03/07/03 13:53:02 GMT

The forge: I was wondering why you went with two burners. Now I understand. How important do you think is the 5" height? Could that be reduced to 4" or maybe even 3-1/2" without loss of functionality?

I was planning to keep my chamber in the 250 cubic inch range, so that a single burner would do. Now you have me wondering if even then, the temperature gradient would be overly sharp. Maybe the twin burner design is simply superior. No doubt, extra power adds flexibility, as usual. (G)
Jim Wilson - Friday, 03/07/03 14:58:19 GMT

handles: Hmmmm......Jim the younger, perhaps. It appears to be catching, anyway :-) Thanks for the other suggestions. I have used JOATMON for a long time (still is Joat_Mon on Yahoo!), but gradually found that I preferred my real name over a catchy handle. Even though it's a common name, I haven't often encountered a conflict. I guess most other Jim Wilson's prefer catchy handles. (GG)

Besides, "Jack-of-all-trades" and "blacksmith" seem redundant, anyway.
Jim Wilson - Friday, 03/07/03 15:13:31 GMT

anvils: Datapoint: There are no 120#+ anvils available near Tucson, Arizona. In any condition. At any price. There have not been any in two years. There will not be any, unless I go somewhere and get one. Oh, wait. Then there still won't be any _available_.

Observation: Two years of banging red hot steel on the back of your bench vise does not make it a better anvil.

*sigh* Gonna have to make a trip to Mesa, I can feel it.
Jim Wilson - Friday, 03/07/03 15:22:53 GMT

babies: Like rabbits?! Not me! I figured out what was causing them and quit. After four.
Jim Wilson - Friday, 03/07/03 15:25:50 GMT

hard feelings: PPW - whew...
Tony - I remember. Felt bad for you, at the time. (grin)

What's everybody think about Trenton anvils? It sure is prettier than my Russian.

James Das Jungere - congrats for one thing. Also, anvil shopping, I think Barry Denton is out your way, or at least in AZ. Skull Valley, I think. Bought a blower from him a while back and he took care of me. It was in super shape.
Two Swords - Friday, 03/07/03 16:18:57 GMT

Work- life: We have a neighbor up the road a bit. The guy gets up at 5:30 every morning to drive to the train station to go to work. Gets home around 8:30 pm. Works nights and weekends doing book-keeping and taxes for small businesses on the side. He has a huge house, a couple very expensive cars, a sweet Harley that he never gets to ride and last year he bought a sail boat that he plans to have restored. For what? The poor guy has no time at all to enjoy any of it. On the rare times you actually see the guy and ask "How's things?" you get the same answer. "Only 6 weeks till vacation" or something along that line. He spends 48 weeks a year absolutely hating his life for 4 weeks of down time. Maybe its just me, but I don't think its worth the trade. Sure I like to have toys too, but at what cost? I suppose the line is different for everyone. On the other hand, you gotta eat and I've had to do work that was less than enjoyable from time to time. Great! Now I'm thoroughly depressed. Gonna go out and shovel the fresh new foot of snow we got yesterday. That'll make me feel better.

Enjoy the bliss kids. Rich
Gronk - Friday, 03/07/03 16:33:14 GMT

Life/Work: When I was a young ambitious engineer working for Raytheon I found I putting in more and more hours outside 40 per week. Mama Raytheon just kept on asking for more and more. Finally on a beautiful summer Friday evening when I was called into a 5:00 PM meeting where the big bosses didn't want my input anyway I went home.

I guess the big cheese felt I wasn't a team player because 6 months later they layed me off. It was the nicest thing any company has ever done for me. I took a year off and got my priorities straight.

I was lucky that it happened when I was 30 (not 50) and could still do everything I wanted to do.

So Paw Paw and Gronk, you have the right idea. Why have all the high priced toys when you don't know what your kids look like? I'd love to have a Harley, but I'm not going to kill myself working to get it. My Honda runs great. My stress level is low.
Stephen G - Friday, 03/07/03 17:42:35 GMT

Babies: "I figured out what was causing them and quit. After four."

You're a better man than I am Jim! I decided I'd rather get a slight modification done than "quit"...wish I'd had the Doc a friend of mine had with the "case of ice cold beer" perscription for afterwards (sit in a big lounge chair with one cold one for the top and one for down below---cycle as needed)

Course I stopped at 2---fst learner

Thomas
- Thomas Powers - Friday, 03/07/03 17:56:54 GMT

More life:
First off, a hearty welcome to Jim jr! Can't have too many Wilson's on this forum, IMHO...

Three years ago I down-sized my business, bought some rural acreage and put a metal building on it 100' from the house. I work most days from sunup to sundown to make ends meet, but my wife and sons can walk a few seconds and see me whenever they please. I was woried about the close proximity at first, but now I wouldn't trade it for the world.

I lost a few customers when I went from a large manufacturing facility to my "garage" (instead of vice versa), but the customers I kept developed a new respect for me and my new-found values -- this is something I didn't expect at all.

Life shouldn't be easy, but it damn sure should be rewarding. Sure... I'd like a Harley (NO, I'm not picking on Rich again, GRIN!), but teaching my 9 year old son to TIG weld yesterday after school -- even though I still had work to do -- sure put ME in "Hog Heaven".

These brethren of hot iron, The Blacksmiths, are an eclectic lot. But I also know that most possess more values in their little finger, than other folks have in their entire bodies. For this (and this forum) I'm eternally grateful.

-- as Zero guietly dabs a tear from his cheek... ;-)


Zero - Friday, 03/07/03 18:24:09 GMT

Babies: Thomas, I wondered if that one would get a nibble. (G) I only quit firing live rounds. (GG) Your friend's Doc had the right prescription! I just took a day off and worried my voice would change.
Jim Wilson - Friday, 03/07/03 18:42:01 GMT

life: I'm reminded of the story of the fisherman who was advised by a passing businessman to improve his life by working harder.

Zero: Thanks for the kind words.

Two Swords: I don't know where Skull Valley is, but I'll try to find out. Thanks for the tip.
Jim Wilson - Friday, 03/07/03 19:18:02 GMT

Skull Valley:
Jim (junior):

My DeLorme program says Skull Valley is 13 miles west of Prescott.

I assume, Two Swords, that Barry is the gentleman who sells anvils on eBay?

If so, I was thinking about making a pilgrimage from southern California to Arizona JUST on an anvil hunting expedition. As I've said before: Anvils are an extinct species in The Golden State, so a days drive is NOT out of the question if a good one can be found for a decent price.

Does Barry just sell exclusively on eBay, or does he have a storefront as well?

My Russian ASO is SOOOO dinged-up now, it looks like a dappling block!
Zero - Friday, 03/07/03 20:08:56 GMT

Life: Life, I see that both ways---if he was talking to a commercial fisherman they probably used the remains for chum or offered them to a lobsterman for bait...

If he was talking to a fellow sitting against a tree drowning worms they might wake up enough to smile at him gently.

Me, my idea of fishing is the trot-line, you put it out and when you come back you have dinner!

Thomas The next MOB meeting will be March 15 near Canton OH, let me know if you need details! (Mid Ohio Blacksmiths)
- Thomas Powers - Friday, 03/07/03 20:55:42 GMT

Skull Valley: Thanks, Zero. It would be closer for me than for you!
Jim Wilson - Friday, 03/07/03 21:03:20 GMT

Quitting:

Actually, Jim and I did the same thing. I had a blank adapter installed after our fourth one. The rifle still works, my voice hasn't changed a bit and now we don't have to worry about it. (grin)
Paw Paw - Friday, 03/07/03 21:32:57 GMT

Quitting:

I wasn't as smart as Thomas, and my Dr. didn't reccomend the case of cold beer prescription, just told me to take it easy for a couple of days.

I walked a beat for 8 hours that afternoon, and spent the next three days in bed, flat on my back.
Paw Paw - Friday, 03/07/03 21:35:00 GMT

Forge, etc.: Jim the Younger,

As far as I'm concerned anyway, you're irrevocably stuck with Jim the Younger unless you come up with something on your own. Hey, be thankful I didn't stick you with something worse! (grin)

As far as lowering the roof of the forge goes, it came out that way because of the dimensions of the materials, nothing more. The freon can is about 12" diameter, with three layers of 1" Kaowool, and the 1" kiln shelf material. I just went outside and measured the thing, to be sure I wasn't giving you false information. I found out I WAS giving you wrong figures, after all.

The really truly correct measurements are 5-3/8" wide by 10" deep by 4" at the centerline of the roof. The vertical sidewalls are 3". I figure a total volume of about 200 cu in. So, no problem with one GOOD burner, such as a T-Rex.

I built it for two burners to give me a bit more flexibility, and because I have this notion of making a couple of burners based on 1/2" pipe with smaller jets. The plan is to get more flame with lower overall velocity, if I can manage it. I'm going to need a whole weekend to play around making them, so it may be a while until I have anything to report. In the meantime, what I have is fine for forging. Once the forge is up to heat, (abvout 30 min) it heats stock much more quickly than the old Kaowool-only forge.

I can't comment on the children issue. All my ex-wives had been spayed. (grin) I can comment on someone who would walk a beat for eight hours after getting his pipes clamped, though the comment wouldn't be very complimentary. (big evil grin) I can't claim to be any smarter, however. I once broke a leg at the start of a 120 mile cross-country motorcycle race and finished the race anyway. Six weeks in a cast. Remarkable what adrenaline can do to one's reasoning powers, isn't it? (grin)
vicopper - Friday, 03/07/03 22:43:13 GMT

Vic:

Be nice, you'd have done exactly the same thing, and you know it.
Paw Paw - Saturday, 03/08/03 00:00:55 GMT

Paw Paw: Uhhhhhhh...maybe. More likely, I would have had to be dragged whinin' and bitchin' both into and out of the Doctor's office. (grin)
vicopper - Saturday, 03/08/03 00:19:27 GMT

forge dimensions: vic,

Did you coat the chamber with ITC-100? The liner looks pretty clean in the photos. If not, the IR reflectivity of the ITC-100 might even out your heat distribution. Moot, of course. You already have provisions for two burners, and two smaller burners might be better in every way than one large one. Just idle speculation.

I saw Leo Gallagher in concert once. He held up a series of bumper stickers. I think the first one said, "I [heart] NY"; the next one read "I [heart] my dog." Actually, there was a picture of some dog breed. The next one was "I [spade] my dog," and it got a pretty good laugh. But the audience really busted a gut on the final one: "I [club] my wife."
Jim Wilson - Saturday, 03/08/03 00:28:56 GMT

ITC-100: Jim the Younger,

Yep, it is coated with ITC-100. The kilnshelf retains a lot of heat and evens out the chamber temps really very nicely, too. My last small forge had the burner coming in straight down from the top, but I put these in at an angle to lallow me to place stock on the side not directly in the flame path. The hope was to reduce scaling. I think a better plan is to fine tune the burner(s) to a slightly reducing flame. Someday. Tomorrow, I'm going to go over to the Botanical Gardens and play with the old coal forge for a while, I hope.

I knew I had it bassackwards...I spayed my wives and clubbed my dog. One ex-wife had a sticker that read "I (heart) my (diamond). The only things stuck on my bumpers are those occasional items that are slower than I am. (grin)
vicopper - Saturday, 03/08/03 01:20:51 GMT

Anvils and James Das Jungere:

You guys can stop trying to set him up with an anvil, Dad is going to give him one! (grin) Hell, it was gonna be his someday, anyway.
Paw Paw - Saturday, 03/08/03 01:48:34 GMT

FREE ANVIL!:

Paw Paw: I'm up for adoption (Very Big Grin!)...
Zero - Saturday, 03/08/03 02:27:22 GMT

Zero,:

Sorry, I'm at my limit already! (grin)
Paw Paw - Saturday, 03/08/03 02:31:31 GMT

Free Anvil!: What can I say?! Accident of birth! But free? Heck, now I have to be *nice* to him -- at least until the BHB [1]ships. (G)

[1] Big Heavy Box
Jim Wilson - Saturday, 03/08/03 04:45:43 GMT

James Das Jungere:

> Accident of birth

Hoo boy, could I tell a story about THAT!! (LOL)
Paw Paw - Saturday, 03/08/03 05:09:05 GMT

spicy bunch, aren't we?: Zero - yes, Barry sells on Ebay, and I believe I've seen him post on these hallowed pages from time to time, usu. about powa hammas or something. How 'bout ya Barry? Long time no see. IIRC he also has a link on the advertiser page "across the street".

