Peter the Snapper: Naturally, we are not going to turn the fate of an irreplaceable bell over to Just Anybody. I posted to the Mudcat so I could talk to various people and learn what questions to ask. As you can see from the foregoing posts, there are quite a few educated and helpful Mudcatters.

As The Walrus points out, it is good for the consumer to know the concepts.

Bob Bolton: thanks for the information on blacksmithing techniques.

Anyway, aside from the bell, I am interested in this stuff because I am a die sinker's daughter.