posted
I got my first taste of blacksmithing today. While the work was very hot and strenuous I enjoyed it immensely. We are going to start fabricating a small forge this week which we will use in the future.
I spent the day with my torch and a three pound hammer shaping 100 rivets for the new metal door I'm fabricating for the train shed. While doing so I developed a healthy respect for those who do this type of work on a regular basis.
I first ground the ends of the bolts to make them round, heated them and then pounded them into the proper shape. I had a little coaching from a friend of mine who had made the last batch for me. He suggested that I only do 20 at a time so my arm wouldn't get too sore.
But I'm much TOUGHER than that! I did the required hundred rivets in about 3 hours going full blast.
This evening I returned the borrowed jig which held the bolts while I heated and hammered them. My friend was surprised to see me so quick. And he told me how the steel in bolts is much, much harder than the mild steel generally used for blacksmithing. Now I know why my arm is a little sore.
The door is going to be a beauty!
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
I did the required hundred rivets in about 3 hours going full blast. 
Printer-friendly view of this topic