Sheet metal forge build.

[S. Heslop]

I'm making an atmospheric propane forge based pretty heavily off of this thing (the website seems to be currently down though).

This first video is just welding up the frame. There's nothing too exciting there unless you like seeing sparks and ugly welds.

It feels like the 'real' project here has become the videos themselves more than what i'm making in them though. They seem to take more time and effort at least. But i'm still figuring them out so i'm open to any tips or suggestions.

Also the poll is just out of curiosity since I recently had internet trouble and couldn't properly stream videos for a while.

[stevehuckss396]

It feels like the 'real' project here has become the videos themselves more than what i'm making in them though. They seem to take more time and effort at least.

Kind of makes you appreciate the guy's who take the time to document what they build. It doubles the work load. I have documented a few of my builds and I agree that it is a pain but I do it because I know it helps more than a few people out there. Hats off to you for taking the time! 

[Rob.Wilson]

  Very well done video  cant imagine how much work it took to make the video ,just taking a few photos of a build is enough for me to do  .Nice work on the forge too 




What are your plans  for refractory ? 


Rob 

[andyf]

Good video, but the sound is rather muffled so it's hard to tell what you're saying.

Andy

[S. Heslop]

Good video, but the sound is rather muffled so it's hard to tell what you're saying.

Andy

Yeah that's something I was worried about. It's a deadly mix of a north English accent, a bad microphone, and myself just being a terrible speaker in general. I'm looking at getting a better microphone though so maybe it'll help. Or I could switch to subtitles but i've always preferred vocal commentary in these kinds of videos myself.

[S. Heslop]

What are your plans  for refractory ? 

I read some stuff on alloyavenue about using fireclay or kaolin mixed with shredded polystrene (which burns out to leave air pockets) to make a very cheap and kind of okay refractory. It's definitely the cheapest option I can think of, and the clay is eaiser to source than ceramic blankets or 'real' refractory cement. Plus the guy on that forum seems to swear by it and he seems to know his stuff. I figure it could be interesting if it works out since aside from that guy i've never heard of anyone else trying it out.

It could also be a total failure but at least it'll rule it out as a viable option.

[Rob.Wilson]

Just been out in the yard for a rummage I have three bags of 1600C castable going spare  yours if you would like them .FOC



Rob

[S. Heslop]

Just been out in the yard for a rummage I have three bags of 1600C castable going spare  yours if you would like them .FOC
Rob

I'd appreciate that. Will you be in at around 10am on Tuesday if I came to collect them?

[Rob.Wilson]

PM sent 


Rob

[micktoon]

Top marks for the video  , I can imagine that it will have took as much time editing and filming as the project so thanks for going to the effort, I had seen Eric Things forge years back and thought it looked to do the job of heating sheet well so hope it ends up working as well for you .

  Cheere Mick.

[doubleboost]

Well done on the video
I have posted a few and realise how much work is envolved 
What camera are you using
John

[S. Heslop]

Well done on the video
I have posted a few and realise how much work is envolved 
What camera are you using
John

Thanks!


I'm using a nikon s8200. Kinda on the high end of what i'm comfortable with spending though.

I quite like Matthias Wandel's videos (i'm largely trying to copy his style to be honest) and I was originally looking at getting the nikon s6200, but I found this article/ video by him when looking for demo footage and reviews of the s6200 and decided to go for the s8200 instead. If it's good enough for him...

It was really one of those things where you kind of go in expecting to spend, say, £60. Then once youre comfortable with that idea £80 doesn't seem as bad, and then once you're comfortable with that you can maybe manage £100... and then before you know it you've spent a bunch more than you originally intended.

I'm pretty happy with the video quality though but i'm not so keen on the microphone hiss. Shame you cant plug in an external microphone like with fancier cameras.

[doubleboost]

The other way is to dub the audio at the editing stage
I have some good editing soft ware you could "borrow"
John

[S. Heslop]

Don't worry i'm already 'borrowing' some software. Took me a while to find some that actually worked as I wanted though. Alot of the new ones need a 64 bit operating system which I don't have.

It got more complicated still when I got into the wonderful world of codecs and rendering. I'm still not sure what I really did to get it working in the end.


I did think about recording audio seperate but it seems like alot of extra faff to get everything synced up for each clip. In that woodgears.ca article Matthias has alot of seemingly insignificant complaints about each camera that are easy to work around, but I think I can appreciate why they'd bother him so much now.

[Divided he ad]

Just to throw my bit in.... I'm hooked, I want to see what this thing does!? 