And I'm with "Z" on the adoption thing too, Paw Paw. If ya want another kid...I promise I'll try not to make too many cracks about your age (G).

Vicopper - spayed wives, clubbed dog - spit coffee on keyboard. I love it! 3 guys where I work are getting divorced now and I think they would all agree. I'm still on lady #1 and planning to keep it that way.

Case of beer prescription - I can't speak to anyone who WOULD walk a beat for 8 hours after the "blank adaptor", but I'll raise me glass to anyone who COULD do so after that particular procedure. Friend of mine, 6'2" 260# weightlifter, kungfu instructor, purty tough guy, had that done and spent about 8 days in bed. Of course we gave him a hard time, but only from a safe distance.
Two Swords - Saturday, 03/08/03 06:08:06 GMT

Barry Denton: I've done business with Barry and he's been fajir with me. He advertises on Keenjunk (there, I said it) and his email address is barubar@mindspring.com. He ain't cheap, but he does give fair value.

Paw Paw,

Did Jim go from Der to Das after the procedure? Tell me it ain't so! (grin)
vicopper - Saturday, 03/08/03 06:48:45 GMT

errata: "can't speak to" should read more like "can't comment on" or "can't speak to the situation" no reflection on the person.
My bad. Sleepy time.
Two Swords - Saturday, 03/08/03 07:05:18 GMT

Vic:

Either one means "the". Jungere should have an umlatt over the U.
Paw Paw - Saturday, 03/08/03 12:39:50 GMT

German articles: Paw Paw,

I was only curious as to whether he was "der" (the German masculine article) before the clip job, and became "das" (the neuter article) after the clip job. All along I had been assuming you guys were talking about vasectomies, not gelding! (evil grin)

vicopper - Saturday, 03/08/03 12:58:46 GMT

DER, of course: Not that would *I* know, speaking no German.

And obviously -- since there is no doubt about my masculinity -- you *must* be picking on Paw Paw's German. Which course is safer, I can't say. He *is* the mean one.

Slowly sharpening Paw Paw's knife...<== (translation for the uninitiated: riposte generator down)
Jim Wilson - Saturday, 03/08/03 14:22:11 GMT

FS anvil: Still trying to sell a #149 Trenton in good shape. Price is $250 +shipping. UPS will ship for about $75 or less depending on distance (I am NM 87544). This comes out to a tad more than $2 per lb which is a good price here in the SW USA

Its a fine anvil. I used it for 2 yrs until I got a bigger HB. I should put it on ebay where I expect no trouble getting $3/lb + shipping but I would much rather sell it to a smith.
adam - Saturday, 03/08/03 16:15:57 GMT

FS anvil: Adam, odd you mention that - I just got of those. Paid about the same with no shipping. I still have yet to develop the talent SOME people (TP) seem to have for finding anvils cheap. All in all, I'd rather have bought one from a brother smith.

Boy, Paw Paw's knife is getting a workout lately....(G)

Der Jungere - "Old age and treachery will always overcome Youth and zeal." - a framed plaque that both my father and uncle had hanging on their walls. It got pointed to a lot after my cousins, brother or I had had an altercation which did not go as we'd planned it. Usually we had to look up at it from the floor.
Two Swords - Saturday, 03/08/03 16:46:48 GMT

Adam, FS anvil:
Adam, I'm interested. Contact me via email (jimATbakosDOTorg) and we'll see what we can work out. Just like you'd rather sell to a fellow smith, I'd feel much safer buying from a fellow CSI member.

Two Swords: Thanks for the heads-up on Barry! I checked his "me" page on eBay, but no mention of a storefront. Hopefully a moot point anyhow, if I can hook-up with Adam (Big *DROOLING* Grin!).

Rich (Vic): I can't believe you used the "K" word here on the Hammer-in!! I hope it's not bad karma? I know I'm sure going to keep my mouth shut about Manganese just in case... (Big *HUMOROUS* Grin).
Zero - Saturday, 03/08/03 17:16:54 GMT

workouts: "Boy, Paw Paw's knife is getting a workout lately..."

There's just a little stub left, but it sure is sharp! (G)
Jim Wilson - Saturday, 03/08/03 20:55:09 GMT

adages: "Brute strength and ignorance defeats skill and cunning every time."
- Jim Wilson - Saturday, 03/08/03 20:58:10 GMT

Wisdom:

From Zero's VERY thin book of wisdom (title shamelessly stolen from Alti)...

A dull knife is perfectly usable, if it has a pointed hilt.
Zero - Saturday, 03/08/03 22:27:54 GMT

Smart Arse Comments:

Good thing I've been up at Dempsey's all day so I read all the way through here before I started to answer.

What German I still have I learned from my Grandfather over 50 years ago. I haven't used it in at least 30 years. There are some differences between High German, and Low German, even more if you include Bavarian or Austrian. IF I remember correctly, the original Paw Paw probably spoke Low German.

But it should be the masculine article. At least that what his first wife said in Burger King one day! (LOL)
Paw Paw - Sunday, 03/09/03 00:25:21 GMT

As for knives::

I rarely have fewer than three in my possesion at one time. At the moment, the count is four.
Paw Paw - Sunday, 03/09/03 00:26:18 GMT

Knives: I always carry a knife of some sort, preferrably an automatic (switchblade). I prefer something that fits in my pocket, but only takes one hand to open. At times, I may have another one tucked away somewhere accessible. Mostly though, I figure the knife is for opening packages. The gun is for opening unfriendly things. Rather not have to carry a gun everywhere, but I follow orders just like everybody else. Damned inconvenient most of the time, actually. (grin)

And yes, I was picking on Paw Paw's German. I would never, ever impune someone's manhood. Well, probably not. Politicians don't count, do they? (grin)
vicopper - Sunday, 03/09/03 03:58:50 GMT

'nother adage: PawPaw der Alte; Must we remind these lads that old age and deceit will always win over youth and enthusiasm? 3dogs
3dogs - Sunday, 03/09/03 08:12:48 GMT

3dogs:

Sadly, they may have to learn by experience. (grin)
Paw Paw - Sunday, 03/09/03 13:58:52 GMT

Youth: Our department is hiring a new group of officers. Age range is 21-31. Now I know how the old heads felt 24 years ago. We must adapt and overcome I suppose.
Brian C - Sunday, 03/09/03 15:25:23 GMT

Brian,:

Indeed, now you know. That's a lesson that is always a surprise, but we all learn it eventually. Wait till you are the FTO for one of the "youngsters". That's another experience entirely. (wry grin)
Paw Paw - Sunday, 03/09/03 16:46:31 GMT

knives: Rich: are switch blades legal in VI?
adam - Sunday, 03/09/03 17:00:33 GMT

Automatic knives:

I also carry an auto daily. The only unfortunate thing is California law limits the blade length to 2" if carried in public. For normal use I have my 2" Protech Runt, Sunday-go-to-meeting I carry a S&W Police Issue 2".

Around the house and property I carry a larger Benchmade. I wish I could justify the expense of a Microtech (the king of all autos), I would dearly love one of their OTF's!

Anyone else besides Rich carry autos?
Zero - Sunday, 03/09/03 17:44:15 GMT

Zero:

Not any more, but I have in the past. NC law forbids the carrying of any auto-opening knife. There have even been some convictions for carrying gravity blades. For that reason, they made a good "throw away".
Paw Paw - Sunday, 03/09/03 17:51:24 GMT

Laws:

Paw Paw: It's a shame the local, state and federal governments feel the need to save us from ourselves by outlawing useful items. The coil spring operated automatic knives are the easiest and safest knives I've ever used. Yet in most states only LEO and military can legally carry them.

California outlawed the Balisong (butterfly) knives as well. Those, at least, almost removed a few of my digits from time to time -- easy to whip open, DANGEROUS to whip closed!

Truth is: If it's good (or fun), it's either regulated, taxed or illegal... ;-)
Zero - Sunday, 03/09/03 19:39:42 GMT

Power Hammers: I'm looking at buying my first power hammer. Has anyone had any problems with the KAYNE & SON BIG BLU hammer? Are there any pros or cons to this product I should consider?
- Fireman03 - Sunday, 03/09/03 20:22:07 GMT

Zero:
> Truth is: If it's good (or fun), it's either regulated, taxed or illegal... ;-)

Yep! That's why I hope to He** that the EPA doesn't find out how well B'Laster works. They'll take if off the market for sure! "If it works, there must be something wrong with it!? Dam fool idiots!

Paw Paw - Sunday, 03/09/03 20:55:05 GMT

Legalities: Adam,

No, automatic knives and gravity knives are illegal here, same as most everywhere. LEOs and military carry only. I've never seen a prosecution for it, but the law is on the books. Actually, I think it's probably a good idea for them to be illegal. If they were legal to carry, every idiot hyper-testosteroned youngster would have them and be waving them around. Inevitably, one of them would wind up waving one at me, only to find out that it is a really bad idea to bring only a knife to a gunfight. (grin) Maybe if they had an age limit of about 30, it might be okay for them to be legal. I know, I'm a spoilsport. I don't mind Darwinian selection, but I don't want to be the agent of it if I can help it. (grin) Balisongs are Darwinian by their very nature...tough to operate again after the first time you whip one closed the wrong way. (big evil grin)

Brian,

I second what Paw Paw said. The second best thing about my recent re-assignment (after the banker's hours) was that I
no longer have to supervise a bunch of young doofuses fresh out of the academy who don't know any more about police work than Mary Poppins. What a huge relief! You have my sympathy. Now go out there and try to make cops out of them before they get themselves hurt. Field training is the single most important job in law enforcement. You have my best wishes.
vicopper - Sunday, 03/09/03 21:53:41 GMT

Boy!: IU just re-read what I posted above. Man, do I ever sound like a grumpy old slicksleeves three-striper! 'Course, I AM, but that's no excuse.

I guess I should stick with talking about blacksmithing, which never annoys, depresses or angers me. Blacksmithing is fun and good for the soul!
vicopper - Sunday, 03/09/03 21:57:47 GMT

Vic:

At least you're not alone in bing grumpy. (wry grin)
Paw Paw - Sunday, 03/09/03 23:20:30 GMT

Knife humor:

Jeeze! If Rich (Vic) and Paw Paw are going to be so grumpy, perhaps a true story will liven their spirits.

About 30 years ago my uncle and father were both showing me the correct way to sharpen a kinfe, and, of course, arguing about it as brothers naturally do.

Dad would test his blade by cutting a 2" piece of limp paper. My uncle says "No, your doing it wrong. A sharp knife splits a hair." He plucks a hair, holds it between thumb and forefinger and whips the knife down...

Cleanly cutting the tip of his index finger off!

Dad dead-pans to my uncle: "I much prefer my method, because I can test the blade more than 10 times."

I often tell this story to reinforce the adage: A smart man learns from his mistakes, a wise man learns from others.

Hope this made the GOB's (Grumpy Old Blacksmiths) smile?

Zero - Monday, 03/10/03 00:31:35 GMT


Zero, my whole house is now laughing with that story! That is a great one. Thank you. I needed that. And I wasn't even grumpy.
  Tony - Monday, 03/10/03 01:07:54 GMT

Zero:

Well, it made this one laugh, but I didn't smile!
Paw Paw - Monday, 03/10/03 01:09:09 GMT

Zero: Thanks, I enjoyed that. Would've probably enjoyed it even more if I didn't see myself in it. (grin) I refuse to admit how I learned that falling knives have no handles.

