Summer forging in the south

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dixieforge2

Joined
Apr 18, 2008
Messages
21
I live in mississippi and just cannot work up much enthusiasm about firing up my forge between May and October. I don't have any kind of a.c., just a big fan, am I alone here or do other makers take off most of the summer to beat the heat?
 
i live in mississippi too everyone I am talking to is saying the same they haven't quit but they have definantly slowed down
 
I live at the NC/SC state line and I usually only fire my forge early in the AM. I generally start about daylight. My fan is at the roof line, on the opposite end of my forge, to exhaust the heat.
 
If I am forging like i was this past weekend, i can usually only last aabout 4 hours at the shop before i have to pack it in. If I am just using the press to forge out stock from round bar, maybe 5 hours. Either way, my shirts look like I have gone swimming afterwards.
 
I am also from Mississippi.Since I got ill I havent been in the shop much.But I also did slow down during the summer months or worked all night to beat the heat.The few neighbors I have dont mind the forge working all night so it worked out better that way.I also have a big 4 foot fan that exausts the heat from the forge in the wall about 4 feet from the forge and anvil thus it keeps the air moving pretty good when it is hot.

My worst problem is finishing knives in this heat as I will end up sweating and getting it on a blade that is almost done,man sweat will rust a blade fast.Now that the doc has me pretty well stabile I am just waiting a little bit before trying to push a whole day in the shop like I used to.

What part of MS are you from?

Bruce
 
I'm also from Mississippi and fired up the forge yesterday for the first time in over a month. If I hadn't had this to try out, I might have just waited:D

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New to me, 25 lb little giant, good condition, just learning to use it.
 
Big Med,

I'm down here in the FL panhandle, what you do is, when you're forging in the summer, and start getting too hot, walk out and stand in the sun, it'll cool you off!!

I've got a 25# LG also, works great, tho a little slow on draw-out. If you'll get a new bottom die from Uncle Al to replace that plowshare bottom, you'll be able to forge to shape on the power hammer, including drawing out the choil.

John
 
I just came into the house for coffee and to warm up. Almost lite up the forge just to warm up the shop.

Nice Hammer!
 
Louisiana here! No matter how much water I intake I still get dehydrated and sweat tons. I have used a Frogg Togg hat and it helps alot!
 
I'm in south mississippi.I have not tried forging,i started building a forge,but had to have surgery back in march,and have not done much since.I do get in the shop,but most of the time it is after about 9:00pm.I have an ac where i do my finish work,but who can afford to run it.Last month Entergy went up 28% on our electric bill,they say that they will reavaluate in september and may need to increase again.

Hey Bruce,where is Booneville,from Tylertown
 
Raymond Richard said:
I just came into the house for coffee and to warm up. Almost lite up the forge just to warm up the shop.
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There is alway one in every crowd.:D That maybe Ray, but come winter you will be up to you rear end in snow and we will be very comfortable in our short sleeves while we are forging. :p
 
WadeH said:
There is alway one in every crowd.:D That maybe Ray, but come winter you will be up to you rear end in snow and we will be very comfortable in our short sleeves while we are forging. :p
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We might get one week of snow a year and thats normally under 4". Lots of rain but really not all that much. For the most part ideal forging temps. Thoughts of becoming a "snow bird" and head south in the winter are becoming more frequent.
 
Humidity is what kills us here. I remember being in Dallas and Santa Fe in the summer and unless the humidity was up, whihc never happens in Santa Fe and not that often in Dallas, when you got in some shade, it literally felt like the temperature had dropped 15 degrees. By contrast, it is a cool 90 here today. After forging out four rounds of W2 yesterday afternoon with the press, I was going to go back in after lunch tody to whack out some blades. The very thought of it made me start to get physically ill...lol. I'm going in this evening.

A question for John White. My press will get pretty much anything down to under 1/2 inch thick. I own a 25 lbs LG, but haven't had it shipped. How does the 25 do as far as drawing out stuff between 3/8 and 1/2?
 
Very happy to see all the Mississippians here where are you guys from I am in Brandon in central Ms. By the way Big Medicine if I had that to inspire me I'd be out there to, Great Hammer.
 
Thanks, I'm just outside Madison. Just got the hammer set up, oiled, greased, adjusted this weekend. Going back to forge this evening after work. Got a sample of 1084 and some O-1 drill rod I've gotta try out.
 
I live in south texas and it can get over a hundred during the day, so when i fire up the forge, its in the late evening or at night, i wont even spend the day outside for finish work like grinding or filing, ive been forced into the night by the terrible heat.
 
dixieforge2 said:
Very happy to see all the Mississippians here where are you guys from I am in Brandon in central Ms. By the way Big Medicine if I had that to inspire me I'd be out there to, Great Hammer.
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hey man I'm in Brandon too where at in Brandon I'm 471 area

big medicine nice to meet you this weekend great looking hammer
 
WadeH said:
There is alway one in every crowd.:D That maybe Ray, but come winter you will be up to you rear end in snow and we will be very comfortable in our short sleeves while we are forging. :p
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WadeH I was in Longview in may (fishing lake fork) my buddy over there owns a makeup company over there
 
Good to meet you too Hevy Ev's. Those are some great looking knives you had. Keep up the good work. Hope you enjoy the class this weekend. Let me know how it went. If I didn't have to cook 6 pork shoulders and 6 beef briskets Thursday night, I'd be right there with you.
 
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