AR. Hillbilly

Thanks Tom. If you see anything in that stuff that you want or need let me know. I plan to keep the post drill. I may Hillbilly the cast forge to a usable but not collectible stage just for times when one isn’t enough on forge night.

The small Champion forge is sheet metal not cast and so is the blower that goes with it. The cast forge was a handle/belt driven. The Bufco blower doesn’t go with it. The post drill is a big heavy Champion #4 in excellent condition. I don’t know much about the shears yet. Both blowers work well. I intend to make a tuyere and adapt the Bufco blower to the cast forge. All one hail just a few miles from home.

Next time I’m in Alma (just went through last weekend) I’ll find that place. I also need to check out house handle. They’re just 20 miles up the road.

Good to know. Gonna call about the wedges. Thank you

A couple years back we dropped a hickory tree at work. I cut a bunch of sections in to firewood length and it’s been drying in my shop. On occasion I split some and cut it into handle blanks. I have rehandled about 6 hammers so far. Just curious if y’all forge or buy your steel wedges? I’ve been buying the wood/steel wedge kits at the lumber yard but considering forging my own . Or looking for a bulk price.

I’m also in the process of building a Clay Spencer hammer. I’ve had a few conversations with the man up to this point. I believe that you can make the anvil, base and a few other parts heavier and make the 50 pound hammer much more efficient. A good anvil and base and good machining skills will make the best of this hammer.

Wow thanks for the information. Some good reading there. I’ll save this for future reference. I haven’t made much headway lately but I did wire it up and drill some holes. It’s gonna need a new belt. It runs very quiet and smoothe.

Thomas I’ll look as I clean it up.

I just bought a Mechanics Machine Co. drillpress. It came out of the Daisy BB gun plant in Rogers Arkansas. It has had an electric motor added. It has a brass tag where it was sold new. Chas A strelenger tool Co Detroit Mi. Im trying to find a date on it. Mechanics machine went out of business in 1912 and started in 1890.

I bought a different piece of 1/4” square to make little split crosses. It cut way easier and I was able to split them fairly straight this time. Very small and easy to lose in the coal forge. I made one more today by forging it with a plumbers love torch instead of my coal forge. It worked well. I also made a wood grain hammer. I practiced with it some and starting to get the knack of it.

I cut the head off some railroad spikes (55) to be exact. I drilled and tapped them and they are our kitchen cabinet door pulls. So I had all the left overs??? I’ve been cutting and splitting them a few at a time and making split crosses from them. My wife wants me to make some smaller ones. I bought some 1/4” square and started cutting and splitting last night. I can’t split them straight to save my life. I tried my band saw , a hack saw and my portaband. I’ll try again tonight. I’m open to any suggestions. I’m seriously considering hot splitting.

Thomas, thank you for the Har bee village tip. I’ve honestly never heard of it before this post. I see a motorcycle trip early spring. it reminds me of the folk center in Mt View

Thank you for that pic. That looks awesome. I think a rock storefront facade would really make that look neat. I’ve been looking at pricing and they go up quick once you get beyond the normal everyday dimensions. I’m thinking a few courses of block under a standard carport might do. Then close it in with wood like the one above.

The shop sold in the late 80’s to early 90’s to another guy who made and sold garden tools and rock bars. That guy passed away in the last few years. Rumor has it that the last owners family is selling stuff. There is a new scrap yard between eureka and Berryville that know what’s up but isn’t telling.

Thomas have you been to Ike Doss Smithy. I’ve been driving by lately and looking at it. Ike is who got me interested in blacksmithing. The guy that bought that business had it made but. He didn’t treat Ike well. I did some work there back in the 80’s. im thinking late 1800’s early 1900’s authentic. I live in Busch Ar. West of Eureka Springs on the old road. Down past us in an old abandoned community where there once was a Smithy. The owners of that property don’t want people messing about. I’m also looking for Eureka Springs Blacksmith pics. all the tools from Ike Doss Smithy are being sold off as we speak. Coal forge and I’m thinking rock brick built in with exposed rock chimney.