Fifteen years ago we were having a family reunion in Mazatlan, during which there was a hurricane offshore. The ocean got so rough that my brother refused to let any of the kids go swimming, much to their annoyance. When the waves got really big, Riley decided to go do a little bodysurfing and promptly got tumbled around and broke his arm. He came crawling up out of the surf with his left arm all crooked and told the kids, "See, I TOLD you it was too rough for swimming!" Next stop, La Clinica. I'll never let him live it down, either. (grin)
vicopper - Monday, 03/10/03 01:50:58 GMT

Paw Paw x 2: Go away a few days and I start seeing double posts. Knife sharpening tips, an anvil swap and some of the general high jinks. Glad to see life is continuing.

Welcome Jim Wilson Jr. See if you can get Paw Paw to put up more of the Revolutioary Blacksmith. I'm having withdrawal symptoms.
- Larry - Monday, 03/10/03 03:00:10 GMT

Larry,:

Don't talk to me about it, talk to Jock. He's got it. (evil grin)
Paw Paw - Monday, 03/10/03 03:08:54 GMT

Fireman3
the bige blue is a good hammer (for a outside air type hammer ) the folks that make it are good people to do busness with --I like the big Blue better than any of the outher out side air hammers on the Market
  Bill E - Monday, 03/10/03 07:24:04 GMT

Auto blades: Up here in the wilds of Michigan, you can get one if you can prove you have only one usable arm.
3dogs - Monday, 03/10/03 07:44:57 GMT

Painful lessons: Vicopper, you reminded me of the joke, Q. What were the Rednecks last words? A. "Hey, watch this!" Q. What were his cousin Earl's last words? A. "Shoot, that weren't nothin'." 3dogs
3dogs - Monday, 03/10/03 08:24:32 GMT

vicopper & Paw Paw,

It's a little different in our outfit. We are "security police oficers" at a nuclear site. Dont have any problems dealing with the "street creatures", our biggest problem is teaching them the difference between law enforcement and nuclear security and how to work within the system. I did do 5 years as a Deputy Sheriff in my youth though, it is in fact a whole 'nother world.
I could get in the shop this week if the temp. would get considerably above its current 15 deg.
Brian C - Monday, 03/10/03 14:22:40 GMT

Brian,:

Although they share some common characteristics, there are worlds of difference between security police and law enforcement.

When I was working on my Associate Arts degree, a proffesor asked on a quiz, "How much authority does a security officer have, under North Carolina Law?" I answered, "Very damn little!" He wrote, "Smart A$$!" next to my answer, but gave me credit for the question. (grin)
Paw Paw - Monday, 03/10/03 14:59:08 GMT

PAw Paw,
Ref. differences, Don't I know it. Having done both. We have no state authority, ours comes from the feds. All in all I like the fire service better than either VBG.
Brian C - Monday, 03/10/03 15:18:31 GMT

Zero:

Roger
Paw Paw - Monday, 03/10/03 20:11:41 GMT

Brian C,
this Nuc facility you are at, is it private pwr company or a Fed installation?
Ralph - Monday, 03/10/03 22:30:18 GMT

Brian C: There sure is a difference! And knowing exactly what that difference is makes all the difference as far as staying out of trouble goes. Down here, we have way too many armed security guards running around thinking they're cops. Also too many cops acting like they're security guards. Why do they all seem to want to be something other than what they are? (grin) I wanna be blacksmith!

Someone is always asking me how I became a cop when I have an art degree,etc. I always tell them it's just like the Bryn Mawr graduate who was asked how she winded up being a hooker. She replied, "Just lucky, I guess!" Today was one of those days though, when I think I should have been a skin diver for RotoRooter. (sigh) I wanna be a blacksmith!
vicopper - Monday, 03/10/03 22:54:10 GMT

Ralph,
I work for a private enrichment company with a govt contract.

vicopper,
We have the same thing here. Lot of guys cant handle the change and go back to police work, and vice versa we have a lot of cops who hire in and are glad to be done with all the B.S. of the real world. Myself, I have a degree in police admin. and also an Assoc. degree in Industrial security-having said that, I have enjoyed the last 11 years in the vol. fire service more than any of it. Go figure.

What I would really like to do is retire-build a big shop-play in the hot iron and make a few fire calls .

On a serious note folks- Our ministers wife is 37 years old and is starting a long fight against breast cancer. She has had one surgery , facing another this friday, and about 6-9 months of chemo after that. Please remember her in your prayers.
Brian C - Monday, 03/10/03 23:11:57 GMT

Reality:

I had a brief stint as a "private patrol" security guard when I was 20, helping a family friend with his struggling security business. At the time, wielding a badge and a gun seemed SOOOO cool -- I was, after all, invincible... ;-)

Now that age has tempered me, I think: NO WAY SHOULD CHILDREN BE GIVEN BADGES AND GUNS! And, often wonder how I actually survived that era with the majority of my training coming from Starsky & Hutch (relieved grin).

I have the utmost respect for those who (and have) "protect and serve". Having witnessed such mundane things as a domestic violence call go VERY terribly wrong.

Brian C: Your job can't be none too easy these days either. Thanks for keeping the enriched uranium (or worse) out of evil's way!
Zero - Monday, 03/10/03 23:42:56 GMT

Oh Yeah:

Rich: Their's a Blacksmith inside you, you just won't let him come out and PLAY! (Big EVIL Grin)
Zero - Monday, 03/10/03 23:46:31 GMT

MD area smiths: Looking for period shop in Northern VA, MD area for filming project. Bellows, hearth, etc. Bellows can be provided if you've converted...heck, even the anvil and tools can be provided.
Please reply directly to josephpugsley@yahoo.com
Thank you!!!
- Greg "Pugsley" Clasby - Tuesday, 03/11/03 01:42:29 GMT

Need Anvil in NW: I'm finding this to be quite a feat. But I shall endeavor to persavere. An new and excited and plan to attend the 3 day St. Helens Conference. If I can't find one before then, then I'm hoping there'll be one there, but I don't want to wait till then if I don't have to. Am also needing...well hell I need everthing, so let me know if and what you may have to help get me started in something I'm feeling quite passionate about. Hope to hear from someone.
- Kim - Tuesday, 03/11/03 01:49:07 GMT

Kim:
Go to www.abana.org, and look up the chapter nearest you. Find the contact person, and contact him/her. Join the group and begin attending their hammerin's/meetings. Let them know what you need, and you'll be surprised at the help you will get.

You can also go to www.abanachapter.com and do the same thing.

Finally, join CSI, the local support group for this web site. You won't find a more helpful or knowledgable group of folks.
Paw Paw - Tuesday, 03/11/03 01:53:01 GMT

MD SMIITHS:: looking for period-ish shop to film in for a day...can provide bellows and tools...
reply-to josephpugsley@yahoo.com
THANKS!!!
Pugsley - Tuesday, 03/11/03 02:01:07 GMT

Security: I just gotta pipe in this time. I spent 4 1/2 years in the Air Force as a Security Policeman on the security side of the house. My recruiter said it was the same as Law Enforcemant, the lying B***##%*!! Anyways, I always took my training seriously, figuring it could be my life or my coworkers on the line. Well, when Burma, now Myanmar had it's overthrow, we were slated to go secure the airport. They sent a bunch of Marines instead, even tho all our gear was loaded on the plane and just waiting for us. Many of the younger kids were shaking, crying, and asking stupid questions. These were the same kids goofing off during the training classes. I am not alone in saying that many of those we would gladly have shot ourselves in a real life situation, as they were more dangerous to us with a loaded gun behind us than an enemy in front of us. Whew! Sorry about that! :}
- Bob Harasim - Tuesday, 03/11/03 02:55:26 GMT

Bob,:
No apology necessary. Un-professional behavior is always irritating, at best. And it can be infuriating.
Paw Paw - Tuesday, 03/11/03 03:08:22 GMT

*WHAT* *PERIOD*?

My Y1K shop is a variation of a hole in the ground with two smallish single action bellows and a cube of mild steel on a stump for an anvil.

So do you want 0 A.D. 900 A.D. 1400 A.D. 1700 A.D. 1800 A.D. 1900 A.D. or 2000 A.D.---20th century is a period...

Thomas
  Thomas Powers - Tuesday, 03/11/03 15:30:02 GMT

HF Throatless Shear: Recently on sale for $75 so I bought one. It arrived yesterday. It's a shameless knockoff of the Beverly #1 which I would love to own but cant afford at $490.

The good news: Cuts 16ga sheet metal clean and easy. I had no trouble cutting out a 2.5" dia disk in 16ga. I got to use a Beverly #1 a little bit at Frank Turley's place and the HF shear seems to work about as well.

The bad news:

Lower blade has a nick in the edge - I will call cust service about this. In the meantime I use the spare set of blades that I ordered with the shear.

Part of the casting below the blade has to be ground away so that the blades can close all the way. Need to take off 1/8" with the angle grinder.

Clamp nut for lower blade needs washer so that it doesnt shift the blade when tightening

Hole in the handle to accept retaining bolt is off by 1/3".


Blade pivot bolt was loose.

Handle pivot bolt was loose and needs a 1/16" washer to clean up a sloppy action

Set screws to adjust lower blade are too long and project 5/8".

Casting finish is rough

Manual could be better.

While annoying these are all problems that can be easily fixed in a metal shop. If I dont get any customer satisfaction I will just regrind the defective blade.

All in all, this is no Beverly shear but it is a useful tool and worth $75-$90. Bear in mind that I just got this and the casting could crack in half tomorrow :) However, the reports that I have heard from other people confirm that this is an OK tool

One day someone will offer me a used Beverly at a price I can afford. Until then this guy will keep me going
adam - Tuesday, 03/11/03 15:36:44 GMT

Machinery's Handbook: Looks like Grizzley is selling off 25th edition copies of Machinery's Handbook for US$0.95 + US$5.95 S&H, folks who don't own a copy might investigate.

Be aware that their on-line ordering system seems poorly engineered.
grizzly's website
- Thomas Powers - Tuesday, 03/11/03 16:13:28 GMT

Shoulda knowed THAT deal was too good to last.I spoke to the order desk at 11:45 AM EST today (Tuesday) and those puppies are gone. Oh, well, I snooze, I lose! 3dogs
  3dogs - Tuesday, 03/11/03 17:12:14 GMT

nuclear facilities: Brian C, out of curiosity, where you at? In a previous life I had unescorted access at...um...Peachbottom, Clinton Power Sta, Perry, Oyster Creek, Brunswick (Southport, NC - very pretty - I'd live there). Worked for G.E. Reactor Inspection Services. Oh, and DC Cook plant in Bridgeman MI, about 10 miles from my house. Got access but never worked there. Always thought those boys in black BDU had a cool job. Toting guns all day and no "dose". Good to meet ya.
Two Swords - Tuesday, 03/11/03 17:31:03 GMT

Nuclear Access:

You guy are aware that the guru designed some of the maintenance machines for nuclear power plants, didn't you?
Paw Paw - Tuesday, 03/11/03 17:44:51 GMT

Access: Paw Paw - I didn't know that! Small planet, eh? Which ones? Not likely anything I got my hands on, but might have seen them. All I did was ultrasonic weld inspection, some mag/flux and penetrant insp., mostly automated UT.

Brian C.- how inconsiderate of me. I will keep your minister's wife in thoughts and such prayers as I can make.
Two Swords - Tuesday, 03/11/03 17:50:22 GMT

Nuc Maint: PPW, well in the good ole US Navy us enlisted folks were the maintenance machines... (grin)
Ralph - Tuesday, 03/11/03 17:52:35 GMT

Two Swords:
Really don't know which ones. Special milling machines for the top of the reactor cylinders. They had to be re "flatted" during re-fueling or something. Cylinder heads were taken off and the cylinder and head were both re-ground. Machines had to stay in place and be remotely operated. Ask Jock, he'll tell you.

