Most important Tools

[HappyHammer]

I'm a total novice when it comes to metal but I'm very interested in getting started. What are the essential tools for a metal worker. Maybe we should start with what is metal work. I'm interested in blacksmithing but a lot of the talk seems to be about lathes. Please shed some light and open my eyes to the possibilities with metal.:o

HH.

[Termite]

An anvil and a FBH. :D

[silentC]

Just like woodwork, there are a number of techniques covered by the term metalwork.

You have your basic blacksmithing, which involves heating metal to a point where it becomes pliable and then using a series of hammer blows and other techniques to shape it. You also work with the concepts of hardening and tempering.

There is casting, which involves heating metal until it melts and then pouring it into some form of mould in which it cools until it is solid again and takes on the shape of the mould.

You have your engineering field in which you work with solid metal stock and work it into shapes using a lathe, a miller, a drill press, files, etc. etc.

Then there is sheetmetal which involves taking flat sheet and cutting, folding and fastening it into some shape or other.

Obviously each has it's own set of tools and techniques and applications to which it is suitable. I've seen examples of practical and creative work in all of these - the old form vs. function argument. I guess you will need to think about what you want to do and then see which of the streams will get you there. You can then set yourself up to do them.

You can combine these of course. For example I have a series of books by a fellow named Dave Gingery. He starts out with casting - making a furnace, melting metal, constructing moulds. Then he details how to make a metal turning lathe, using parts you cast from scrap aluminium. The lathe builds itself to a certain extent - you'd need to read the book to see what I mean. Once you have the lathe, you cast more parts and use the lathe to shape bits for a thing called a shaper which is a sort of precursor to the modern milling machine. You then cast more parts and use the lathe AND the shaper to make bits for a milling machine. Finally you use the lathe, the shaper and the miller to make accessories for the lathe. There's even some basic blacksmithing in the early part of the process. I reckon this is a great way to get into it and it's cheap because it's mostly done with recycled stuff.

His theory is that the people from early times didn't have all the gadgets and machines that we have now, yet they managed to do high quality precision work. He reckons we've forgotten a lot of the skills that used to be essential and if we take the time to learn them, we can do the same things they did without the huge cost involved in setting up a workshop.

There are quite a few people out there who have made the machines, many of them in Australia. All you need is time.

[HappyHammer]

Thanks Termite, I've got a FBH, just need an anvil, do you reckon Al's got one in the craporium? Might need some heat as well.....

HH.

[Termite]

HH, blacksmithing has to be the ultimate "dark side", everything is done by hand. :D

[HappyHammer]

SC,

Can you give me the ISBN of the book please?

How realistic do you think it is to have a forge for blacksmithing in your garage / workshop, some just seem to be a small pit with hot coals, are these fed with gas or are they literally a coal fire? Obviously you'd need a flue of some description and do you reckon you could have one in a residential area?

HH.

[HappyHammer]

HH, blacksmithing has to be the ultimate "dark side", everything is done by hand. :D
I think that's what appeals to me about it, maybe if I let it all out on the anvil my driving temperament might improve. I've considered buying a punching bag but this seems like more fun and involves buying STUFF.:D

HH.

[Termite]

Hate to dissapoint you HH, but once you've got a forge an anvil and a FBH you then make most of the stuff you need, what a bummer :(

[HappyHammer]

Hate to dissapoint you HH, but once you've got a forge an anvil and a FBH you then make most of the stuff you need, what a bummer :(
That's OK too, as it means your work is likely to be different to the next blokes because the tools you use are driven by what you want to achieve rather than replicating what everyone else is able to do...:D

And I can always buy lots of different FBH's, vices, tongs, cold and hot chisels, punches, cold and hot sets, hardies, drifts, fullers, flatters, swages, mandrels and bolsters....not sure what all this stuff is yet but it'll be fun finding out..:D

[silentC]

Termite's point is that you MAKE all that stuff, not buy it. Well I suppose you COULD buy it if you wanted to but half the fun is making the tools. You do have to buy tool steel though.

[silentC]

You can get the Gingery books from here: http://www.ploughbooksales.com.au/

Search for Gingery. There's a few of them (about 5 I think).

[HappyHammer]

Just found this forge on ebay starting bid $50, so it seems to be a low $ entry hobby.
http://i5.ebayimg.com/03/i/03/06/2d/cf_2.JPG (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=633&item=3860016321&rd=1#ebayphotohosting)
HH.

