Blacksmithing heaven...

  So, I've been going stir crazy with not being able to do any blacksmithing.  Yesterday, I decided to make some calls to see if I could find some coal.  After exhausting the list of smithing supply stores I found a listing of farrier supply stores that had some stores that I hadn't tried.  After a few phone calls and a road trip, I have 200# of coal to last me until Thanksgiving.
  I spent all day today smithing at an event.  I made a cross piece for the clock.  I won't be able to use it as some elements of it are not what I expected.  But, as I was telling a friend, as long as I learn something new, it is never a wasted day.  Good to be back at the forge!

 
^-- I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!"   Revelation 6:1

With apolgies to the religous readers out there...  Something truly monumental today.  I WANTED to go to a fabric store.  For those that know me, asking if I want to go to a fabric store is like asking me if I want my toenails pulled out while listening to Barbara Streisands greatest hits.

I need to make a carrying pouch for my files for when I do demos.  When I've transported files in the past, I didn't worrying about them but after talking with several other blacksmiths, I was advised that you want to avoid the files from touching each other as they can cut each other's teeth.  Especially when they are the higher quality, expensive files. So, I picked up about 1 1/3 yards of denim.  I hope to sew it this weekend.

Just a quick update,

  I have definitely put the blacksmithing on hold.  I threw out the bad coal Monday.  I could have struggled to work with it, but I'm at the point that unless its an emergency I have no desire to work in those conditions.  I am putting things on hold until early December.  That is when I will be returning with about 1000+ pounds of coal.  I am going to get the coal dumped into the bed of the truck.  That will actually cut the cost in half.  I should be able to get the coal for around $70-80.  To have it bagged would push it close to $200.  So, I am going to be looking for somewhere to store it.
  What I am going to do is make and elevated flower bed alongside a bare part of the house.  I am thinking that about 8' x 3' x 2' deep should be enough to store the coal.  If I am guessing correct, the 1000# should be enough to last one full year.  That would be good because I can just make it an annual thing to pick up the coal.
  To look on the bright side of things, this will give me a chance to take care of some things in the garage.  I already resurfaced my table saw.  The problem with Florida is that tools rust rapidly.  I also want to make a tool stand for the blacksmithing.  Right now, my tools are scattered around and in buckets.  I also want to make a pouch for carrying files.  The pouch would be designed to prevent files from contacting each other(don't want files to file each other down.)  Anyway, that is the plan.

LOL  oops...

  So, I just happen to glance at the pic of the clock when checking on the blog and I realized that I almost made a very significant mistake.  This past weekend I made the first of one of the side pieces.  This is a piece for the long axis of the clock.  Well, the way I made the piece is actually an end piece.  Because I caught it this early, not a big deal but if I hadn't caught it early...  Well, let's just not go there.  Think happy thoughts...  Think happy thoughts...  Go to the good place...

Really, really f***ing bad coal...

  So, did some demo work this weekend.  I started with finishing off the fourth post and started a side piece of the frame.  Also finished a set of tongs.  Now, this was all much more difficult than it should have been.  The primary reason was the coal.  The coal was giving to me very graciously to tide me over until I could buy some more.  The problem is that the coal was meant for a power plant, not for a blacksmith's forge.  The coal produced heavy clinkers (a glassy by-product of blacksmithing that sticks together at the bottom of the forge) and did not heat very well.  I was fighting the fire most of the time.  So...

  I'm going to dump the coal.  It was a very kind gift but it is unusable.  I am going to be on the road for the next few weeks so I am going to not smith for a few weeks.  I am visiting my parents for Thanksgiving and I have already found a supplier of coal that is on the way.  I should be able to get Pochahantas #3 (the name of a specific coal seam, considered to be one of the best coals for smithing) from them for about $20 per 100.  I'm thinking of getting half a ton.

  I don't usually say too much about personal things here but I do have to say congrats to Muireen!  You deserve it and the reaction of your peers and others show that everyone agrees with me on this one.

Bad coal, bad bad coal!!!

  Getting ready to do a demo/teach this weekend.  Work and hurricanes have been a major disruption for the past 8 weeks or so.  Anyway, I ran out of my regular coal and had to borrow some from a friend.  The problem is that the coal is a very low quality and had a lot of dirt/sand mixed in.  I made a sifter to sift and wash the coal.  About half of the weight of the coal was washed away.  What is left is of questionable quality.  If worst comes to worst, I am going to stop at a coal supplier on the way to see my parents for Thanksgiving.
  Going to go pack for the classes now.  Also, steel is !#$#* expensive these days.  I bought some steel for the clock today and was way pricing.  I spent about $170 on steel this morning.