First Installation
Most of my experience lies in the realm of metalwork and fabrication. So when I say that I was slightly out of my element when Charlie and I installed a stair railing today, know that I am being generous. Nonetheless, I did learn quite a lot, most of the time I was in quiet mode trying to take in as much as I could. Thankfully, the installation went of without a hitch (on my part at least), and I’ve built a little confidence concerning the matter.
In other news, I was experimenting with good methods for upsetting steel yesterday and today, and I came up with two good methods.
First: put the piece to be upset in a vice and hammer down on it with zwei (two) hammers.
- Advantage- Moves the metal really quickly
- Disadvantage- leaves a bite mark in the metal from the jaws of the vice. Should be easy to resolve with a little aluminum plating or perhaps simply grinding the jaws to a nice curve (but it’s Charlie’s vice, so I wouldn’t do that)
Second: I made a hardy tool that allows me upset at a lateral angle to the anvil.
- Advantage- Makes particularly square upset, and can be done with a non-focused heat (with limits).
- Disadvantage- Unknown effects, but the hardy tool might be prying the anvil in a place it doesn’t like to be pried, but this has yet to be seen.
Today was a short day, so there isn’t much to say, except that I went to a great metal concert last night called Progressive Nation, with great bands 3, Between the Buried and Me, Opeth, and Dream Theater. Today’s song of the day is Bramfatura by 3, look it up when you get the chance.
That’s all, I’m off to Vermont for the weekend, cya all! Have a good Memorial Day!