Ralph, not for the stuff Jock was working on, you weren't. That was ship yard level stuff.
Paw Paw - Tuesday, 03/11/03 18:35:55 GMT

Bob H:: Have to comment on your AirForce security story... I served in the Marines and was pulled for a security detail on a the F-117 stealth fighter. I wondered, as I was standing by that plane during the middle of the night, why the heck the Airforce couldn't guard their own equipment! Perhaps you answered that question. We were locked, loaded and a-wishing somebody would try something. Nobody did.

The other thing that bothered me was the AirForce always had all the good tools. I remember beating a hex-headed screw off a snake-eyed fin just because we didn't have the proper sized hex driver. The crazy thing was, that fin was attached to a high explosive 500 lb bomb. Crazy and dumb!
- Matt Berge - Tuesday, 03/11/03 23:13:04 GMT



Paw Paw: Thank you for the latest installment of The Revolutionary Blacksmith! (Thanks to Jock as well for finding the time to post it, even though he's quite busy).

I now understand the question asked here, some time ago, about willow bark tea. I thought it was needed because Paw Paw and a bunch of friends tied-one-on after a reenactment... ;-)
  Zero - Wednesday, 03/12/03 00:00:58 GMT

Zero:
Special thanks to Jock.

Yep, I was pretty sure I was right. The scrapings from the inner bark of the willow tree is where they got aspirin from.
Paw Paw - Wednesday, 03/12/03 00:11:02 GMT

NUC stuff again...: PPW, but I spent almost 3 centuries... errr I mean 3 years in the yards... but I will admit it was not a refueling yard time..... But pretty much every thing else was done....

NOw for cool machines.. I really liked watching the tool used to weld up teh HUGH hole that was cut into the top of the boat... the torpedo loading hatch had been cut out, and when it was time to weld it back in they had this cool robot wire feed welder.... once it was set up it went to town with no one there.... Made a certain number a passes then it was checked with radiography then a new set of welds etc....
Ralph - Wednesday, 03/12/03 00:42:53 GMT

Willow bark tea: Yep. You are right about the willow bark tea, Paw Paw. Courtesy of our Native American brothers. I once heard that ninty percent of our modern drugs originated from medicinal plants. Something to keep in mind.

Thanks for putting up The Revolutioary Blacksmith, Mr. Dempsey. I am enjoying it. And thanks to you Paw Paw. Just watch out for the kids. My two boys offered to take me hunting. Said I wouldn't even have to pack a gun around. I could just wander around out in front of them and flush out the game. I really haven't had time to go yet. (VBG)
- Larry - Wednesday, 03/12/03 01:06:01 GMT

Larry:
I can think of another, right off the top of my head. Fox-glove was used for "palpitations" of the heart. A natural source of digitalis.

My boys know me better than that. They know that I will be carrying a gun and that I always shoot back. (grin)
Paw Paw - Wednesday, 03/12/03 01:51:49 GMT

Paw Paw: It seems that your brief literary dry spell did no harm to your skills as a scribe. Kudos on another excellent installment of the Revolutionary Blacksmith. I'm hooked all over again!

Jock:
Bless you, sir! Your extensive efforts on this site are appreciated more than you may ever know. Thanks!

Eric
eander4 - Wednesday, 03/12/03 04:35:12 GMT

Eric,:
CSI, the member's group that helps to support the anvilfire site is always looking for new members. You can find out more by clicking on the following link.
www.anvilfire.com/sales/members.htm
Paw Paw - Wednesday, 03/12/03 10:27:24 GMT

PPW's yarn: Paw Paw, I like the new chapter, my main quibble has been that everything seemed to be sweetness and light and that bigotry, sloth, incompetence and sickness seems to be getting short shrift, (that and the fact they didn't do "white" wedding gowns back then...)

A bit of a darker tone in the setting actually "feels" more authentic---anyone for the blue salve and the salivations?

BTW I'd bet you that even with duty rosters some folks would complain---it's one of the cheapest form of entertainments ever since we left the garden!

I assume that they are going around and collecting charcoal from all the fires in camp with a shovel that sifts it from the ashes.

Thomas
- Thomas Powers - Wednesday, 03/12/03 14:32:09 GMT

Thomas:

Actually, Dee's wedding gown was a direct copy from a period painting that the Illustrator found. White wasn't "common" but it did happen. Master Schmidt isn't exactly "rolling in the dough" but he's certainly not hurting, either. So for Dee to wear a white wedding dress, (which could be easily modified into a "sunday" dress, according to my wife the master seamstress) was both proper and money saving.

There are un-doubtedly some complainers, but the First Sgt is taking care of them, Will would not even know they were happening. As for "how" the First Sergeant is handling the problems, you'll begin to find out the answer to that toward the end of chapter II, with a bit more information in chapter III. (grin)

I hadn't thought of the charcoal, though I did mention that early in Book I, perhaps I need to touch on that again, I'll think about it.

Writing the "combat" scenes is a bit difficult for me. Some things I'd rather not remember. There's a scene in Chapter III that kept me awake two nights in a row.

BTW, this kind of feedback is very valuable to me. I much appreciate it, because at times it helps me to clarify my thinking as well as helping to "satisfy the readers".
Paw Paw - Wednesday, 03/12/03 15:26:14 GMT

Paw Paw: I'm a member. I just rarely log in as such. Must be the slacker in me (grin).
eander4 - Wednesday, 03/12/03 22:00:14 GMT

Eric,:

OK, hope I wasn't offensive, just try to do everything I can to encourage folks to join.
Paw Paw - Thursday, 03/13/03 02:34:30 GMT

Paw Paw: I don't see any way you're comments could have come across as offensive. This is a terrific site and we should all be doing our darndest (is that even a word?)to recruit fresh blood, and I don't mean just with a sharp knife (grin).

Eric
eander4 - Thursday, 03/13/03 04:06:41 GMT

Eric,:
Darndest is a word now, you just invented it. (grin) Thanks!
Paw Paw - Thursday, 03/13/03 13:32:29 GMT

eBay Patriot:

Since Rich (Vic) asked that the discussion be brought over here, I thought I'd drop my $0.02 worth...

I love eBay, and shop there frequently. It has saved me countless dollars on everything from computers to shop supplies. I didn't know shopping there made me a patriot (I'll have to use that excuse on my wife the next time I buy a new toy!).

Jock is 100% correct (and so is Scott to some extent): Buyer Beware.

When I view an eBay auction, I look at the description carefully. When it says stuff like "has two large scratches on top, a dent in the bottom and is missing four screws" I have a tendency to trust the seller more. When it simply says "like new" I steer clear -- the adage: "a picture is worth a 1000 words", does not apply.

I don't mind a "heads-up" from folks like Scott, but I think it belongs here in the Hammer-in and not on the Guru page. I also think more smith-to-smith deals should be done here. If it weren't for my whining about anvils, Adam wouldn't have known I was looking and sold me his.

I'm going to buy some stuff from "The Store" to show my appreciation to Jock for giving us this forum. Thereby allowing us to buy, sell, trade, learn, teach and enjoy the camaraderie.

Next, I'm logging on to eBay Motors and placing a bid on a Harley -- and tell my wife I'm doing it for AMERICA! (VBEG)
Zero - Thursday, 03/13/03 18:35:53 GMT

E-bay: It would seem, gentlemen, that with E-bay, as with life, we must strive to find that happy balance that lies within the writings of the anonymous Arabian sage who wrote "Trust in Allah, but tie up your camel."; the equally unknown Italian, who cave us "Caveat Emptor", the great American circus promoter P.T. Barnum, who gave us "There's a sucker born every minute". And, I must include my friend, auto mechanic, poet and philosopher, Sherman D. Kimple, who says "Hey, there's a butt for every seat and a seat for every butt." And then there's 3dogs, who says, "Trust me, I'm a blacksmith." (Smirk)
- 3dogs - Thursday, 03/13/03 19:09:06 GMT

Revolutionary Blacksmith: Guru -

Thanks for finding time in your extraordinarily busy schedule to put up the latest installment of _Revolutionary Blacksmith._

Likewise for your part in illustrating it.

Paw Paw -

Thanks for continuing the series. Re: Writing about combat and its insomnia inducing effects. My father still won't talk much about WWII 58 years later. Seems time doesn't dim the intensity of those memories much.
John Lowther - Thursday, 03/13/03 19:47:28 GMT

E-Bay:

I've bought a good bit from e-bay over the last couple of years. I have to echo Zero's comments. Course, I was born a skeptic anyway.

I want to also mention that Anvilfire has an auction page. It doesn't get near enough traffic, partly because the CSI membership hasn't talked it up much, and Jock is still fighting with some bugs. It's a target audience, it's an audience that knows what it wants, and it's an audience that knows about what things are worth.
Paw Paw - Thursday, 03/13/03 20:38:14 GMT

John L.:

My step dad was also a combat veteran. WWII. North Africam
Sicily. Trapped behind German lines at least once, and got away with it. How do I know? I read the citations with his medals.

Not too long before he died, I went to the hospital one evening to see him. He noticed that I looked beat and commented on it. I answered that I hadn't slept much the night before and he asked if I'd been having nightmares. I told him yes.

Then I said to him, "Dad, I can remember you waking up screaming "TANKS, TANKS!" in the middle 40's. (He was at Kasserine Pass when Rommel broke through. He stayed behind to hold the germans off with a machine gun while his company escaped. Then destroyed the gun and escaped himself. Took him a day and a half to get back across the enemy lines. Silver Star) "How long do the nightmares last?" He got the saddest look in his eyes, and said, "How long do you expect to live?" I said something like, "Oh great! JUST what I needed to hear!" I grinned as I said it, and he replied with a smile, "I will say this, they do get easier with time."

He was right, they do get easier with time. But he was also right that they apparently never go away.
Paw Paw - Thursday, 03/13/03 20:45:19 GMT

NW anvils: Kim- hadn't seen your message as I don't always visit on a regular basis. Are you in Seattle, Portland or ??. There are lots of anvils available lately which seems contrary to when I was looking for them. Must be because I hoarded all the ones I came across! I do have some nice 100 year old American and Swedish anvils I'm looking to unload as I want to trade up to the new Czech 500lbr's that are available.
I am going to the conference as well next month and will have some of them there. Ciao,
steve howell - Thursday, 03/13/03 20:53:48 GMT

e-bay: I used to print out some of the e-bay descriptions just for the fun of it.

Some of my favorites: "Blacksmith's Tongues" instead of tongs, "hand forged cast iron" and "Early blacksmith tools" for something that was post ACW!

Most of these were done through ignorance; though some folk got huffy and demanded why I should expect them to know anything about what they are selling!

What annoys me are the terms "rare" or "unusual" for common factory made items. If you don't know anything about something *don't* make value judgements about it!

Thomas rare and unusual for me to buy anything the local fleamarket still is several times cheaper than e-bay...
- Thomas Powers - Thursday, 03/13/03 21:12:41 GMT

eBay: Jim- (zero),

I buy a good bit of stuff on eBay and have only been really screwed once. That was by some fly-by-nighter who simply didn't deliver the goods. Twenty bucks, no lbig deal, but it did annoy me. One other guy packed a tool so poorly it got broken in shipment, and he refused to even acknowledge his error. I fixed the thing, so it was only annoying, not costly. The other eighty or so deals have been just to terrific.

The single most adventurous thing I ever did in my life, financially, was to buy my Harley on eBay. After several emails and half a dozen phone conversations with the seller, I just hauled off and sent him a cashier's check for over seven grand. On trust alone. (Well, I do have a contact with the PD where he lives) He crated the bike nicely and it cot here fine. The scooter is even better than his description and pictures. You CAN come out just fine on eBay. So now, apparently, I'm a patriot instead of just a gullible motorcycle hoodlum. (huge grin)

Paw Paw & John L.,

Nightmares? Not anymore. I just call them dreams now. Oh, I still wake my wife with my yelling and thrashing around, but she's learned to just conk me a few times until I stop the racket. She's been a nurse for thirty years, so I guess they can be considered therapeutic conks. (grin)
vicopper - Thursday, 03/13/03 22:49:38 GMT

ebay: Like Zero, I prefer to deal with other smiths. While my experience in such deals has not been all sweetness and light but so far I have not encountered dishonesty - just extreme flakiness.

