That has been something that has been tossed around at least between Rust and myself as we have been building a 2x72 grinder. Once I go through all my pictures from our visit to CSMA yesterday ill post a wall-o-thoughts with visual aids on wheres and whys.
I will say anyone that showed up to the shop in Haysville got the chance to walk away with random forged items that their members just handed out like candy. I can now proudly say I have a hand forged horse shoe from a farrier with some forty years of knowledge and a leaf that more then likely will be the entry level authorization for anything we do.
Yeah, it’ll be a good add to metals. With that at the very least we could start offering lost material knife classes, even if we hit a hard roadblock to bring a forge back to the space.
There should be a box of delrin drive, tracking, and platten rollers that has a basic design and material list we’re working on. So far motor and the wheels have been acquired and the controller for the motor. Its pretty close design wise to CSMAs.
Things spinning at the right speed with enough friction material should sharpen things. Or at the very least make a nice pile of industrial strength glitter.
One thing you guys might do is make like a 5 year plan for the forge, so you have an idea of where you are going and what kind of money you will need in each year so you can spread out the costs.
That will probably be among the myriad of things discussed at our next official committee meeting. Got quite a list that is unrolling as we go.
ADDED::
Recon report from CSMA Blacksmithing shop minus pictures. Malissa dropped by and took several really nice pics and posted them to the MakeICT facebook page for all to gaze at. Overall it was an impressive setup. I believe I counted five small single burner propane forges and a large coal hand crank/electric bellow forge, multiple anvils/stumps, both an electric and kick power hammer, and a large collection of support tools.
My biggest surprise was how relatively quite it all was considering the running forges (two gas and the coal), hammering, and grinding. Rust was able to get my attention from about 6 foot away without yelling, I was able to hold a conversation with a CSMA member on what he was working on comfortably, and at no point did I feel like I was in discomfort from the noise. The electric power hammer was the loudest thing in the shop and it was mainly only during the strikes of the head.
The consensus I gathered from the CSMA members present was that, for a just starting out program, a propane forge is the most forgiving forge for beginners. The temperature range with just a burner and no added air from a blower heats the metal evenly and at a temperature that doesn’t risk burning up your work.
As far as regulations/fire marshal/insurance considerations their president Larry Evans said for them there really was minimal. The liability insurance they have is covered by the members yearly dues of $20 which seems crazy affordable. Considering all the other hot/sharp/spinning/loud/pointy in MakeICT’s catalog of tools I would be surprised if that becomes a sticking point. According to Mr. Evans the fire marshal came by and scolded them only once for not having one of their 100gal propane tanks not chained to the wall and secured, which was rectified. That issue doesn’t exist with the bbq grill sized 20-30gal tanks. And finally Mr. Evans could not think of any accident that happened at their shop that required more then basic first aid and burn gel, but every member had horror stories of someone they knew getting serious injuries from not paying attention to what they were doing. From the sound of everything the injuries are probably in line with what you would expect from a workshop of any kind, with 90% being preventable with some common sense and/or focus on the task.
There is definitely a LOT of potential for collaboration between MakeICT/CSMA. They have a lot of knowledgeable, skilled blacksmiths that seem super willing to teach the craft and pass on what they know while we have a collection of unskilled/not as skilled members who want to at the very least give it a whack. MakeICT could avail itself in the literal combined hundreds of years of experience of their artisans while possibly giving in-kind access to classroom space and, if we finally get a forge area started, forges that MakeICT/CSMA paying members could access outside of CSMA’s normal operating days. This is, of course, just an idea seed to get brains churning on the possible community/educational ties that could be ‘forged’. (I think I’ve read too many of James’ post, they are starting to affect me)
There is one video that really gets the general sound of the forge accurate. It is of the tall gentleman explaining how to make a horseshoe. The video of Lee using the powerhammer is -not- audio accurate because that thing was loud.
The following is from a Client of mine that Is a Black smith.
There are ways to dampen the ringing of an anvil. Having the anvil stand siliconed (caulking) to the floor, siliconing the anvil to the stand and placing a magnet under the horne of the anvil reduce all of the high pitch ringing you hear with small 100lb anvils.
About the 2x72…
Would anyone be interested in putting together a team to buy materials for their own individual 2x72s and one for the space?
We could gain efficiencies of scale in materials, design and such…
Also, this would be a great tormek project, right?!?!?!
The 2x72 for Make is almost done. Just some drilling/tapping and some mounting left before we give it it’s first test spin. I’ll see if I can post the schematics we are using so anyone that wants can cobble their own. The TORMAC could probably be used to make the rollers from aluminum and may be a good upgrade for the one being built as its starting rollers are delrin.
Added: Spent the day at CSMA and took their new beginner class. Here is the end result:
Just throwing an idea out there, I’m loathe to offer too many opinions given I am a million miles away ATM. Maybe look at one ( or two) shipping containers to set up forge in? Gives relocatability if needed, keeps everything in doors and offers ability to sound proof as required.