Videos... I've done a few, spent 12 hours editing one last year. The computer then decided it didn't want to publish it. 

Needless to say I gave up on editing it all again and no one got the final instalment of my GID keyring video set 


Talking over videos. I just never liked the sound of my voice recorded. I always go with the written notes 

Fully understood yours though, very smooth transitions throughout too 




£20 for a little arc unit!! Some things are just too good to miss!

Promised myself a MIG welder when I get my house sold.



Looking forward to seeing what this does. Not going to research it. I'll wait for you to show me 






Ralph. 

[S. Heslop]

Just to throw my bit in.... I'm hooked, I want to see what this thing does!? 


Videos... I've done a few, spent 12 hours editing one last year. The computer then decided it didn't want to publish it. 

Needless to say I gave up on editing it all again and no one got the final instalment of my GID keyring video set 


Talking over videos. I just never liked the sound of my voice recorded. I always go with the written notes 

Fully understood yours though, very smooth transitions throughout too 




£20 for a little arc unit!! Some things are just too good to miss!

Promised myself a MIG welder when I get my house sold.



Looking forward to seeing what this does. Not going to research it. I'll wait for you to show me 






Ralph.

Thanks. I think your videos were the first machining videos I ever saw. I know a little brass LED torch was the first thing I ever machined at least.

[Divided he ad]

Thanks. I think your videos were the first machining videos I ever saw. I know a little brass LED torch was the first thing I ever machined at least.

Firstly... Sweet!
Secondly... You can't just state that and not add a pic!!
 

 




Glad you liked them enough to try 





Ralph.

[S. Heslop]

Secondly... You can't just state that and not add a pic!!

Afraid I gave it away. Made a great beginner's project though.

[Divided he ad]

No pictures at all 


Never mind, I've seen quite a few in my time 





Ralph.

[S. Heslop]

Here's the next part. If there's no HD option it might still be processing. Didn't get far enough to use your refractory yet though Rob.

Was a bit more aggressive with the editing since I had alot of stuff to fit in, and none of it was really too exciting to watch.

Also i'm still looking into getting a better microphone. I'm tempted to go all-out since i'd also like to record music with it maybe... and by all out I mean the cheapest USB condenser microphone that people recommend, which is still kinda pricey. But sorry if you can't understand me too well (i just hope it actually is the microphone at fault and not my goofy voice).

[doubleboost]

Very well done
You made a good job of that "cone" not easy to do at all
Video content was great
I sometimes do a voice over on the computer when editing (the computers own mike is pritty good)
Keep it going
John

[S. Heslop]

Very well done
You made a good job of that "cone" not easy to do at all
Video content was great
I sometimes do a voice over on the computer when editing (the computers own mike is pritty good)
Keep it going
John

Thanks very much!

I had a hard time finding anything online about bending cones. Just loads of companies promoting their plate rolling machines. So I was sort of going in blind with the bending. Like i said in the video, i was really surprised it came out so even. I was expecting way more lumps and bumps.

[micktoon]

 Another good video, I have watched the Matthias Wandel's videos and think you have emulated his style well ....... that is shows what you want to see but no longwinded stuff. You have made good job of the cone and well done working out a way to do it too, I am looking forward to seeing the finished project working . Keep up the good work . 
  Cheers Mick

[S. Heslop]

Another good video, I have watched the Matthias Wandel's videos and think you have emulated his style well ....... that is shows what you want to see but no longwinded stuff.

Thanks, that means a lot.

[S. Heslop]

It took a while but here's the next part. I've been pretty busy with university lately and didn't have alot of time.

[Divided he ad]

Looking good 

Not too sure about mixing that stuff with bare hands mind!   Bound to have some form of lime in it isn't it?


Love the jigsaw sound... Like an angry wasp 





Looking forward to seeing where this goes 






Ralph.

[doubleboost]

Coming on fine
I splashed some of that refractory in my eyes 
Not a good idea
John

[micktoon]

 Another good video  , As mentioned if that stuff is like normal cement, the less skin contact is better ......I learnt this by my mate concreting with boots not wellies and ending up in hospital with chemical burns around his calfs above where his boots ended  .........so it does happen.
  Looks like the project is coming on well though , what type of helmets do you want to make ? will they just be for show or will you do re enactments ?.
  Cheers Mick.

[S. Heslop]

Not too sure about mixing that stuff with bare hands mind!   Bound to have some form of lime in it isn't it?

I've got a bucket of blue nitrile gloves that I keep forgetting about in moments like that. I think you can see it in a few shots during the video.

