Armoring

[Uroboros Bunny]

Props to you guys' for armoring.
That's so awesome. 3nodding

[SLAG]

Uroboros Bunny

Props to you guys' for armoring.
That's so awesome. 3nodding

Thanks... I'll be gettign some pics up here soon... I just need to get something to take said pictures with.... but yeah... that should give me time to finish more than belts...

[chainmailleman]

SLAG

Either would be good... I'm not looking for anything super permanent I'll be moving with in a year...

It's made out of regular masonry brick. Infact all of my solid fuel forges except for my first were made out of masonry brick. It doesn't last long but at 25 cents a brick it's cheap. The bricks are made of adobe clay and have no sulphur, as opposed to cinder block which contains almost a percent of sulphur, which causes "Red Short" if you smelt with concrete walls.

Charcoal is pretty dirty, you will know why we are called blacksmiths when you start using it.

[SLAG]

chainmailleman

SLAG

Either would be good... I'm not looking for anything super permanent I'll be moving with in a year...

It's made out of regular masonry brick. Infact all of my solid fuel forges except for my first were made out of masonry brick. It doesn't last long but at 25 cents a brick it's cheap. The bricks are made of adobe clay and have no sulphur, as opposed to cinder block which contains almost a percent of sulphur, which causes "Red Short" if you smelt with concrete walls.

Charcoal is pretty dirty, you will know why we are called blacksmiths when you start using it.

Yeah I was gonna see about pricing some fireplace brick but if I can get away with using normal brick that would be good...

[chainmailleman]

SLAG

chainmailleman

SLAG

Either would be good... I'm not looking for anything super permanent I'll be moving with in a year...

It's made out of regular masonry brick. Infact all of my solid fuel forges except for my first were made out of masonry brick. It doesn't last long but at 25 cents a brick it's cheap. The bricks are made of adobe clay and have no sulphur, as opposed to cinder block which contains almost a percent of sulphur, which causes "Red Short" if you smelt with concrete walls.

Charcoal is pretty dirty, you will know why we are called blacksmiths when you start using it.

Yeah I was gonna see about pricing some fireplace brick but if I can get away with using normal brick that would be good...

If you really want to get cheap, just a hole in the ground lined with large stones works really well.

I'm working on the tutorial right now, the pictures won't be available until monday or tuesday as I have to go down to Utah to build them and take pictures. There's 2 feet of snow in my backyard so it's out of the question here in Wyoming. I'll have a tutorial on charcoal making with a 55 gallon drum as well. At almost 2 bucks a pound for lump charcoal at the grocery store, it's well worth it.

You will need some form of directed air flow. Your mother's hair dryer is always the cheapest (but deadly when she finds out). I'm working on some ancient bag bellows but I lost my sheet of "pleather" that I was using when I moved back to the Rockies. I'll have a how-to on those within a month or so when I get access to materials. I had a really bad bellows made out of an old pair of jeans and it did work, but not enough to do anything besides aluminum casting.

[SLAG]

chainmailleman

SLAG

chainmailleman

SLAG

Either would be good... I'm not looking for anything super permanent I'll be moving with in a year...

It's made out of regular masonry brick. Infact all of my solid fuel forges except for my first were made out of masonry brick. It doesn't last long but at 25 cents a brick it's cheap. The bricks are made of adobe clay and have no sulphur, as opposed to cinder block which contains almost a percent of sulphur, which causes "Red Short" if you smelt with concrete walls.

Charcoal is pretty dirty, you will know why we are called blacksmiths when you start using it.

Yeah I was gonna see about pricing some fireplace brick but if I can get away with using normal brick that would be good...

If you really want to get cheap, just a hole in the ground lined with large stones works really well.

I'm working on the tutorial right now, the pictures won't be available until monday or tuesday as I have to go down to Utah to build them and take pictures. There's 2 feet of snow in my backyard so it's out of the question here in Wyoming. I'll have a tutorial on charcoal making with a 55 gallon drum as well. At almost 2 bucks a pound for lump charcoal at the grocery store, it's well worth it.