I would much rather sell my tools to someone who is going to use them and I get a real kick out of using a tool that has been in the hands of another craftsman.

However, not every purchase can be a love fest :). Sometimes its just cold commmerce. There isnt much in the way of 2nd hand tool dealers here. The flea market has become a sort of boutique for tourists. So I do buy from ebay. I am careful. I rarely spend more than $50. I only buy stuff that I know and I try to buy only from sellers that have a long list of positive feedback comments. I figure these guys have an investment in their good names. So far I've been burned once for $10.

Rich, I find it distasteful when someone flaunts his patriotism in an ebay ad. But I think the poster was just trying to convince us that he is a good guy and that not all ebay vendors are scum of the earth :)

We can grumble all we want about "yuppified prices" but things are worth what people will pay. Were it not for the efforts of "greedy" vendors, many of these great tools would still be rusting away in peoples basements waiting for that spring day when they get sent to the scrapheap and lost forever. Ebay allows people all over the country to connect with tools all over the country. This very fact increases their value - the more buyers there are, the higher the price will go.
adam - Thursday, 03/13/03 22:54:30 GMT

Thomas, as a long-time reader I know you have good flea markets. I'm jealous. Years ago, before I really got into this stuff, I had good local flea markets. Lately I've noticed that most of the "good" stuff seems to have disappeared. I think many of the sellers have discovered better $ on ebay. :-(

On the other hand, I've learned to make a lot of the stuff that I had thought I'd have to find in flea markets and auctions. So I get the tool, and the fun and experience of making it! :)

Steve
Steve A - Thursday, 03/13/03 23:07:16 GMT

More eBay...:

Rich (Vic): I've never been screwed on eBay, just had one item take FOREVER to get here and one damaged in shipment.

I bought a used laptop from a guy who had quite a few negative feedbacks. I checked the feedbacks and they were all for $0.01 CD's. I figure if you pay a PENNY for a used CD, it skips and you complain -- you NEED TO GET A LIFE! Ergo, the laptop works just fine...

You bought your Hog on eBay? Hmmmm, must be some sort of psychic tropospheric ducting between St. Croix and California... ;-)

We used to have a nice flea market, but now it's just an overpriced Harbor Freight (with airborne dust), which is why I shop online more and more these days.
Zero - Thursday, 03/13/03 23:42:50 GMT

Shopping in general: One thing I've found, on eBay and everywhere else, is that if youtry to squeeze the very last nickel out of every deal, things become unpleasant. When I buy or sell anywhere, I try to find a spot that both parties can be happy with. Sure, I've left some money on the table in lots of deals. But it usually pays off in the long run. Poeple come back, they tell other people, etc. And I can live with myself. Life is too short to spend any of it trying to squeeze somebody else's wallet.

I've sure been happy with my Harley!
vicopper - Friday, 03/14/03 00:43:31 GMT

Deja Vu:

Rich (Vic): Dang! Just finished having the very same talk with my oldest boy (17). He's got a class in economics where they buy "fake" stocks. He wanted to HOLD everything and I respectively told him to leave some money on the table for those that follow -- my fathers axiom.

Tropospheric ducting's working well tonight!!
Zero - Friday, 03/14/03 04:06:00 GMT

Vic & Zero:
"Bread cast upon the waters will return to you seven fold".

It's true, I've had it proved to me many times over the years.
Paw Paw - Friday, 03/14/03 04:31:27 GMT

Mo' Axioms: My Daddy had one about money, too, although not quite as polite as Zero's Daddy's. "Money's like manure. If you spread it around, it's fertilizer. If you just let it sit there, it's just horse s**t."
- 3dogs - Friday, 03/14/03 07:34:48 GMT

Serious Tradin'!: Vic, one of the most amazing accounts of trading I ever read was about the Hasidic diamond traders in Antwerp. Two of them will stand right out there on the sidewalk tossing verbal offers and counteroffers back and forth until an agreement is reached, at which point , one of them will slap his palm down on the palm of the other, and they say "mazel und brucha" (basically, "a good deal for both"). I didn't notice any notes being taken or exchanged, either. I guess about umpteen bazillion bucks worth of diamonds are traded this way every day!
- 3dogs - Friday, 03/14/03 07:58:46 GMT

$$ Aphorism: "Money's the cheapest thing you'll ever have".
Frank Turley - Friday, 03/14/03 14:00:43 GMT

Money's worth: The Tao Te Ching tells a story of a miserly farmer that kept all his gold burried in a field. Every morning he would dig it up and look at it and bury it again. One night someone stole his gold. The farmer complained to his neighbor about the theft. The neighbor suggested the farmer bury a large stone in the same spot and go dig it up every morning. Since that was all he used his gold for he should get the same enjoyment from it.
Gronk - Friday, 03/14/03 17:15:14 GMT

Ebay etc: vicopper,
Must be a short ride around the island?(smile) But hey a short ride is better than no ride.....
Now if only I could get nice weather here in the PNWet my ride would then be perfect.....
Ralph - Friday, 03/14/03 17:54:38 GMT

Ridin': Ralph,

Yeah, the miles aren't long, but the roads make it seem much longer! Roads here aren't engineered at all, so the potholes are many and severe. I had to change over to Progressive 412's an inch longer to keep my butt from finding the fender ever few minutes. (grin) New rear tire every year, or about every 3,000 miles. The price I pay to ride in Paradise. (sigh)
vicopper - Friday, 03/14/03 18:02:20 GMT

Ridin, vicopper: At least you can get out for a ride. My bike has been in the garage since the end of October and there are 4 inches of ice in my driveway keeping it in for at least another week.

I'm getting cabin fever from being cooped up in my car (tin can, cage etc)
Stephen G - Friday, 03/14/03 19:25:33 GMT

Perfect riding weather here in AZ, have had the Honda on the
road all week, was encouraged to do so when I filled the pickup last weekend and spent $40.....for about half a tank!
Just have to keep both eyes peeled for snowbirds.
Ellen - Friday, 03/14/03 23:19:21 GMT

More ridin': Ellen,

One good thing here is the price of gas. $1.15 per gallon. Of course, we do have the largest oil refinery in the westyern hemisphere right here on the island, which does make a big difference. Gas prices on St. Thomas, only 45 miles away, are a buck more a gallon. Ouch!

Since the Department issued me a car, I don't ride every day like I used to. But I ride on all my days off, and use the bike for all my errands, except getting steel. (grin)
vicopper - Friday, 03/14/03 23:25:57 GMT

eBay: I have been hard on eBay recently but my intention was to get folks to be wary of who they are doing business with and what they are buying.

I've bought lots of items on eBay and bid on MANY more. I shop auctions for bargains. I look for items that no one else is interested in and bid late and low. I set a maximum bid and stick to it. I have rarely had trouble at auctions. But I have been buying at auction since I was 17 years old, so that is some 34 years, hundreds of auctions and tens of thousands of dollars bid.

As I pointed out on the guru's den the problem is that disreputable auctioneers can be fined, lose their licence or face jail time. This results in most being very good people to do business with. But on eBay the disreputable have almost nothing to fear and they go on and on and on cheating and theiving. It is part of the Internet culture like Nigerian scammers, SPAMMERS, chain email letters, name squatters, virus writers and URL redirection to porn sites. It is there and it does not appear to that it is going to get better. People need to be aware of that element on eBay when they do business there.

As far as buying and selling used anvils on the net I would not want to be on either side of the deal. I know that "good" condition on a 100 year old or better anvil can include a lot of defects that other people get upset about and think they have been cheated when their "good" condition anvil has a few minor chips and a little rust pitting.
There ARE some perefect virgin OLD anvils out there but you should expect to pay $10 to $15 a pound for those very RARE specimins. But many folks expect "good" to be perfect and get that quality for less than half of the cost of a new anvil. That pressure has resulted in a lot of dealers repairing mild blemishes that should have been left alone and don't effect the usefullness of the tool. The "repairs" are in fact more detrimental than the original minor defect.
- guru - Saturday, 03/15/03 02:28:09 GMT

riding.: Well since I got my bike a week before Thanksgiving (Nov for those not in the USA) I have ridden to work almost everyday.. only missed about 5 days so far... But I will admit that I will be much happier once the weather warms and dries.....
Ralph - Saturday, 03/15/03 20:48:13 GMT

Anvil: Well, I remember a post awhile back on a John Deere anvil. Today I bought one. Great price too. Only $12.50. 'Course, it was only 4" long! :] But now I can say I've got one.
- Bob Harasim - Saturday, 03/15/03 22:26:33 GMT

Alldays & Onions 1/2 cwt pneumatic hammer manual: Hi Guys

I've bought a stripped and partially refurbished Alldays & Onions 1/2 cwt pneumatic forging hammer, but have now reached the point wher I desperately need a technical manual for it. Can anyone suggest where I can obtain one - or a facsimile of one? Help!
- Don Leih - Sunday, 03/16/03 07:23:14 GMT

Alldays & Onions: Don, go back to the Guru's page; I think I've got you covered. 3dogs.
- 3dogs - Sunday, 03/16/03 09:26:10 GMT

welder: I just picked up an OLD Westinghouse generator welder. I went on line looking for a web site for westinghouse, couldn't find one (I seem to remember they got sold and split up) any way I would like to find a manual for it, or at the least some more infomation on it.
the model number is AEA 200L with a Onan motor on it. I am guessing it is from the late 60's early 70's.
thanks MP
MP - Sunday, 03/16/03 13:57:52 GMT

Welder: MP,

That model number you liosted for the welder looks suspiciously like (read, exactly like), the model number for the Miller welder I used to have on my crane truck. Very nice unit, too. 200amp, ac/dc, about 18 hp Onan engine, electric start, generator capacity of 10kw. They were slightly prone to problems with the rotary load switch, but not too bad. They also came with a Kohler motor. That was back in the 80's. To the best of my knowledge, Westinghouse didn't manufacture their own welders, so I'd check the Miller site.


www.millerwelds.com
vicopper - Sunday, 03/16/03 17:42:27 GMT

More welders: Matt,

Also try these folks. They either have, or can get, manuals for most equipment.
www.machinerybrochures.com/shop/page1521.html
vicopper - Sunday, 03/16/03 17:51:03 GMT

TGN:

Nipplini:

Think like Madison Avenue... Send out Press Releases!

Find your local UPI/AP bureau and send them a them a "heads-up". There are on-line resources for both writing a P/R and to whom to send it to. Don't exclude the major networks either, a slow NEWS day is a bonus for your cause.

You probably shouldn't have tried to "tap" your ASO, It's likely too hard to thread. A through hole with a nut on the eye-bolt would work much better (I am impressed that you have drills and taps, however!).

BTW: You can use those ASO's to "FORGE" new body piercings, and show them off on our Yahoo group. Perhaps even bring some new ideas (and humor) to this group? (we always can use new CSI member!)

