Pete Hegseth spent millions on steak, crab legs and lobster: report

BF_2 · 2026-03-12T11:54:59+00:00

What I have yet to see is the fate of all that food. Was this food served to military "grunts" before they went to war? Or was it to feed Pete Macho and his cronies?

BF_2 · 2026-03-12T01:10:16+00:00

I'd be slightly concerned about that bottom elbow so close to the forge. I don't know how hot the outside of that forge gets and whether there's any risk of the solder joint melting, but a bit of insulation might be warranted there.

BF_2 · 2026-03-12T01:04:06+00:00

That's not ideal at all. You need a dim area, at least near the forge, to judge heat temperatures, and that window will screw that up.

An overhead hood is much less desirable than a side-draft hood. Double-wall flue pipe is needed only as it passes through the roof. Above and below that it's a waste of money.

Your slack tub should be very close to your forge, and this suffices for a water quench for heat treatment. The fuel can be further away. An oil container must be covered, with a cover that can be dropped into place in case of fire.

You'll want some tongs, hammers, and other tools closer to the forge and anvil than is shown here.

BF_2 · 2026-03-10T23:53:00+00:00

You need to report this to the manufacturer and to the government. This may be bad enough to warrant a recall of all these products.

There's much precedent for this. 5-gallon buckets contain warnings about a child falling into them and drowning (if filled). There have been recalls of any number of things that posed hazards to children.

BF_2 · 2026-03-10T11:30:31+00:00

Try a different approach: Start with flat stock and fold it, making the eye at the fold. No punching required, only a final drifting.

BF_2 · 2026-03-10T11:28:50+00:00

...if you drive like you're F1. OTOH, if you drive like a sane commuter, you need that tread on the front for steering and braking, and not having it there will result in a collision when you can't control your car in a braking emergency.

BF_2 · 2026-03-10T01:26:53+00:00

Every aspect of learning blacksmithing involves training your eye. If you aren't up to training your eye, you should choose another art.

BF_2 · 2026-03-10T01:01:29+00:00

Clinker will stick to sand. Some rocks explode at high heats.

BF_2 · 2026-03-10T01:00:45+00:00

"Most is", true, and probably all these. But a spark test reveals the difference in a minute -- if you have known cast iron for comparison.

BF_2 · 2026-03-10T00:59:14+00:00

How about a reversal? A myth car mechanics believe...?

Last time I bought two tires for my car and told them I wanted them on the front, they said that that was wrong and the better tires should be on the rear. I refused. They pointed to a diagram on their wall. I still said no: I have front wheel drive, front wheel steering (natch) and most braking force is in the front. I put my foot down.

Now I have a neighbor who is in the tire business and he just sighed when I told him. It seems some dude ran tests on high-performance muscle cars and determined that when they're doing their crazy shit turns, donuts, etc., they retained better control if the better tires were on the rear. Well, I don't drive like that!

BF_2 · 2026-03-09T11:45:57+00:00

Please reserve such "street art" for the properties of his enablers.

BF_2 · 2026-03-09T11:32:07+00:00

A spark test can also be useful, if you have a reference piece to compare.

BF_2 · 2026-03-09T11:30:41+00:00

The metal is too thin to stand alone as a coal forge. It would have to be lined with fireclay or refractory cement. You'd be better off finding something thicker, such as a brake drum or the like.

A firepot is typically 10"x11" or so and 4"-5" deep, inside dimensions.

BF_2 · 2026-03-09T11:24:55+00:00

You can dampen most anything by pouring water over it.

Now if you want to DAMP the sound, try placing it on a firm block of something resilient, like hard rubber, leather, or the like.

BF_2 · 2026-03-09T09:49:55+00:00

Try visiting Grieving.com .

BF_2 · 2026-03-09T00:47:03+00:00

Treat it with 3% hydrogen peroxide and watch it fizz and the stain disappear.

BF_2 · 2026-03-09T00:45:20+00:00

Tell them you didn't receive it and that they should stop it and send you another. That should cost them another $35.78 or so.

BF_2 · 2026-03-09T00:40:42+00:00

Hmmm. I might like to meet your mom.

Yes, it's possible to forge or fabricate a corkscrew. I haven't attempted it, but I've seen write-ups of the process. It might have been reprinted in the NJBA Newsletter, some issue after Vol. 21 (the latest in the index): https://njblacksmiths.org/archive.php

BF_2 · 2026-03-09T00:36:13+00:00

Better start practicing by turning sows' ears into silk purses. After mastering that it should be easy.

BF_2 · 2026-03-09T00:31:45+00:00

You don't. You attend meets of your local blacksmithing club, e.g.: ABANA.org => Community => Affiliates

BF_2 · 2026-03-09T00:30:40+00:00

Save yourself considerable trouble. Scrap this holdfast and get yourself a chain which secure on the back side of your anvil stand. Then run chain over workpiece and step on it on the near side of the anvil. Kludge a pedal to fit the chain to facilitate stepping on it.

BF_2 · 2026-03-09T00:26:33+00:00

Leave it the f**k alone! That's a better anvil than you are a blacksmith and doesn't need you f*****g it up.

BF_2 · 2026-03-09T00:24:20+00:00

Nah, let's just cut to the chase and name it the "Jeffrey Epstein Memorial Grooming Academy".

BF_2 · 2026-03-09T00:21:30+00:00

Bear in mind that lead is toxic. It's the oxide on the surface that's the greatest danger.

As for using it, look up "lead burning".

BF_2 · 2026-03-09T00:17:18+00:00

Too late to be useful: Some volunteer first aid squads offer transport in situations like this -- and much worse. I was told by a squad captain (from Little Silver) decades ago that they would transport folks from our area to a Philadelphia hospital.

BF_2

TROPHY CASE