A Bit of This and That
Been a little bit since I have posted, but for a good reason. Been too busy getting things done! Last couple weekends have been able to get out and forge and learn. Finished another pair of tongs, got my first swage block, and was able to do 90% of the flux spoon that I had begun a while ago. This weekend I actually didn’t get any forging done, but I was able to line my propane forge with refractory and also finish a soft-face hammer that I had begun.
The tongs that I finished were the ones I had pictures of in the last post. They are bolt jaw tongs for 1/2 inch stock and they work great! Every pair that I make turn out better; it's almost like I am learning a skill or something.
I also purchased and received my very first swage block. It's a smallish one at only 20 pounds but literally the day I put it in the workshop I used it twice. I can also see far more uses for it down the line. I purchased it from BlacksmithsDepot.com with gift cards I got for my birthday and I am very pleased with the purchase.
The flux spoon was stuck in the beginning stages of being a flat round area at the end of a 1/2 inch bar of steel. With my new swage block to form the spoon head, and my new tongs to hold the bar from the correct end, I was able to draw out the handle and turn it into a usable tool. Making tools to make the tools.
The refractory mortar that came with my propane forge had been sitting in my living room in the packaging since I got it. My forge was getting plenty hot for my objectives but I realized that I could probably save a bit of fuel if the forge didn't lose heat as quickly so this weekend I sacrificed forging time to coat the interior and let it dry. It's looking good, and while the burners are out I decided to switch them around. The forge allows me to run only one burner at a time, however the single burner was originally set at the back. Switching that to the front will allow me to heat smaller stock with less fuel. The wife will be glad when I don't have to buy so much propane!
Lastly, while the forge was drying I decided to attach a handle to a soft-face hammer I had made. The hammer was originally an old machinist style hammer that I literally found buried in the mud and completely covered in rust. I cleaned off a good amount of the surface rust although it's still pretty pock marked which tells me that it was unused for a long time. I decided to heat it up to critical heat and then let it cool slowly to soften the steel in an ash bucket. It worked great and now is quite soft. This weekend I got a new handle for it, ground it to size, and attached it. It's a long handle and the head is roughly 3 pounds so it's gonna be a nice for really whacking stuff, and it's soft now so I won't be afraid it will ding or damage my other tools.
Anyways, that's what I have been up to. God bless!
