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Just saying hello

FrankV - Tuesday, July 3, 2007 - 7:35pm

Hello everyone,
I just signed up recently and wanted to drop a line. I am reasonably new to metalworking, and just do it as a hobby for right now, but truly enjoy it. I have mainly been working in 304 stainless steel, sometimes in regular cold rolled mild steel, on gauges between 12 and 20. My main interest is in medieval armor but I have been branching off into other side projects. My profile pic(although hard to see) is of myself last halloween in the Jango Fett (character from Star Wars) costume I made from stainlees steel, leather and sintra (I had to cheese out and buy the helmet because I ran out of time before Halloween!). I am going to try to get some pics up of the projects I have completed to get some feedback, I am always looking for constructive criticism and some tips as well! I try to do as much of the work as possibly by hand, using stakes, dishing forms and hammers. I have been playing around with raising techniques but I need to get more mild steel, stainless is a real pain to raise!
Anyhow,
do not want to get too wordy,
hope to be in touch,

Frank
Kearny, NJ


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B.J. Severtson's picture

armorer

B.J. Severtson - Wednesday, July 4, 2007 - 8:53am

Welcome aboard Frank V,
First off are you a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism, SCA for short? They do medieval armor as well as it can be done. There's nothing like seeing 500 guys dressed in armor charge a stronghold. There are a lot of talented smiths here. you should have a banging good time.
Brad


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SteelyJan's picture

Hi Frank.....

SteelyJan - Thursday, July 5, 2007 - 6:01am

Welcome Frank....
You are one of the few upper east coast metalworkers.. so it's nice to have someone close to NYC. Anyway get some pictures up of your work for all to see. Janet R.


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FrankV's picture

pictures

FrankV - Thursday, July 5, 2007 - 10:07am

I will be getting some pics up asap, the ones I currently have are not so good.
yeah, I cannot imagine there is a large call for blacksmiths in NYC, lol. That is the one disadvantage to being in a city, I cannot really set up a forge in my backyard!


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visitor's picture

FrankV, Of course you can

visitor - Thursday, July 5, 2007 - 3:01pm

FrankV,
Of course you can have a forge in the city. You just have to use gas, not coal. I live in the center of town and I bang on my anvil often.
About the stainless. Most of the SS you will find will not harden. Quick and dirty check is with a magnet. If it is not magnatic there is not enough carbon to harden. If it is the temp must be controled more precisely than I can do so you need to send it out to be heat treated.
Just what I think,
Lynn


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FrankV's picture

thanks!

FrankV - Thursday, July 5, 2007 - 3:32pm

I will have to look into a gas forge , I did not even think of that. I was using one of those little propane torches from Home Depot but that is really only good for working on smaller pieces that do not require too much work.I had been doing a majority of my work cold.

thanks again,
Frank


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FrankV's picture

armoring

FrankV - Thursday, July 5, 2007 - 10:01am

yes, I am a member of the SCA, and there are some really talented folks there. A friend of mine has been armoring for a bout 15 years or so and is teaching me what he knows.
And yes, there is nothing like seeing 500 guys in armor whomping the heck out of each other!!!!


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