You will need some form of directed air flow. Your mother's hair dryer is always the cheapest (but deadly when she finds out). I'm working on some ancient bag bellows but I lost my sheet of "pleather" that I was using when I moved back to the Rockies. I'll have a how-to on those within a month or so when I get access to materials. I had a really bad bellows made out of an old pair of jeans and it did work, but not enough to do anything besides aluminum casting.

Sounds good... thanks for the help... it's always nice to pick the brain of some one with experience...

[Uroboros Bunny]

SLAG

Uroboros Bunny

Props to you guys' for armoring.
That's so awesome. 3nodding

Thanks... I'll be gettign some pics up here soon... I just need to get something to take said pictures with.... but yeah... that should give me time to finish more than belts...

Yay. I can't wait to see, belts or not. lol. biggrin

[Thalianost]

chainmailleman

SLAG

chainmailleman

SLAG

Either would be good... I'm not looking for anything super permanent I'll be moving with in a year...

It's made out of regular masonry brick. Infact all of my solid fuel forges except for my first were made out of masonry brick. It doesn't last long but at 25 cents a brick it's cheap. The bricks are made of adobe clay and have no sulphur, as opposed to cinder block which contains almost a percent of sulphur, which causes "Red Short" if you smelt with concrete walls.

Charcoal is pretty dirty, you will know why we are called blacksmiths when you start using it.

Yeah I was gonna see about pricing some fireplace brick but if I can get away with using normal brick that would be good...

If you really want to get cheap, just a hole in the ground lined with large stones works really well.

I'm working on the tutorial right now, the pictures won't be available until monday or tuesday as I have to go down to Utah to build them and take pictures. There's 2 feet of snow in my backyard so it's out of the question here in Wyoming. I'll have a tutorial on charcoal making with a 55 gallon drum as well. At almost 2 bucks a pound for lump charcoal at the grocery store, it's well worth it.

You will need some form of directed air flow. Your mother's hair dryer is always the cheapest (but deadly when she finds out). I'm working on some ancient bag bellows but I lost my sheet of "pleather" that I was using when I moved back to the Rockies. I'll have a how-to on those within a month or so when I get access to materials. I had a really bad bellows made out of an old pair of jeans and it did work, but not enough to do anything besides aluminum casting.

I cant wait to see your tutorials. I am very interested in smelting and forging but don't really know where to start. I think my biggest handicap as an armorer is that I never took a shop or metalworking class, so I don't have a lot of the technical knowledge behind the tools of the trade.

[SLAG]

Thalianost

I'm self taught on a lot of what I do with metal. Mostly because there's no one around here that does smithing or armoring. Living int he middle of nowhere has it's perks but it has it's set backs too like the nearest place to get in touch with any one for smithing or armoring is well over an hour away. But I also like just being able to figure some of it out on my own it's kind of like painting or sculpture or any other art form. You can teach theory and method but you cant teach some one how to be an artist each person has to come up with their own style of doing things.

[SLAG]

Side note to all....


Whoot found a small bellows for $6 on sale at Tractor supply.

Also turned what I had done on my 8/2 shirt into a nice start in on an 8/2 coif. Getting loads of ideas on how to make use of the coif pastern I found here. Can't wait to get more rings cut and try some ideas out...

Oh and does any one know how well Aluminum wire will work out for making maille? I've been working with some scrap copper and that's showing tool marks like crazy how well does aluminum hold up to being worked?

[chainmailleman]

SLAG

Side note to all....


Whoot found a small bellows for $6 on sale at Tractor supply.

Also turned what I had done on my 8/2 shirt into a nice start in on an 8/2 coif. Getting loads of ideas on how to make use of the coif pastern I found here. Can't wait to get more rings cut and try some ideas out...

Oh and does any one know how well Aluminum wire will work out for making maille? I've been working with some scrap copper and that's showing tool marks like crazy how well does aluminum hold up to being worked?

Well to be honest, unless you modify (by grinding or filing the jaws smooth) your pliers, you will have tool marks. Aluminum isn't that hard, it's tough. And it work hardens fast, so if you have to unweave a few links, they will be tougher to re-weave and after the third or fourth bend they usually start to break. I have 17 pounds of 12 guage T6 aluminum wire. Wiss m5 shears make quick work of it.

