Thefallguy951

Hey guys, just a little preamble. I'm a "journeyman" that has worked in a shop for 6-7 years. I've been required to learn how to fabricate, machine, and blacksmith over the years which I either was self taught or was informally trained.

I now wish to expand my skillset into designing and blueprinting with cad. Which would be applied to things such as handrails, fireplace inserts/fire screens, custom hinge design, sculptures, and gates just to name a few.

I have found that there are innumerable different options of ranging quality and intended application. The prospect of researching and choosing the ideal program for a beginner that's affordable that works for me is a daunting one.

So I

I always see posts about novice questions, anvil identification, and finished work pieces. Perhaps we can discuss how/why do things and learn from one another? Ill start,

I like to temper my tools in two different ways depending on their size and shape. For punches and cutting tools i like to make what I call a lazy mans beehive. I stick a pipe or tube that's appropriately sized for my work piece into the heart fire. Then I place say a punch inside of it to heat it up.

It has to be fairly thick (around a quarter inch thick as to not burn easily). As well as long enough to stick out both ends of the coal pile. It should be heated to a orange heat.

The benefits of this pipe are two fold. A

My birthday is coming up. So my mother approached me with getting my own apron and wanted some input. So I've been spending hours agonizing over various aprons. Ive got a bad case of paralysis by analysis, and would appreciate what you guys look for in a good apron. thanks in advance.

I don't know about you guys but I enjoy taking old parts and repurposing them into beautiful functional tools. In the past I have made some of my best tools from scrap coil springs and leaf springs. I'm always on the look out for more unique stock to add to my scrap pile. This morning I thought that those compression springs on trains would make for some badass parent stock. However after searching internet for a while, i can only find distributors that deal with new wholesale springs. I know its a long shot but I was wondering if you guys might have experience in either acquiring or working with locomotive springs. Any pointers would be appreciated.

For reference http://www.acewirespring

so i found this sub Reddit just now in desperation. My family just constructed the this house we are in a year ago. At the very start the power would occasionally fluctuate every 15 minutes or so, causing lights to dim and fans to noticeably slow down. Then we noticed a correlation with our microwave being turn on having this same effect. We have ignored this problem up until today where now it fluctuating every two seconds , which really buts me on edge. What Do you guys think is causing it? Whom should i call to take a look? The power company or some electrician to look at the breaker box? im heading off to work now so i wont be able to answer any questions till 6 oclock. Thanks in advance

A while ago I discovered Google was scanning some good out of copy write literature about Blacksmithing. There are some really good old techniques covered in these books. They also provided a fascinating insight on how they did things a century ago. I just wanted to share what I had found.(Btw you gonna want to adjust the view by clicking the Aa in the top right corner, the pdf starts zoomed in)

Elementary Forge Practice by Robert Henry Harcourt

Forge-practice (elementary)by John Lord Bacon

[A c

I recently joined this sub reddit and have already received a lot support, advice, and praise that I'm really appreciative of. It it got me thinking of how I can give back to make this a more interesting, active, community. So I started this thread to brain storm ideas on what people would like to see from here. How can we entice our more experienced members to share their knowledge? What activities (such as this monthly contest) can we implement to generate more interest and contributions? What can I do personally to make this sub a epicenter of learning and sharing a trade that is slowly dying out? Don't get me wrong, this place is already great. But there could always be room for improvem

Ok so this project my shop has been working on has hit a snag. The current objective, is bending a 1/2" by 1/4 inch brass bar that has a 3/8"by.060" shoulder milled into it, into a 26" diameter ring that fits into a large spinning also made of brass that is only .040 thick. So we have to make it perfect. We have tried using a sheet metal roller. But that results in a ring that the ends don't meet by as much as 6-7 inches. Along with a gradual twist in its whole length. This is obviously unacceptable. Now My boss is now currently trying to bend this ring, with the aid of a rosebud torch, on a jig tack welded to a table. This method is also shit since the heat is constantly breaking the tacks.