Jeff Amundson

I was in a blade factory many years ago, maybe the one you mentioned. They used molten salt heat treat. Nothing accidental or haphazard about their processes.

Retired now, I taught high school shop and did manufacturing engineering, so I've dealt with lots of materials and processes. I gravitated to smithing mainly because it has a seemingly endless supply of learning opportunities. The fact that it's an ancient craft with physical and mental challenges is a bonus. And I like fire.

I'm glad I found this old thread, because this is WEIRD. I opened my shop door and immediately smelled something dead. The last time that happened I found a mouse decomposing at the bottom of the main tube of my tire hammer. Nope. Still just one carcass there. Following my nose I found this in my side draft hood. The hood has plates that slide open on both ends, indoors and out, and a 12” chimney pipe with no cap outside. So how did a skunk get in there? Climb to the top and fall in? A prank by some 'friend'? Believing my nose that he was dead, I grabbed some tongs to extract it. And this is where it got really weird. It was only half a skunk – the back half. I've waited for a 'friend' to take credit, but no one has. My favorite theory is that an owl dropped a whole skunk and it was sliced in half when it hit the sharp edge of my chimney. Of course the owl returned to get the front half. The shop never smelled of skunk, but I still get a whiff of death once in a while.

My version of the bulldog, for a charity auction. Thanks for all the previous tutorials. Jeff

I welded mine this summer. 6.75" diameter, 4140. 3/4" base plate. I beveled the anvil and preheated it to 400F. I used 400F and 500F tempilstiks and a weed burner throughout the welding passes. 7018 rod. I haven't completed the hammer yet, so all I can say is it looks good.

Thanks for the suggestions. I no longer need to borrow the jig, because I welded one up per the plans when IFI went down. Now I have to find a way to get the ends parallel. I'll cut it up after I've used it, because I want the die plates that are welded to the pipe. That's part of the reason I wanted to borrow the jig. Jeff

My 'number of posts', this being the 3rd, belies the time I've spent here. I appreciate the engagement of folks like you, Frosty, but what I'm looking for is part number 228, hammer align jig, page 30 of Clay's plans. It holds the hammer and anvil 10" apart, die holes aligned, and faces within .010" in plane. All this for welding the hammer guide into final position. I've been a toolmaker, so I'm not opposed to finding a different way, but I'd rather borrow one and save the time. Jeff

It’s been years since I bought the first part, but I’m finally getting near the end of my tire hammer build. I thought I had found a guy to loan me the jig that aligns the hammer and anvil, but that fell through. Can someone here help me find one? I built my hammer to the dimensions in Clay Spencer’s plans for the Ray Clontz hammer. Thanks. Jeff

I've heard "too many irons in the fire" actually came from branding cattle.