Tennessee Gun

Tag: metalworking

  • Build Your Own Metalworking Shop From Scratch: Book Review

    Build Your Own Metalworking Shop From Scratch: Book Review

     

    Book Review: Build Your Own Metalworking Shop from Scrap: Series Set
    Buy at Amazon

    Mr. Gingery is a legend. He made a living solving $500 problems with $50 solutions. You can only do that with skill and thought.

    He created this set of books that allow someone to build your own metalworking shop using only hand tools. Each book covers a specific machine tool – it has detailed construction diagrams, and step by step instructions.

    Each tool is used to create the next tool in line. First you build a small aluminum foundry and learn to cast metal, you use that to build a metal lathe. Which metal castings and a lathe, you can build a metal shaper that allow you to build a milling machine….

    The education is priceless, the equipment is functional. The books are cheap. if you are a prepper, and worried about when SHTF, then you owe it to yourself to throw this set on your shelf – with this set and some gumption you can recreate the industrial revolution.
    Buy it.

    I have only finished the first book, but my foundry was very easy to build following David Gingery’s simple instructions.  I am very excited about following his other books – especially the lathe building book.

    Following the Build Your Own Metalworking Shop from Scrap series is my plan for retirement, I want to do every project and build my own shop

  • How to Build a Wine Bottle Torch

    How to Build a Wine Bottle Torch

    DIY: Wine Bottle Torch
    Buy at Amazon

    Lighting is very important for Preppers, campers, and honestly everybody else.

    Today’s article will show how to make a lamp out of an old wine bottle.

    This works well as a tiki torch, and can be used outside with citronella oil to repel bugs.

    Besides being a source of light and a way to repel bugs, this is a classy piece of decoration as well as an excuse to buy more wine.

    Of course if you don’t want to buy more wine you can always make some homemade wine.

     

    Materials

    • Empty Wine Bottle – Use any kind glass bottle with a 1” diameter neck
    • Teflon Tape
    • Copper Top Plate Connector (threaded for 3/8”-16 thread rod)
    • 1” Split Ring Hanger (threaded for 3/8”-16 thread rod)
    • 1/2” x 3/8” Copper Coupling
    • 1/2” Copper Cap
    • Two Hex Nuts (threaded for 3/8”-16 thread rod)
    • Two #10 x 1” Zinc Plated Wood Screws (if your mounting it to wood)
    • 3/8”-16 Zinc Plated Threaded Rod (a 3’ rod will cut down to 8, 4-1/2” rods)
    • Tiki Replacement Wick
    • Torch Fuel

    Tools

    • Channel lock pliers
    • Adjustable wrench
    • Hacksaw
    • Screwdriver
    • Funnel

    Procedure

    Hanger

    1. Position the Top Plate Connector on your mounting surface and mark the holes for where the screws will go.
    2. Install Plate connector and screw in the 3/8”-16 Rod until it stops.
    3. Thread the two Hex Nuts on to the Rod and tighten one all the way down at the point where the Rod meets the Top Connector Plate. Leave the other Hex Nut at the front end so it can be used to secure the Split Ring Hanger.
    4. Thread on the Split Ring Hanger just enough so that the Rod is flush with the inside of the ring. Turn the 2nd Hex Nut counter-clockwise to snug it up against the Split Ring Hanger.

    Torch

    1. Carefully and tightly wrap the 1/2” end of the Coupling with your Teflon Tape.
    2. Continue building up the tape until it fits very snugly into the opening of your bottle.
    3. Insert the Wick into the Coupling until it sticks out about 1/4”.
    4. The Tiki replacement wicks are about 3/8” in diameter so they fit well.
    5. Unscrew the Split Ring Hanger on one side and position the bottle neck into the ring.
    6. Flip the front half of the ring back into place and tighten down the Hanger evenly on both sides. You may need to loosen the other side to make sure both sides are an even tightness. (Don’t over tighten the Hanger. You don’t want to break the glass.)
    7. Use a funnel to fill the bottle with your favorite torch oil.
    8. Insert the Coupling & Wick into the top of the bottle and twist it snugly into place. Give the Wick a few minutes to absorb the oil before you try to light it.

    Use the Copper Cap to keep the Wick dry when you’re not using your torch.

  • How to Make a Simple One Brick Forge

    How to Make a Simple One Brick Forge

    (more…)

  • The Blacksmith’s Craft

    The Blacksmith’s Craft

    The Blacksmith’s Craft contains everything you need to know to make and repair your own metal tools, household items, hardware, or farm equipment.

    It is full of simple and clear instructions, supplemented by step-by-step photography, and shows how to build a forge, make or acquire tools, and use those tools to create items of lasting beauty and durability.

    In my opinion the ability to shape metal is what caused Humans to grow into societies and develop technology.  Blacksmiths have, for centuries, been the cornerstone of society.

    While blacksmiths is no longer an essential function in a modern town, someone with the metal working skill to make and repair metal objects is still vital to the operation of industry in said town.

    I find The Blacksmith’s Craft to be one of the better beginning blacksmith books, and I have learned a lot from it.  Between it and The Complete Modern Blacksmith, most beginner smiths can have a good start

    While I think Weyger’s Complete Modern Blacksmith is more useful as a single book (which is unfair as it is actually three books combined) – I did get a lot of useful information from the Blacksmith’s Craft.

    As a prepper, I think having books on essential skills is vital.  You won’t have the internet after a collapse.  As a guy though, I  think blacksmithing is awesome.  I suck at it, but I do love beating on hot metal and bending it to my will.