wroughtn_harv
Super Member
I arrived in Port Au Prince the 11th of August. My immediate goal is to build two Ubuntu-blox machines. One of the reasons I'm posting this part of this adventure here is it involves a lot of the topics I've seen discussed on welding forums many times.
I don't have ideal circumstances, equipment or materials. But things have to get done. One of the encouraging things for me is welding and iron work happen here and the way it is done will inspire anyone who has chased a puddle of molten metal or wanted to.
I decided that we would use as little new materials as possible. Ubuntu-blox is about making good homes out of plastic trash. It seems to me that going to Haiti and not re-purposing steel as much as possible would be hypocritical. There's also an economical reasoning. It will cost less and more importantly the funds will do more good faster because it is injected directly into the local economy.
Friday we went out and about the city. One of my first finds was a master blacksmith's shop. I have forges etc and I can do some things with a hammer and anvil. But the most important lesson my blacksmithing has taught me is an appreciation for good work by real blacksmiths. This shop is in a small space along a road filled with shops. If you have ever been to a swap meet then replace the aisle with a highway filled with vehicles and you have the street this shop is on.
He makes chisels and pry bars along with digging bars etc. I'm sure he is capable of much more because of some of the materials on hand. Keep in mind that making a chisel or crow bar isn't just making a point. Hardening the point without making it brittle is even more important. His work is esquisite.
One of the photos shows the forge. A helper pedals a bicycle crank and that operates the blower. Too ingenius for words.
I don't have ideal circumstances, equipment or materials. But things have to get done. One of the encouraging things for me is welding and iron work happen here and the way it is done will inspire anyone who has chased a puddle of molten metal or wanted to.
I decided that we would use as little new materials as possible. Ubuntu-blox is about making good homes out of plastic trash. It seems to me that going to Haiti and not re-purposing steel as much as possible would be hypocritical. There's also an economical reasoning. It will cost less and more importantly the funds will do more good faster because it is injected directly into the local economy.
Friday we went out and about the city. One of my first finds was a master blacksmith's shop. I have forges etc and I can do some things with a hammer and anvil. But the most important lesson my blacksmithing has taught me is an appreciation for good work by real blacksmiths. This shop is in a small space along a road filled with shops. If you have ever been to a swap meet then replace the aisle with a highway filled with vehicles and you have the street this shop is on.
He makes chisels and pry bars along with digging bars etc. I'm sure he is capable of much more because of some of the materials on hand. Keep in mind that making a chisel or crow bar isn't just making a point. Hardening the point without making it brittle is even more important. His work is esquisite.
One of the photos shows the forge. A helper pedals a bicycle crank and that operates the blower. Too ingenius for words.