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Aug. 31st, 2013 02:59 pmSince I'm in Kenosha this weekend, I decided to get my grandfather's tools and equipment out and do some metalwork. I've been promising myself I'd find time for it this summer, but life's been so busy. I wish there was somewhere I could keep this all outside. There really isn't, and that's part of the problem. Getting it all out of the basement is not an insignificant task.
I think I really have lost some muscle along with the weight. I used to be able to pick that anvil up and move it around much more easily. In fact, once I set it on the floor on the way out the door, I couldn't pick it back up again. I could get into a squat holding it, but I couldn't get up. My brother (who also photographed me) provided a little lifting power to get onto my feet.
I'd also forgotten how to control the propane forge. One of the two jets kept sputtering out, and it seemed like it wasn't getting as hot as it should. I didn't realize the heat was an issue until an hour-plus in to working when I was kind of ready to call it a day anyway. But I managed to figure out that one of the valves wasn't open all the way. Once I opened it up, the metal started getting hotter than it had been all day, and much faster too. I realized I'd been working the whole time with metal that was too cool, which was probably really slowing me down.
At least I know for next time. I really do miss doing this.
I'm going to go out to Big!Lots to pick up some plastic bins to store tools and materials in. They're in boxes, milk crates, and buckets in the basement, and they deserve a little better. Plus, better organization means quicker set up which makes it easier to find time to work.
Metalwork - Pic-a-day 31 August 2013
Copyright my brother 2013
My brother shot a number of neat pictures of me working. I may post more later. But here's one more for now.
I was trying to make plant hangers for my friend![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
red_ceilidh, to whom I promised some years ago. I realized after I put this curve on the piece that I had to flatten it out again to punch nail holes. Oops! And if I'd realized the forge was running too cool, I probably would have gotten a lot more done instead of whacking really hard on cold metal. Instead, all I really accomplished was flattening out the heads of three railroad spikes, and forming the wall-end of one hanger that I'd already started on the last time I did this. At least I'm at that point in the learning curve where I'm making big jumps; that's kind of satisfying.
I think I really have lost some muscle along with the weight. I used to be able to pick that anvil up and move it around much more easily. In fact, once I set it on the floor on the way out the door, I couldn't pick it back up again. I could get into a squat holding it, but I couldn't get up. My brother (who also photographed me) provided a little lifting power to get onto my feet.
I'd also forgotten how to control the propane forge. One of the two jets kept sputtering out, and it seemed like it wasn't getting as hot as it should. I didn't realize the heat was an issue until an hour-plus in to working when I was kind of ready to call it a day anyway. But I managed to figure out that one of the valves wasn't open all the way. Once I opened it up, the metal started getting hotter than it had been all day, and much faster too. I realized I'd been working the whole time with metal that was too cool, which was probably really slowing me down.
At least I know for next time. I really do miss doing this.
I'm going to go out to Big!Lots to pick up some plastic bins to store tools and materials in. They're in boxes, milk crates, and buckets in the basement, and they deserve a little better. Plus, better organization means quicker set up which makes it easier to find time to work.
Metalwork - Pic-a-day 31 August 2013
Copyright my brother 2013
My brother shot a number of neat pictures of me working. I may post more later. But here's one more for now.
I was trying to make plant hangers for my friend
red_ceilidh, to whom I promised some years ago. I realized after I put this curve on the piece that I had to flatten it out again to punch nail holes. Oops! And if I'd realized the forge was running too cool, I probably would have gotten a lot more done instead of whacking really hard on cold metal. Instead, all I really accomplished was flattening out the heads of three railroad spikes, and forming the wall-end of one hanger that I'd already started on the last time I did this. At least I'm at that point in the learning curve where I'm making big jumps; that's kind of satisfying.