Now that I've probably pissed Jock off, I'll end this missive...;-)

--Z
Zero - Sunday, 03/16/03 21:35:52 GMT

thanks for the help ... the unit I got is 4000W D/C (I think) 110/220 A/C 200amp on the welder side and I think the motor is about 18 HP so sounds like it might be close .. how ever it is not electric start (I would very much like to change this or at the least add a recoil starter)

MP - Sunday, 03/16/03 23:53:55 GMT

Welder: MP,Vicopper is right about that being a Miller welder. I had one,too, pound for pound it was one of the best machines going. If it were an electric start model, the model number would have ended in LE. Knowing that Vicopper was in the sign biz, I must add that I don't think I've very often seen ANY other welder on a sign erector's boom rig, in the NW Ohio/ SE Michigan area. I was a Millwright contractor, and ran my AEAD200LE for 10 years, 6 days a week, repairing scrap yard equipment. All I ever had to do to that little bugger was change oil every so often, and once a year, pull the heads off the ONAN and scrape out the lead deposits, and give her a new pair of spark plugs. If I was in a particularly corrosive environment, I'd have to take a piece of crocus cloth and clean the oxidation off the slip rings occasionally. We used the standby power a number of times to run the house after a few bad storms, too. A good piece of equipment. You take care of it, it'll take care of you. It could get a little expensive, converting it to the Onan electric start, if yours doesn't have the geared flywheel, unless you could find a wrecked LE engine and salvage the necessary parts. One thing they used to do with the old rope start motors was to replace the rope sheave with a V-belt pulley and wire up an old car generator to act as a starter motor until you released the start button. Then it went back to being a generator. Not being an electrician, I couldn't tell you how they accomplished that, but I know it can be done. Good luck. Best regards, 3dogs
- 3dogs - Monday, 03/17/03 07:05:55 GMT

3dogs: The push button pulled in a set of contacts on a relay that fed current to the generator, turning it into a starter. When the button was released, the contacts flipped back to the normal position and the spinning generator fed current to the starter battery. You need a voltage regulator in the circuit to keep from overcharging the battery. Talk to a good auto mechanic. (preferably one about 55 or 60 years old!) He can show you how to wire it up.
Paw Paw - Monday, 03/17/03 07:13:01 GMT

no, not the geared tooth flywheel so I guess that is out baring a good bone yard find. I could add an old belt driven starter as the starter coil on the flywheel is a v pulley.. now to find a mechanic that realy knows what he is doing ... that could be fun.
thanks for the info everyone.
MP
MP - Monday, 03/17/03 14:14:28 GMT

Alldays & Onions: Dog Pack: Last year when we toured Nova Scotia. We visited Mike Spencer who was in the process of renovating and installing one of these hammers. I could find his email addr. if you are interested

Woof!
adam - Monday, 03/17/03 16:07:40 GMT

happy day: Happy St. Patrick's feast. God save all here --
Health to the men, and may the women live forever!
Two Swords - Monday, 03/17/03 16:44:35 GMT

Anvile Information: Hi, I know that I should buy the book "Anvils in America", but at this point I'm not advanced enough to need it. But, I do have a question regarding an Anvil that I just bought, and was hoping someone who either had the book or knew the story could share some info. The anvil says M&H Armitage Mouse Hole with the weight as 0-3-4. I know what the weight is, I was just wondering if someone can shed some light on how old it is, and by what means it was constructed (aka cast welded, etc.). I'm definitely a newbie, have taken a few classes and am working on setup of my own equipment. This is a small anvil, but for the price and good condition I couldn't pass it up. Also, is there any problem sand blasting it to clean it up? Any info you could provide would be much appreciated. Thanks! Darren
- Darren - Monday, 03/17/03 17:26:17 GMT

A&O Hammer: Adam, 'tweren't me lookin'. Man name of Don Leih is. Scroll up. Also over at the Guru's. Thanky anyway. 3dogs
3dogs - Monday, 03/17/03 18:57:35 GMT

Darren: It's a forged wrought iron anvil, manufactured at the Mouse Hole Forge in Sheffield England. If you'll do a rubbing of the trademark, and either scan it or send it to me, so I get the exact arrangement of the trademark, I'll try to date it for you.
Paw Paw - Monday, 03/17/03 20:42:01 GMT

Darren:
Oops! I forgot the other question. Sand blasting it would be the easiest way to get it clean but doing so will ruin the antique value.
Paw Paw - Monday, 03/17/03 20:42:56 GMT

TGN ASO not a real anvil: Actually, cast iron anvils ARE real anvils. I risk the wrath of Thor and everyone else here by saying this but it's true. You can forge on a cast iron ASO and people do. They are much inferior to the quality that smiths use and they will not last long under the demands of serious work. So much so that we try to steer new smiths away from wasting their money on them since they will only be disappointed. Nevertheless they are indeed anvils.

Webster gives: Anvil:- a heavy usually steel-faced iron block on which metal is shaped (as by hand hammering)

Just to squelch any possible objection you could take a coat hanger and hammer it into a curve around the horn so that you can say that you have in fact used it to forge steel.

3Dogs - sorry about that
adam - Monday, 03/17/03 21:22:42 GMT

Welder starter: Matt,

Before I got the Miller, I had an antique Lincoln with a 14 hp Kohler rope-start. The thing was impossible to start unless the weather was over 90 degrees. I rigged it for electric start the poor man's way.

I replaced the rope sheave with a v-belt sheave and got a starter motor from an old car, which I alsoi riggfed with a v-belt sheave. I just mounted the starter motor on a pivot so I could switch it on (by clipping a jumper cable from the truck battery to it), and yank it back to tighten the belt. The Kohler would start, overrunning the starter motor and the belt would jump off the sheaves. Unclip the jumper cables, pick up the belt and begin welding. Did that for five or six years until I got the Miller.

The Miller was the LE model, so no fooling around. That Miller was the best portable welder I ever used, for its size. Like 3dogs said, every sign truck in Denver and Phoenix was equipped with one, and I NEVER saw one for sale used.
vicopper - Monday, 03/17/03 22:23:00 GMT

ASNED: Maybe a new acronym could be born right here on Anvilfire! "Anvil Shaped Nipple Elongating Device". Sounds better'n "door stop" or "toe stubber". Just thought I'd run it up the flagpole and see if anybody salutes it. (Or shoots at it) (smirk) 3dogs
3dogs - Tuesday, 03/18/03 08:46:59 GMT

ASNED:

3dogs: Along with what TGN is using ASO's for, I think anyone willing to carve a cavity (machine, plasma cut, etc) in to the bottom of such objects, would be a great boon to the art (craft?) of anvil shooting.

I figured if I was going to "shoot" at your idea, I'd use an anvil (ASO/ASNED)... ;-)

So... Anyone actually FORGED anything lately? I've got a half dozen hoof-picks with a horse head (thanks to Bill Epps' iForge demo), now everyone wants my paper plate holder! Why is it when you STOCK-UP on what folks want, they change their minds??
Zero - Wednesday, 03/19/03 01:05:33 GMT

Zero:

"Why is it when you STOCK-UP on what folks want, they change their minds??

That's the eternal lament of the craftsman! Guys ask me what to carry to shows and I tell them, "Everything!" You NEVER know what is going to sell. It actually get's a bit frustrating at times.
Paw Paw - Wednesday, 03/19/03 01:19:26 GMT

Zero: Lessee,now, you can tell 'em "If ya put a couple of these genyoowine hand crafted hoofie picks on top of yer paper plate, I can personally guarantee you it ain't goin anywhere." ('course if they been hoofie pickin' with 'em, they might want to clean 'em up some.)(BOG) 3dogs
3dogs - Wednesday, 03/19/03 09:02:48 GMT

Shooting anvils: I'd not be a big fan of putting a powder charge in the base of a cast iron ASO. Especially with the dubious cast iron that is often used for them---my friends enjoy extracting cast iron shrapnel out of my hide with a *used* hoof pick way too much---must be bad for them!

Thomas
- Thomas Powers - Wednesday, 03/19/03 13:47:13 GMT

selling: I can tell you every time what will sell... it will be what you made the least of!! every time!
though some items will over time show that they can and do sell well. For me that is roses, penulars(kilt pins), blades (some shows anyway) leaf key chains. but as a rule I will allway sell out of what I forgot to make, even if the amount of stock I have on that item has been sitting for a long time.
MP
MP - Wednesday, 03/19/03 13:53:29 GMT

Forge and Anvil Tapes for sale: For Sale:

Forge and Anvil TV series VHS tapes with Alan Rogers, Volumes 1 & 2.

Quote from the tape cover:

"Forge & Anvil explores the world of Blacksmiths - introducing you to the tools, materials, skills and personsalities involved with modern blacksmithing."

"Join host Alan Rogers as he shows you the basic techniques used to hand forge tools, furniture, weapons, architectural details, horseshoes and works of sculpture"

Volume 1, Programs 1 - 5, 134 minutes long

Volume 2, Programs 6 - 10, 134 minutes long

Originally puchased from Centaur Forge from $35.00 each, will sell both for $40.00, including shipping.
Mark Hubler - Thursday, 03/20/03 06:24:58 GMT

Off topic: you all made this poor boy green with all the talk of bikes, I had to go out and buy a new one this week. got a kawasaki ZR7S.

realy my old GS650 was at the end of it's days so it was time for a new bike.
MP
MP - Thursday, 03/20/03 16:14:51 GMT

off-topic bikes: MP,

Since you're a smith and generally a good guy, I'll forego all the rice-rocket comments. (grin) Congratulations on the new acquisition! There's nothing quite as much fun as a new bike or a new bride, huh? Bike is cheaper in the long run, though. (grin)
vicopper - Thursday, 03/20/03 22:54:54 GMT

Vic: Bike? I though MP said he bought a kawasaki?
Paw Paw - Friday, 03/21/03 00:12:21 GMT

Rice Rockets:

I've got plenty of friends who ride "sport" bikes. Some of the Japanese bikes are pretty serious these days...

A friend in NYC has a R1 (the brand escapes me) that turns 160 HP to the rear wheel! He dosen't have to shift out of top gear in downtown Manhattan -- just lug it along in slow traffic, then wick the throttle and hit 120mph on the clear stretches.

Scary stuff!

I have a '75 iron frame (Harley) out back in a basket. Someday I'll have the chance to rebuild it (maybe...), between then and now, youse guys (gals) let me live my biker life vicariously... ;-)
Zero - Friday, 03/21/03 01:09:42 GMT

Bikes: There ain't no doubt that the Japanese are building some pretty fine bikes these days, particularly for the adrenaline-addicted crowd. Some of those things will easily go faster than some small planes! And they stay glued to the road, too. I'm just too old for that kind of raw power and high speed, I guess.

My Harley only cranks out about 68 rwhp, but that is more than enough to make it do things that I won't. I got in a hurry to get out of an idiot's way the other day and went across an intersection at full throttle in 2nd gear. Wasn't until I got clear and backed off the throttle that I realized the front wheel had been a foot off the ground all the way. I'm too old for that stuff! Gotta admit it felt pretty good, though. (grin)

Blacksmithing content: My wife Sally complained that when she rides on the back, the acceleration slides her off the seat. She insisted on a sissy bar, but I didn't want anything I couldn't stand up and clear the family jewels with, for obvious reasons. The only solution, since nobody makes a short enough one, was to make my own. So out came the stainless round bar and the hammer. Forged a right nice looking discrete little thing to stop her butt from sliding back. Polished it all up and it looks just like chrome. Modern blacksmithing for the "iron horse."

Jim (zero): Take one piece at a time out of the basket and fix it up. Someday you'll have all the parts ready to assemble. The possibilities for a little creative smithing along the way are almost endless. How about some snazzy repousse' work on the sheet metal? Those old ironheads are great bikes!
vicopper - Friday, 03/21/03 02:04:59 GMT

Bike: I started out on an Indian, switched to Harley, then went for several years without a bike at all. Went to the Harley again for the city, got so disgusted with them during the "bad spell" that I bought a big Honda for my off duty ride. When the third Honda died (one of the kids tried to drive it with no oil in the bottom end!) I swore I was gonna get a big street BMW. May do it yet.
Paw Paw - Friday, 03/21/03 03:07:21 GMT

Diamonds and bikes: 3 dogs,

You described a diamond deal. It sounds so casual and trusting (I've heard the same description before). Ha! Try stiffing on that deal. What happens is worse than doing the same thing with a lawyer and written contract. You will NEVER deal diamonds anywhere in the world again. And it isn't done by some mysterious "grapevine". It's official and publically posted worldwide.