[HappyHammer]

You can get the Gingery books from here: http://www.ploughbooksales.com.au/

Search for Gingery. There's a few of them (about 5 I think).
Thanks SC, there are loads, I'll finish reading that PDF and then have a look at the "Lil Bertha" electric forge.

HH.

[silentC]

The ones I've got are the "Build Your Own ..." Charcoal Furnace, Metal Lathe etc. They're more pamphlets than books though, so don't expect 500 pages and colour illustrations.

The thing you have to watch with furnaces is the build up of toxic gases like carbon monoxide. You need good ventilation and there's also the risk of fire, so you need a space that has no flammables near by. A lot of people keep them outside and just cover them up when not in use.

It's things like this that make me wish we lived out of town. My brother in law has 10 acres so I'm trying to get him interested in it. Then we can build a forge and a furnace out at his place. :D

[craigb]

Then we can build a forge and a furnace out at his place. :D

Look out Mr Lie-Nielson :eek: :D

[silentC]

Spot on. That's the beauty of metal casting. If you need a new part, you get the old one and make of mould with it. So what's to stop me borrowing your Lie-Nielsen, throwing it in a bucket of green sand and making a casting of it?

[craigb]

So what's to stop me borrowing your Lie-Nielsen, throwing it in a bucket of green sand and making a casting of it?

Only the attack dogs :D

[RETIRED]

Not to mention a very upset and irate owner. :D

[echnidna]

It's things like this that make me wish we lived out of town. My brother in law has 10 acres

Next step a 10 acre bushfire :D :D :D :D

[graemet]

An anvil and a FBH. :D I must be having a senior moment - what's an FBH?
Graeme

[silentC]

I'll give you a clue. It's a bit bigger than a Big Hammer.

[graemet]

Right! thanks
Graeme

[Wood Borer]

Spot on. That's the beauty of metal casting. If you need a new part, you get the old one and make of mould with it. So what's to stop me borrowing your Lie-Nielsen, throwing it in a bucket of green sand and making a casting of it?

When you drop in Darren, I hope you won't be offended if I keep the shed locked.

After seeing your Christmas card you could always get the golfer to heat the metal for you. I thought that was one of her duties. ;)

[goodwoody]

Does anybody know of a supplier of coke or charcoal? I have inherited many smithy tools from the ipswich railway and want to release some frustration on some red hot steel.

[Harry72]

Thought you guys might be interested in this site I found the other day while looking for vacuum pumps:confused:
http://members.optusnet.com.au/terrybrown/

[Barry_White]

Does anybody know of a supplier of coke or charcoal? I have inherited many smithy tools from the ipswich railway and want to release some frustration on some red hot steel.How about Barbeques Galore or Kmart I think they might sell charcoal

[bitingmidge]

Bazza is correct, Heat beads!

Silent,

I've always looked whistfully at the Gingery catalogues, and thought "one day".....

Your whole overview of the metalwork "divisions" a few posts ago was spot on, but the missing bit for me has always been the missing knowledge or where to get it.

Carpentry/woodwork seems to come naturally and at the same time there is plenty of "book lernin' " available. The metal work stuff is different, sure I can learn to build my own milling machine, but why do I need one and what do I do with it when I have it??

As for forming metal...if anyone wants to run demo on how to stretch and shrink sheet metal to a shape that's vaguely intended, or can point me in the direction of a book....let me know!

The whole heating/bending thing is just beyond me till I can get the hands on experience--another Catch 22 I suspect!

By the way, the link I have for Gingery Publications is Lindsay Techincal Books (http://www.lindsaybks.com/dgjp/djgbk/index.html) which has a whole lot of interesting stuff, including direct links to Gingery's pages.

Cheers,

P

[echnidna]

Aha a new learning curve for BM

[bitingmidge]

Aha a new learning curve for BM

LIFE is a learning curve! :D :D :D

(And I'm getting desperately close to having enough knowledge/time to finish a few projects that were started long ago, so a new distraction is called for with some urgency!)


P
:D :D :D

[echnidna]

I totally agree.
We only stop learning when we are ready to depart this life

[RETIRED]

Aha a new learning curve for BM
ANDmore unfinished rusty, heavy unfinished products er projects?? :D