How big is that bellows? For 6 bucks thats a steal.

[chainmailleman]

Thalianost

chainmailleman

SLAG

chainmailleman

SLAG

Either would be good... I'm not looking for anything super permanent I'll be moving with in a year...

It's made out of regular masonry brick. Infact all of my solid fuel forges except for my first were made out of masonry brick. It doesn't last long but at 25 cents a brick it's cheap. The bricks are made of adobe clay and have no sulphur, as opposed to cinder block which contains almost a percent of sulphur, which causes "Red Short" if you smelt with concrete walls.

Charcoal is pretty dirty, you will know why we are called blacksmiths when you start using it.

Yeah I was gonna see about pricing some fireplace brick but if I can get away with using normal brick that would be good...

If you really want to get cheap, just a hole in the ground lined with large stones works really well.

I'm working on the tutorial right now, the pictures won't be available until monday or tuesday as I have to go down to Utah to build them and take pictures. There's 2 feet of snow in my backyard so it's out of the question here in Wyoming. I'll have a tutorial on charcoal making with a 55 gallon drum as well. At almost 2 bucks a pound for lump charcoal at the grocery store, it's well worth it.

You will need some form of directed air flow. Your mother's hair dryer is always the cheapest (but deadly when she finds out). I'm working on some ancient bag bellows but I lost my sheet of "pleather" that I was using when I moved back to the Rockies. I'll have a how-to on those within a month or so when I get access to materials. I had a really bad bellows made out of an old pair of jeans and it did work, but not enough to do anything besides aluminum casting.

I cant wait to see your tutorials. I am very interested in smelting and forging but don't really know where to start. I think my biggest handicap as an armorer is that I never took a shop or metalworking class, so I don't have a lot of the technical knowledge behind the tools of the trade.

I'm not cutting corners. You will know everything I know from making the charcoal and building the forge, to raising and lowering carbon and making homemade fluxes. I just want it to quit snowing/raining so I can play.

BTW I started my armoring/blacksmithing before I took welding in high school. Even then I never really learned anything until I bought a welder of my own and started playing.

[SLAG]

chainmailleman

SLAG

Side note to all....


Whoot found a small bellows for $6 on sale at Tractor supply.

Also turned what I had done on my 8/2 shirt into a nice start in on an 8/2 coif. Getting loads of ideas on how to make use of the coif pastern I found here. Can't wait to get more rings cut and try some ideas out...

Oh and does any one know how well Aluminum wire will work out for making maille? I've been working with some scrap copper and that's showing tool marks like crazy how well does aluminum hold up to being worked?

Well to be honest, unless you modify (by grinding or filing the jaws smooth) your pliers, you will have tool marks. Aluminum isn't that hard, it's tough. And it work hardens fast, so if you have to unweave a few links, they will be tougher to re-weave and after the third or fourth bend they usually start to break. I have 17 pounds of 12 guage T6 aluminum wire. Wiss m5 shears make quick work of it.

How big is that bellows? For 6 bucks that's a steal.

It's just a small fire place bellows... looks like it's made of pleather and dressed up ply wood. Aside from a few small scratches and dings int he finish on the boards it works great and pushes a good bit of air per pump... I'm not sure on the specs of the wire but TSC sells it by the 1/4 mile spool and was wondering how well it would work for making some light 4/1 maille for costume pieces... I normally work with 14ga galvanized steel and cut it using a rotary tool and a reenforced cutting wheel unless I am feeling particularly old fashion and break out one of my hand saws... just don't like the cut shears and dikes give me...

[beckoneko]

I'm taking an Intermediate Jewelry class right now and our first assignment is a body piece. I'm fortunate to have a metal shop at my disposal right now, but when I graduate, I'm sure these tips will come in handy if I decide to continue working with big pieces.

Also, for shaping, consider using a bean bag, setting the metal on it, then just hammering in it to shape it. Depending on the metal, you will most likely need to anneal it periodically so it doesn't crack or break, some metals more frequent than others. But that may be a better approach than trying to find the right shape to hammer it on.