About those high speed motor bikes. I have a friend whose a cop. He described how when those first came out he was helping to pick up the body parts hundreds of yards out in some farmer's field. Seems people would find themselves some nice straight, long stretch of back country road and crank it up. Since they weren't idiots, they allowed extra room for braking when the inevitable turn showed up. What they forgot was braking distance is the function of the SQUARE of the velocity. i.e. at 180 it takes 4 times the distance to stop that it does at 90. darwin lives
- Rudy - Friday, 03/21/03 04:27:01 GMT

Rudy:
At least one of the guys in the coversation IS an active duty law enforcement officer and another is a retired asst. chief of police.
Paw Paw - Friday, 03/21/03 04:55:03 GMT

Paw Paw: Yep, knew that. Just adding my .02.
- Rudy - Friday, 03/21/03 05:01:04 GMT

Rudy,:

OK, didn't realize you knew. And your friend is right, many people don't understand the physics of speed.
Paw Paw - Friday, 03/21/03 05:17:19 GMT

Rudy/Diamond Deal: Yer absolutely right. I reckon that's why it has worked so well for so long. Nothing like a little heavy duty peer pressure to keep you honest.
3dogs - Friday, 03/21/03 12:07:03 GMT

Zero's basket case : I'll be more than happy to give your basket case a good home ;)

I'd love to get some American iron, but there is "an economic stagnation" on and my metric cruiser gets me around just fine.
Stephen G - Friday, 03/21/03 13:36:47 GMT

Bikes: Paw Paw, you wouldn't regret the BMW. I've put alot of miles on Beemers. Not much lately, but I've been thinking about it with the new ad where the guy takes his through the creek! Grin.
- Tony - Friday, 03/21/03 15:09:57 GMT

bikes and the said state of harley: I went to the local dealer when I was looking at bikes ... I was sickened. the cheepest bike on the floor was half the bike the kawaski is and $2600 more($2000 used). The dealership seems to be more about selling "stuff than bikes" anything and everything that you can put a name on is for sale.. even candy and an axe. funny though allmost all of the jackets were to light to were for riding and they only carry 30 or so lids. the new Indians are nice but the price point is about the same and the fit and finsh isn't very good on the bike's I looked at.
all of the US bikes are becomeing something to park next to the SUV and impress your friends. none of them are of much use as a daily ride.
The sadest thing is that you can buy a custom built bike for about the same money as a hog...
sorry for the rant but that shop real got to me.
MP
MP - Friday, 03/21/03 16:03:01 GMT

MP:
Don't aplogize for the rant! That rant if valuable to others who may be thinking of buying.

I still have two Harley style "half helmets" that I "obtained" while I was with the department. One of them has a small hole in the front, just above the translucent blue visor, but not enough to degrade the integrity of the helmet. That's about the only thing I'd buy at the local Harley dealership. They've got the same problems you mentioned.
Paw Paw - Friday, 03/21/03 16:14:51 GMT

BMW:

A reporter friend came by on a new BMW several years ago. He was doing a piece on smaller sport-touring bikes, and the Beemer fit the topic.

I was VERY impressed with the front suspension, which was an "A" frame with a gas shock (vs. standard fork tubes). He then pops in the promo video, and it shows this guy riding an oval track while RUNNING OVER 4x4's (lumber)!

My basket-case is slated for later in the year, I've got too much on my plate right now to even think about starting the rebuild -- yes, that means I'm keeping it... ;-)

Ride safe gang!
Zero - Friday, 03/21/03 17:06:50 GMT

More bike stuff: I've owned, if I remember correctly, a '47 Indian, a '39 Harley, a couple of Triumph Bonnevilles, a basket-case Ariel square 4, a BSA Victor, a BMW R69-S, a couple of Suzuki desert racers, a Penton trials bike, a clapped-out Bultaco, 76 Harley 'Glide, an unknown year shovelhead Harley chopper, a Honda CX500-C water-cooled, and finally a '97 Harley Sportster.

The Beemer was the smoothest, but parts cost a fortune. The Indian was the heaviest and most difficult to ride, with left-hand jockey shift, suicide clutch and variable spark advance on the RIGHT grip. The Sportster I have now suits me to a T. Power enough, noise enough, nice looking, totally dependable and reasonably priced. I probably won't change it for years to come. Of course, I said that about nearly every bike I've owned. (grin)
vicopper - Friday, 03/21/03 17:33:06 GMT

Ural: Anyone here have a Ural (sp)? Old style Beemer knock off from the Eastern block? I saw a guy last summer who had rode his, with a side car, from Mexico to Alaska. Wife following in the truck camper. Looked REAL crude, but he said it worked about like a 60's Beemer. Adjust the valves, change the oil and go. Warranty required him to send in a piece of paper saying he adjusted the valves, but he also told me the warranty covered coming and getting the bike ANYWHERE in the world if it broke down. I have no idea if that's true.

VIC, only problem I ever had with a Beemer is the trouble I have with the current R100. Rear main seal leaks and gets oil on the clutch occasionally. But it has quite a few miles on it. Repaired the seal once, but the rear main bearing must be loose cause the seal went again. It's been parked for a while. When I got smacked on the head, I got the occasional dizzy spell. Hasn't been a problem recently, but I keep thinking about losing balance while going around a corner scraping the head cover.
- Tony - Friday, 03/21/03 18:09:38 GMT

Bikes: I have got an 87 Honda CBRF Huricane 600 that I need to paint the plastic on and get going. I had done a clutch dance with it in a pile of gravel a while ago and did an impression of a tobagon fortunatly I just scraped my knee, stupidly I was wearing my leather jacket and shorts! Note an associate of mine had just given the bike to me for some work I had done and I was wearing his helmet that was. I also have a very old Ward Riverside 50cc 2 stroke that was in an old farm building for a long time. I am trying to get it going too.

If you are looking for a great new bike, try Hondas VTX. The same guy that I got the Honda CBR from is realy into race replicas and has a Honda 600 and Suziku 600 that are both REALY fast. Last fall I went with him to get his Honda VTX and it is a great bike. The only problem he has had is that the handles are realy thick and when wearing thick winter gloves along with the upright position it is hard to hold on. A windshield would fix that though. It is very powerfull and he said that although it is big and heavy it is just about as manuverable and light feeling as his race replicas are. Last week he rode it with his 83 year old 130 pound step mother on the back and he said that it didn't change the performance of it at all. Definatly a bike that deserves some consideration.

It suprised me when a motorcycle magazine did an article a few months ago on where bikes were actualy made. I can't remember what magazine it was. They stated that suprisingly around 70% of a Harley is made and assembled over seas and almost 100% of the Hondas that are sold here in America are made here in America. That made me think twice about what the true "American" bike realy is. Disturbing isn't it!

Caleb Ramsby
Caleb Ramsby - Friday, 03/21/03 18:53:22 GMT

Bikes: I meant to say. "Note an associate of mine had just given the bike to me for some work I had done and I was wearing his helmet that was too big and was bouncing around a lot."
Caleb Ramsby - Friday, 03/21/03 18:57:53 GMT

Bikes and steam: It is a coincidence that the reason I have not been active on this site for a while is that I have been studying all things steam and have been designing a boiler and my own engine design. One of the first applications for this boiler and engine combination will be a motorcycle and probally my 67 Scout 800(that I am also currently atempting to restore). The production of the prototypes is most assuradly a few years off and I may need to make a contemporary piston engine to test the boiler design before making my rotary engine. Note that the boiler will be a water tube type with forced circulation that it is not possible to blow up.

I can't wait until I have a steam powered motorcycle. Just imagine riding with NO engine noise. That would take that feeling of flying just one step further.

Speaking of flying and steam check this out.

http://www.railroadextra.com/remaxim.Html

There was also the besler aircraft that was steam powered, it flew in the 30's I believe.

Caleb Ramsby
First airplane flight. Although it wasn't supposed to!
Caleb Ramsby - Friday, 03/21/03 19:09:32 GMT

Caleb:

If it's the feeling of flying that you want, (and who doesn't?) try skydiving. And in answer to the question, yes. Including military static line jumps and free fall skyding jumps, over 2,000 times.
Paw Paw - Friday, 03/21/03 21:24:43 GMT

12 Reasons why a bike is better than a woman.: Compliments of Rich and Paw Paw

12 reasons why a bike is better than a woman.

1. A bike never has a headache. (though she may be a little hard to start
on cold mornings).

2. A bike doesn't care if you stop for a couple of beers on the way home.

3. A bike doesn't care who you were riding this afternoon.

4. A bike doesn't mind if you climb on from the other side.

5. A bike will go for you as long as you keep a tiger in her tank.

6. A bike doesn't take 14 different kinds of paint to look good. A can
of wax and some chrome polish, and she's good to go.

7. It doesn't' matter how many miles are on the odometer, if she still runs, she'll run for you.

8. You can replace a bike for under a hundred grand.

9. If you leave your bike out in the cold, you can still ride it later.

10. Bikes don't talk. Or listen when you talk about other bikes.

11. Your bike can't access your credit card, checking account or address
book.

12. When you're done riding, your bike doesn't insist that you keep riding
until it's done. (grin)
Paw Paw - Friday, 03/21/03 21:42:53 GMT

Flying: Paw Paw, that is a very good sugestion! I WILL do that some day. It sounds like you are no stranger to adrenaline.grin

When I was out flying my 9' wide stunt kite that I made a few years ago yesterday I couldn't help thinking about how easy it would be to make one MUCH bigger, attach it to a truck, put some controls on the kite itself and strap myself on and have some fun. Yet, something keeps me from wanting to posthumisly acquiring the Darwin award.

What do you think about the bird man suits that are in use now? I have put a link at the bottem of the page. It looks like all one would need is a small jet pack. . .

Caleb Ramsby
Bird Man site
Caleb Ramsby - Friday, 03/21/03 22:07:11 GMT

clarification: The 67 Scout 800 that I eluded to is not a motorcycle, it is a small tough four wheel drive that was made by International Harvester. It's about the same size as a Bronco.

Caleb Ramsby
Caleb Ramsby - Friday, 03/21/03 22:12:39 GMT

Steambikes.....: Caleb, if I remember correctly, steambikes were used as early as the late 1700's
Perhaps no noise of engine, but steam engines are not so quiet, leastwise not the ones I have seen.....
Will you have an onboard boiler or will you use a steam accumilator?
I still prefer my Road King.... yeah it was too expensive and all that but I still like it..... Something about the sound and feel... (grin)
Ralph - Friday, 03/21/03 22:43:41 GMT

Scouts: caleb,

A long time ago I owned a '64 Scout, with the slant-4 engine. That was one really terrific little 4x4! The only downside to it was that International Harvester assembled them from odd-lot parts from nearly everything else they made, so getting parts could be a real adventure. (grin) I'd be delighted to still own that thing. I think I put about 200,000 miles on it with little or no problems. And I was eighteen years old at the time, so you can imagine how carefully it was driven. (grin)
vicopper - Saturday, 03/22/03 02:51:18 GMT

Caleb:

Birdman suits. That's been tried for literally hundreds of years. Several folks have been killed by them. Back when I was averaging 3 - 4 hundred jumps a year, "flight suits" came out. They were supposed to slow the rate of fall and increase aerial maneuverability. I tried a couple different one, but didn't really notice much difference.

I don't have a bike any more, but I do still have to main chutes, two reserve chutes my jump suit and helmet! (grin)
Paw Paw - Saturday, 03/22/03 03:13:31 GMT

Scroll Jig: I saw (and used) a scroll jig once that fit into a vice; the jig had a leaver on it that lifted up and contacted a piece of round stock (probably 3/4 inch stock) The problem is, I can't remember how the daggone thing went together. Anyone have any pictures they could share, if you have this jig? Many Thanks!
- DReed - Saturday, 03/22/03 03:17:06 GMT

Steambikes, scouts and flying. . .: Ralph,

You are right they were. You have probaly seen non-condensing engines. They exhaust the steam into the atmosphere and in doing so they make a lot of noise. Condensing engines have been used for many, many years. They capture the exhaust steam, then extract enough energy from it to turn it back into water. If the condensing system if effecient enough(big enough) the water will last indefinetly. The boiler would be on board and be of the water tube type, most likely using an atomizing burner. Which could burn almost any liquid fuel.

