[TheForge] 2 Questions

[Bob Ehrenberger]

Rick,

I've only made a couple sets of fireplace doors and I just used the Yellen
finish on them.  I haven't followed up to see how they are doing. They
really looked nice when installed.

You could use stove black, it should hold up to heat.

I know what you mean about long bars.  I made a gate that had 14' sections
and I wanted to hot punch the holes in the bars.  It went ok until I got
about 3 feet in, then it was stands around the forge and around the anvil.
That worked for a couple more  feet and then got unmanagable. I ended up
setting up the stands around the anvil and using the torch to heat the spots
for punching.

You may want to do your texturing cold, unless it has to be extreem.
Another option is places like King Architectural sell pre textured bars.
There are limits on how long you can ship via UPS and unless you want a lot,
having it hauled commercially could be a hastle.  You may live close enough
to be able to pick it up yourself.

Robert Ehrenberger
Shelbyville, Mo.
eforge at centurytel.net

---Original Questions----
From: "Rick Korinek" <rickkorinek at verizon.net>
Subject: [TheForge] 2 Questions
To: "'Sponsored by ABANA'" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Message-ID: <0ITM006R8S0CS1F3 at vms046.mailsrvcs.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Hello all.  I have two questions that relate to jobs coming up.

First, what kind of finish do you use for fireplace doors?  What do you use
vs. paint that will stand up to the high temps encountered--especially when
using mild steel?  In the case at hand, the client is interested in screen
doors out of bronze with bronze screen.  I would like to patina down from
shinny then protect/coat to fix or slow further darkening.

The second question has to do with material handling.  There are numerous
situations where one needs 10 to 16 feet of stock textured and/or worked--a
handrail for straight stairs, for example.  I am at a loss for how to heat,
work in the power hammer and then straighten a long piece except to work
with smaller pieces and weld them together.  I have worked pieces up to 7-8
feet long.  This seems like the limit without a better system to support
work around the hammer and forge.

Very interested in your thoughts,
-Rick