I spent the day at Colonial Williamsburg

[peternap]

I made my obligatory stop at the gunsmiths shop to say hello and then started looking at the buildings with hinged windows and shutters.

I spent the rest of the day at the blacksmiths shop learning how they forged the window hardware.
I'll never get over how well the old ways work. All the hardware is simple but holds unbelievably well.

They helped me work out the latching problem I was having with the loft windows that swing UP. Again a simple solution. They just forge a plate for the window with a keyhole in it and a rod with a ball on the end. The rod connects to the ceiling. When I swing the window up the ball goes in the large portion of the keyhole and the natural swing of the window, slides it into the narrow portion.

I think I'll fire up the forge tomorrow. I have 10 of them to make.

[glenn kangiser]

Now I guess its time for me to build another forge too.  I worked one at a blacksmith shop for about 6 months -- made one for myself later.  Don't see much coal or coke around these parts though.

[peternap]

You can always use charcoal. It sparks like the 4th of July but gets plenty hot.

[glenn kangiser]

We have plenty of oak.  That would work I guess.