Vicopper,

Mine also has a slant-4 196 ci.. I got it from my grandfather a few years ago, it had sat for almost 15 years, the engine siezed hard so I had to take it apart, I also gave myself a whole lot a unnescessary work by getting too excited and dismantling. Fortunatly the internet has done for Scouts the same that it has done for Blacksmithing!

Paw Paw,

Yeah, having the flight of a bird has been a dream/obsession for many, many people. I remember seeing a program about flight and they were discussing the muscle and bone structure that a human would need to power wings the size that we would need. That was the only time that I didn't view genetic engineering with absolute disgust. . .

Caleb Ramsby
Caleb Ramsby - Saturday, 03/22/03 05:41:31 GMT

steambikes and flying suits: Do steamed birdmen taste like chicken?

Scroll jig: http://www.iforgeiron.com/Tools/Bends-Scrolls.htm
- adam - Saturday, 03/22/03 19:28:24 GMT

Adam,:

I'd offer you the opportunity to do some experimental research, but this is a family forum! (evil grin)
Paw Paw - Saturday, 03/22/03 23:32:40 GMT

iforgeiron.com:

I do like this "new" Blacksmithing site, just curious what the impetus was for its creation? I suppose I could hit the "pub" later tonight and ask the owner, but thought I'd throw it out in the open nonetheless....

Can't have too many Blacksmithing websites!!
Zero - Saturday, 03/22/03 23:43:37 GMT

Recently jacked in my job to start a course in forging and ironwork! Should have looked before I leapt! Cant find one in the London/ South East England area. Willing to work in exchange for learning. Please contact me if you have any advise or can help in any way! Thanks! Spencer Jennings
- Spencer Jennings - Monday, 03/24/03 11:24:40 GMT

Iforgeiron.com: Iforgeiron is NOT trying to REPLACE Anvilfire, but trying to SUPPLEMENT Anvilfire. There was no place to post images where every one in the pub could see, and emails were always leaving someone out. Images can now be posted during the conversation, and are left on the site for a day, for those reading the log hours later.
- Ntech - Tuesday, 03/25/03 01:38:05 GMT

iforgeiron.com: I, for one, do not see it as a competitive site at all, rather as a supplement, as you stated, Ntech. And, I might add, given the short period of time it had had to develop, I'd say you're doing a helluva job with it. I would think that it's serving to take a considerable load off Jock's shoulders. Good luck, 3dogs
- 3dogs - Tuesday, 03/25/03 07:48:06 GMT

iforgeiron: It's a great site. I have gotten a bunch of useful ideas from it. Glenn, thank you.

Adam
adam - Tuesday, 03/25/03 15:27:47 GMT

iforgeiron:

Ntech: I knew your site wasn't started to replace this site. But I didn't catch the relationship with the Pub, so now all the headers and such make sense -- I'll have to work on my keyboard speed and vist the Pub more often... ;-)

And, along with the others here, thanks for starting the site!
Zero - Tuesday, 03/25/03 16:16:04 GMT

Training: Spencer, I have been looking over the site all evening (congrats to all for the best site I have ever found on the net) when I am sure I saw an advert for a two day course on blacksmithing in Dorset. While I realise this isn't S E England, its not too far away (120 to 140 miles?). Try the Anvilfire News or the links off the Power Hammer page. Good Luck! P.S. Haven't you ever heard of looking before you leap? LOL.
- Peter - Tuesday, 03/25/03 21:02:41 GMT

Peter:
Welcome to Anvilfire and thank you for the complement. The guru has worked long and hard to produce a site that is attractive and informative to beginner and experienced smith alike.
Paw Paw - Thursday, 03/27/03 02:25:46 GMT

Fatwood lighter: I would be very interested in trading someone pound for pound some New England flint for genuine fatwood lighter. Longleaf pine is not native to my area but we have large amounts of good quality flint. Can supply 10 lbs, 20 lbs or 50 lbs. Thanks.
- Keith aka - kdbarker - Thursday, 03/27/03 07:49:46 GMT

Fatwood lighter: Oops! Forgot to log-in. E-mail me if interested. Thanks!
Keith aka-kdbarker - Thursday, 03/27/03 07:57:17 GMT

training -spencer: see my post guru's den 24/3/03 (or 3/24/03). Dorset may be the RDC which IS an apprenticeship. One smith traveled 300 + miles for a Wessex Guild weekend. If your still intrested contact me.

ps - I am unhappy no one has corrected me.

pps (sp everything ?)
Nigel - Thursday, 03/27/03 23:06:36 GMT

Nigel:

You need to remember that most (not all, by any means) of the regulars are in the colonies. We can't correct you, because we don't know whether you are right or wrong.
Paw Paw - Thursday, 03/27/03 23:18:50 GMT

I was hoping there might be more UK smiths than I thought. I am trying (for a laugh)to work out origins from posting times, not just comments. not much luck so far, too many night owls. (i'm on GMT!!)
Nigel - Thursday, 03/27/03 23:35:47 GMT

Nigel:
And here, we may be on any of about five different zones. (wry grin)
Paw Paw - Thursday, 03/27/03 23:49:30 GMT

Yes, then add the Aussies. I think there are a couple. (grin)

Qu. why do people still use () when [] is that little bit quicker and easier ? The @ has entered 'everyday' usage.
Nigel - Friday, 03/28/03 13:40:18 GMT

FOR SALE: I have an assortment of split frame sand casting flasks from a production casting company that closed. Many more than I need,and have no storage space. They are aluminum framed and assorted sizes from 1'x1' to 2'x3'. I can be reached at lmaguire@ecofoam.com
Lee Maguire - Friday, 03/28/03 13:49:54 GMT

Nigel:
Because the [] (square bracket) is also a mathematical symbol, I suspect.
Paw Paw - Friday, 03/28/03 14:13:08 GMT

Alldays & Onions hammer: 3dogs, thanks for the info on the Alldays and Onions hammer. I'd like to send you some pics of it - would you be interested?

Regards

Don Leih
- Don Leih - Friday, 03/28/03 14:46:59 GMT

A&O Hammer: Don; Sure, let's give 'er a look. Did the two websites I gave you have anything for you? Key on my name at the bottom of this post.
- 3dogs - Friday, 03/28/03 16:06:44 GMT

OOPS: I guess that isn't going to work, Don. Try porewilson@buckeye-express.com
- 3dogs - Friday, 03/28/03 16:11:09 GMT

Follow up to training: With regards to Spencers enquiry about courses in Britain, while browsing the www.baba.org.uk site, I read about courses being run around the country, under the education tab on the site. Meanwhile, Hello to Paw Paw & thank you for the welcome. I stand by what I said, You are all doing a brilliant job which is of great help to many people. Never think it isn't being appreciated. Here's to the day when I can do work to the level attained by some here (including my namesake, Ross LOL).
Peter - Friday, 03/28/03 21:22:37 GMT

ABANA Conference: I remember reading awhile back about the possibilty that the next ABANA Conference being held in Kentucky. Haven't heard a thing since. Any of you folks have an update as to where it will be?Thanks
- Larry - Saturday, 03/29/03 02:38:49 GMT

'tucky: Larry, My copy of Abana's "Hammer's Blow" Winter 2004, just says (quoting our president, Scott Lankton, "The 2004 Conference is in the final throes of negotiations. By the time you read this, I have to believe that the exact time and place will be carved in iron and up on the website. If you can't see it there, feel free to pick up the phone and call me. Or call one of your other directors for the latest facts or rumors! For now, think Bluegrass in the summer of 2004."
- 3dogs - Saturday, 03/29/03 17:55:48 GMT

ABANACON: Thanks 3DOGS. I tried cruising around the ABANA site, but couldn't find any info except for CanIron. I'll keep an eye open though.
- Larry - Sunday, 03/30/03 02:19:28 GMT

Spring saftey: Ok, I know you guys get tired of hearing this but spring mowing and farming season is near. If your tractor has a roll bar and seat belt please use them, if not please install them and use them. You are all to special a bunch of friends to lose in a tragic accident. We lose on an average 1 person a year in tractor/mower accidents in our small county. Being safe don't mean your a sissie!!
- Stiffy - Sunday, 03/30/03 15:36:04 GMT

HELP!!!: I need help on making swords, double edged, scimitars, all kinds... I have been progressing on my own... but it would be easier to know how a real blacksmith made them... pleez help me!
- Joshua - Sunday, 03/30/03 16:42:14 GMT

HELP!!!: I need help on making swords, double edged, scimitars, all kinds... I have been progressing on my own... but it would be easier to know how a real blacksmith made them... pleez help me!

Joshua - Sunday, 03/30/03 16:45:05 GMT

Rsponses (plural): Peter,

Thank you. And here's a shameless plug. CSI is an international organization of blacksmiths who pay dues in order to see their names in "True Blue" on the guru's page, get a discount at the Anvilfire store, and a few other small perks. Why do we do it? Because the $52 USD per year helps to support and keep Anvilfire.com alive. Further information about joining can be found by clicking on the CSI link at the top or the bottom of the guru's page.

**********

Stiffy,

Some may be tired of reading that warning, but I think it's timely and important. And I'll add that checking iForge #66 occasionally wouldn't hurt anyone, either.

***********

Joshua,

You need to post your question on the guru's page.
Paw Paw - Sunday, 03/30/03 23:29:31 GMT

Information:

My response to an email I received today. If any one else wants to help, let me know via e-mail and I'll keep you
posted on my progress.

**********

I do not know who the manufacturer of the TL-13A, the TL-29 pocket knife, or the TL-32 tool kit was.

BUT. I know that I still have a TL-29A pocket knife, I may have a set of TL-13A lineman's pliers, and I may
have a TL-32 kit. If I don't have the 13-A and TL-32 kit, I think I know where I can buy a set.

If you will send me your snail mail address, I would be honored to send you my TL-29A and the rest of the set as
well as a way of continuing my service. I will also attempt to locate sources for the other tools so that you may
share the information with your brother and sister soldiers.

With a great deal of respect and a large thank you for your service, I am proud to sign myself as:

CSM James A. Wilson Sr. (USA Ret)

***********
Paw Paw - Monday, 03/31/03 01:24:05 GMT

VIC:

Vic, 1.5" bore by 16" stroke now. You want 12" right? What about the rod? How much stickout do you want when retracted and what do you want on the end of the rod? 5/8" rod diameter with 7/16" thread now. Rod seems very hard. I might have trouble threading it if I cut it. A longer rod stickout can sometimes make up for alignment inaccuracies and the guide wear that will occur. I’ve been meaning to call you, but I plan to make the mods tonight after work.
- Tony - Monday, 03/31/03 15:45:13 GMT

Joshua,
First off, what kind of smithing experience do you have, as that will tell us where to start.
Ralph - Monday, 03/31/03 23:02:28 GMT

Tony: I like the plan we discussed. Leave it long, it could always be made shorter if absolutely necessary (which I doubt), but it ain't gonna grow very easily. (grin)

Cruzan Rum has been alerted to the likelyhood of serious stock depletion in the next two weeks. They said it was no problem as long as the requirement doesn't exceed three tankers. Obviously, they know nothing about folks from the frigid north. (grin) I thought it prudent to check with them as there has been a shortage of rain here lately and the locals have given up drinking waterand have been relying solely on rum for thirst quenching. I haven't yet tried it in the slack tub, though. Might be interesting, actually. I can see the ad now...the finest genuine Caribbean cutlass, forged in the fire of pure coconut husks and quenched in pure cane spirits in accordance with an ancient recipe known only to a select guild of Voodoo weapons makers. Own your very own piece of history! The Bluebeard Blade! Trademark, patent pending, all rights reserved, blah, blah, blah...
vicopper - Tuesday, 04/01/03 02:38:41 GMT

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