Spring is almost here... what are your goals?

Justin.Mercier

Justin.Mercier

Joined
Oct 21, 2006
Messages
1,652
Well, spring is just around the corner. For those of us in the North East it's finally getting warm enough to chip the ice off the sidewalks and get into the shop for some work. Now that the weather is becoming conducive to getting work done, what are some of your spring projects you're all working on?

Myself, I've got pretty lofty goals for the next few months. Just last week I placed my order for a coote grinder, a new motor and pulleys. Just ordered some belts today.

I started a few weeks back gathering the things I needed to build a new blown propane forge, and this morning I placed an order with Darren Ellis for the ITC100, propane hose / regulator and firebricks I need to build it (enlisting the help of IG, Larry T, and a few 6 packs of their prefered brew [IG is cheap ! he drinks bud!])

I also orderd from Mr Ellis a vid on grinding, because I'm a very visual learner, and seeing someone do it once is better for me than reading on how to do it 30 times.

In the mean time I'm also planning on building another workbench or two for the shop, particularly because i'll need some place to put the coote. :D In the last two weekends it's been nice enough iv'e turned a pile of 45 2x4s into some new mounting stumps for my anvil, one of my post vises, and my bickhorn. I've got plenty of nails and woodglue left over, and probably enough lumber, I might as well build a proper stand for the coote instead of forcing it to fit on my exsisting bench.

http://www.tharkis.com/images/shop4.jpg

I'm intrested in hearing what other people are up to now that the weather's taking a turn for the better!
 
I'm working on a knife out of recycled materials for my Blacksmith Guild's yearly contest right now. If I can get that ONE finished given the rest of stuff I have to do I'll be pleased.

Aside from that I'd like to get electric in the shop, learn how to properly use the new lathe, and generally get my shop set the rest of the way up.

Of course, I'm also just enrolling in a degree program since work says I have to have a degree due to new gov't regs. So, knife time will likely be severely diminished for a couple years :( I suppose on the good side I'll have a degree when I'm done...

-d
 
Ya, I hear ya Deker. Getting my mechanical engineering degree right now, trying to get a working forge up, got everything accept that, even got my burner up. (Katrina was a b**ch) but I hope to get back forging by my birthday (come on May!)
 
Seems like you have a lot to achieve there Justin. I myself don't have much planned, but am rather glad that I can now open the windows to my place for some fresh air.
 
Goals for before summer:
-Build blown burner from existing venturi burner (easy)
-Finish integral knife started last fall
-Make a batch of 10 user-grade knives to fund purchase of milling machine
-Spend serious time and make myself a high-end EDC to show off to potential customers
 
I'm going to finish that rolling mill I been working on. Got most of the stuff. I'll finish the little foundry too. Waiting for a neighbor who is in the heating and airconditioning biz. to get me a Becket burner. He is rebuilding a boiler for someone and the new one uses a different burner. He has gotten permission from his boss to take the old one...Which works fine...and is waiting for the new one to arrive. It's a fairly large one. Burns 4 gal a min. but he said I could change nozels and get it down to 2 gal. I plan to cast some bronze stuff, and maybe some Wootz....eventually.
I got a design in mind for that Blacksmith Guild Contest too.

Larry
 
deker said:
I'm working on a knife out of recycled materials for my Blacksmith Guild's yearly contest right now. If I can get that ONE finished given the rest of stuff I have to do I'll be pleased.

-d
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Meeting this Sunday.
 
Justin.Mercier said:
..............I'm intrested in hearing what other people are up to now that the weather's taking a turn for the better!
Click to expand...

a turn for the better? its pouring rain outside and i need to finish my tongs. its going to be raining for a few days and i almost need to build a boat or a pier to get to my car which is only 15 feet away. im hoping to get these tongs finished and then work on a few knives. also need to reface my anvil and build a base for it. also plan to finish setting up my shop and getting my grinders and buffer finished. still waiting on the arbor adapters to come in from harbor freight for that. also plan on QUITTING SMOKING BY SUMMER!!!!! :thumbup: :thumbup: :D
 
Nowicki said:
I'm going to finish that rolling mill I been working on. Got most of the stuff.
Larry
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Are you making a rolling mill instead of a press? How big? tonnage?
Are you making them from plans? If you have any pics of it that would be nice, been thinking about making a roller ever since I saw a Rollo brand plate roller in operation.
I imagine you could use this for Damascus and drawing am I correct?
(sorry for the barrage of questions :p )
 
Peldor said:
Are you making a rolling mill instead of a press? How big? tonnage?
Are you making them from plans? If you have any pics of it that would be nice, been thinking about making a roller ever since I saw a Rollo brand plate roller in operation.
I imagine you could use this for Damascus and drawing am I correct?
(sorry for the barrage of questions :p )
Click to expand...

Something similar to this:
http://www.anvilfire.com/bookrev/mcdonald/mill.htm
Not instead of but in adition to. They all have a place!
For right now with what I'm doing a small one like his will do.
 
Get the roof over smithy done. Have all the plans set for the Spring Hammer-In. Develop a consistent patten in my Mosaic Damascus.:confused: :confused: Put in a new batch of peppers for my HT'g relish. HEHEHEHEHEHE!!!!
 
If you have any weekend mornings that you're planning on erecting that roof, I'd be more than happy to drive on down and help you with that IG.
 
I want to turn out a roman gladius made from Harley Davidson roller bearing can damascus. And finish my 92 Sportster before my birthday.
 
I want to attend a hammer-in before the year is out. I'm trying to get a clean grind line on my blades. Thus far, all of my transition are "soft".
 
Nowicki said:
Meeting this Sunday.
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I'm flying to Phoenix for work Sunday :( I MAY swing by early in the AM on my way to the airport, but unless you show at 9 you're not likely to see me.

On a good note, I'm going to try to get to ADI while I'm out in AZ to get some ironwood...

-d
 
After returning from the Harrisonburg show, I am going to get busy on finishing up the BIG MONSTER gas oven for forging and heat treating, build a vertical forge for damascus, get some salt pots done, finish rebuilding the hydraulic press, and start on forging those four Japanese swords in 1300 layer damascus.
Stacy
 
Well I did the first thing on my list today when i got home from work. There was a stumb of some weed like tree that has grown back 4 times after I have cut it down. It's right next to the concrete of my driveway. I dug and chopped it out today.

Next on the list is to weld up a base for a new work bench.(It's gonna be a monster!) After that, have a 220 line put in in my basement. I was told my grinder motor would run better on 220.

But before all that I have to put together the HF bandsaw I bought sat.
 
deker said:
I'm flying to Phoenix for work Sunday :( I MAY swing by early in the AM on my way to the airport, but unless you show at 9 you're not likely to see me.

On a good note, I'm going to try to get to ADI while I'm out in AZ to get some ironwood...

-d
Click to expand...

I might try to get there early
 
I'm going to work on improving my forging. I have produce "two" blades that I'm happy with. I've learned a lot, but have a lot more to learn. I'm hoping to build a grinder and a rolling mill by the end of the year.
 
Finish my Grinder. Build a propane forge. Finish school. Land a machinist apprenticeship. Finish the knives these people want. FINISH MY FIRST KNIFE!!:D
 
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