Crawler

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. For the time being, it will likely just help anchor a corner/small area for my projects & materials at the Makerspace I go to, partially because the massive semiautomatic bandsaw slipped the blade last week. As for the Toyota forklift, it's only about a year old and this is the most abuse it's received so far. The other tine was fine, so it was stowed in the maintenance shop as a spare (contractor replaces them in pairs). The driver, a lil'ole ladie in her early 60's that literally runs (on foot) circles around everyone else was quite shaken, but otherwise fine. She isn't very fond of being on a forklift anyway. They did revoke her forklift certification for the time being. As to how it happened: an empty one of our larger pallets (82"x64" or 112"x64") had become askew, so she was using the lift to push a corner against a structural I-beam column. We work in a large section of the 100+/- year old former International Harvester complex. The structure was built to last, but the floors are slightly different elevations where a new section was added on, or entirely uneven/rough because of wear and tear over the years. Edit: I forgot to add that the tine was already bent slightly when a different operator caught it on a mangled dock plate. It had maybe a 30-40 degree curve.

Glad to be back. Since the last time I was here, the 100 year old bread factory (10,000 loaves/hr at full-tilt) I worked at closed down. I've been at my current underemployer for 3yrs, where we produce sound & thermal insulting products. Had a house fire over 2 years ago, and we are still cohabitating with the in-laws. Job is crap. Pay is crap. Housing is crap. Car is crap. But at least I survived COVID. And now I use haymaker hammer blows as anger management. Life goes on.

A forklift at work got its tines replaced due to one of them getting the tip bent straight up. After getting permission, I scooped up the bent one when the contractor technician finished swapping them out. Anyway. I'm still very inexperienced at smithing. This tine weighs over 100#, thus is a decent score for someone such as myself who is lacking both experience & funds. I know it's got potential, but can't think of the ideal use(s) for it. I could just cut it down to more manageable pieces. Or it could be used/modified into tooling of some sort? Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Hello, all. I've finally come back around here again. Been a few years since I posted, or lurked much, but I'm back with purpose this time! Recently, I started banging hot steel at a local Makerspace. And it's about time! As I'm currently working on hammer control, and getting a feel for moving steel the way I want, I don't have anything worthwhile to show for my efforts in the HotShop. But I have been able to connect with a few other smiths that use the facility, including one that started in the 70's or early 80's.

Thanks again for the guidance, gents. Yeah, the brand did seem like one I had filed under "HF gambles" in my brain lol. Actually found it on the site right before I fell asleep. At around $100 new, this person wants to sell two used Chinese welders for the price of a new one. I agree: not worth it. If I ever show up to look at used welders that don't wire, I'll make sure to bring my own for testing. Owning a spool of welding wire without a welder to use it in, is better than owning a welder(s) that doesn't work! Cheers.

As someone who has never welded before, I doubt I'd know a good deal if it jumped out & bit me. Two welders have been listed locally, at $100 for both (just the machines, not even wire included) . They are both Chicago Electric, but seem slightly different between the two of them. The intended use will be mostly learning & practice, along with light fabrication, and small to medium sized sculptural pieces when I want to make the wife swoon. Would these be good for learning? What should I ask the seller? Other considerations? Thanks in advance for your thoughtful response!

I left some absentee bids on a couple of anvils, and I'd like some help getting more info on them. The first is a 100# BABCO OAKLAND brand anvil, in really good shape. It was bolted onto a small, purpose built table with pipe legs, so I don't think the "ring test" I did was of much value. The only info I've dug up is a reply on reddit: The other is a 70# (well, maybe a few ounces shy now...) cast anvil with a hefty plate, with edges that have unfortunately been abused. It certainly doesn't ring like a bell. But I would rather have a city anvil. First, I NEED a usable anvil. The body of this smaller anvil is covered thick with schmutz and paint; still, the only markings are a "70" on the bottom under the horn, and an upside down "14" on the lead edge of the same foot. Could this be a Fisher? If not, what is your best guess? Having left modest absentee bids, my chances of owning one of these is slim in the wake of smithing being popularized on TV. Still, I welcome the opportunity to learn more about these anvils. Thank you in advance for your thoughtful response!

Ah, my guess on that: item #1 of 2 was probably the other half of an auction lot. In such situations, one item was desired, and the price was well within it's worth/value. This would make the rest of the lot unnecessary.

Hehe. If I had the means, I'd probably take it off their hands, hire a locksmith to get new lock & keys, then sell it. I suspect a lack of keys to be the reason they are giving it away.

You proud of that one? Lol!

Ah, I'd forgotten about safes using "filler". These comments make sense. Thanks gents!

This popped up locally, for free, this morning. Apparently, it's a 1,300# safe! I have neither the means, nor the space, to transport & store this beast. I am posting it just to get some feedback on how viable this would be as an anvil? On an unrelated note: if they are giving it up as scrap, and it was already in the back of a pickup, why didn't they just haul it to a scrap yard themselves?

Nice! Can't say I'd be mad at having an anvil in the living room "just because". And my wife would probably only complain about it not matching the peacock them of the decor. Lol! Good score. (I know it won't waste away in the house .)

Did you remember to get plenty of pics?

At first glance, I thought the odd rust pattern on the MH may have been from the anvil getting a coat of paint or oil/grease to protect from rust, followed by light use at some point in its life... And then I turned up my screen brightness & zoomed in on the picture. Then something caught my eye. On the side facing the camera, the top-right corner of that side of the anvil: look where the vertical & horizontal rust lines meet. The weld lines are more obvious in that area. What stuck out for me was the gap between the anvil material & the weld material, towards the top of the vertical line. To play "devil's advocate" on myself, I'm willing to admit to the possibility that I am wrong. Calling myself a novice where anvils are concerned would be an understatement. Zooming in on the pic does start to degrade the resolution quality. But... I do have 20/13 vision, and well above average problem solving skills. Use my words with a grain of salt .