It did dry my hands out a bit though and a couple cuticles detatched, but i've got dry hands to begin with so it's nothing im not used to. Dry hands are hell when turning pages or trying to open a plastic carrier bag at a checkout while everyone's waiting.

[S. Heslop]

ending up in hospital with chemical burns around his calfs above where his boots ended

Yikes! It's lucky I didn't have much to mix I suppose. I'll take more precautions when I get around to making that metal melting forge.

Helmet wise I like the look of the Milanese armet like this one. It might be a little complicated though, but we'll see.

As to what i'd do with a suit of armour... i've really got no idea. I'm more excited about the thought of making it than what i'd do once it's complete.

[micktoon]

That looks like a nice helmet  , A few years back there was a guy with a few step by step web pages about making similar helmets , I will have a look and see if I can find them again , it was years back so maybe not on the net now mind.
  Looks like you have got away with the cement incident anyway but worth wearing them gloves next time, probably even more so if you have dry hands to start with.
    :beer:Cheers Mick.

I think this is the links I mentioned http://nadler.us/armour.html   He has good photos and patterns 

[S. Heslop]

That looks like a nice helmet  , A few years back there was a guy with a few step by step web pages about making similar helmets , I will have a look and see if I can find them again , it was years back so maybe not on the net now mind.
  Looks like you have got away with the cement incident anyway but worth wearing them gloves next time, probably even more so if you have dry hands to start with.
    :beer:Cheers Mick.

I think this is the links I mentioned http://nadler.us/armour.html   He has good photos and patterns 

Thanks for the link. The patterns will definitely help with figuring out how big to make the blanks when I get to that stage.

I felt pretty lucky finding this series of videos, since he makes pretty much the exact style of armour i'm interested in. I've watched his videos alot and even went as far as to keep notes on each step and the tools used. My next video might be about making a stake, similar to one he uses, while I wait for the refractory to dry.

I'm trying to take most of this a step at a time now though. If I got carried away thinking about later steps i'd probably get burned out on the idea before I even got so far.

[micktoon]

 I have just had a quick look but those videos seem really  good.....I will have a better look later on, there is a really good book an making armour too by Brian Price , its expensive but you can order it for a small charge from the libary ( if you can find one still open ) this is a link to Amazon anyway http://www.amazon.co.uk/Techniques-Medieval-Armour-Reproduction-Century/dp/1581600984
  I have got some good stuff from the scrap yard before for stake type tools , god knows what they were off in the first place but all you need is a big lump of metal roughly what shape you need.
  Cheers Mick.

[Divided he ad]

I've got a bucket of blue nitrile gloves that I keep forgetting about in moments like that.

Well at least you're prepared 


Having now watched the video (and part 8) I think I'm going to like where this is going 





Ralph. 

[S. Heslop]

Finally got around to making part the fourth. I suppose that's the forge complete but i've still got a few other things to do before I can start using it to try and make anything.

I've got about 2 more videos ready to edit but I haven't had alot of free time in the last couple of weeks. Even this video was kind of rushed in a few spots.


Also thanks for the offer of the microphone John, but my old one packed in half way through recording this video and I ended up just rushing out and getting a new one since it was probably the only day I was gonna have free for a while.

[Divided he ad]

Certainly looks like it's a success       

I get it now, to heat up sheet metal so you can work it. 


I know you want to sort out ventilation. But when are you going to start on your armour? 






Ralph.

[micktoon]

Another really good video  , It looks like it should do the job , I hope the ventilation does not turn into too big a job, its a pity you could not just create an area where it would be covered from rain  and sheltered from wind but be outside the main workshop so you not need the ventilation.

  I look forward to seeing the forge in use 

 Cheers Mick.

[Fredbare]

Great videos, thanks for sharing.

John

[S. Heslop]

I know you want to sort out ventilation. But when are you going to start on your armour? 
Ralph.

Yeah I'm really making a meal of this whole thing. I'm sort of taking the opportunity to sort out the bottom half of the garage at the same time. Like better ventillation would also be great for clearing paint fumes, welding smoke, and all kinds of other deadly vapours.

It's sods law that the moment my holidays end and i've already got less free time that everything around me starts falling apart and needs repairing. Which also includes my internet connection. It's disconnecting so much I can only really get online for about a minute at a time, which definitely isn't long enough to upload a video. I've spent the last few days trying to solve it but now the company is just gonna send an engineer out in a couple of days.

So it might be a couple of weeks before I can start trying to raise any metal. And maybe longer before I manage to do anything worth making a video about. So sorry to keep you waiting.