Daniel S

Are these the ones on your table at quad state? How much time did it take you to forge them? They look great.

One of the engineers that I work with forwarded me this software.  I know that some people on here use Sketchup and other modeling software.  I don't have a lot of experience using modelling software, so I can't give a review of how this package performs.  He doesn't recommend stuff that he thinks is a toy or a waste of time, so I thought maybe you guys would like to give it a try too.

http://www.ptc.com/product/creo/elements/direct-modeling/express

That hammer is going to look great when you're finished.  

This is someone using a file like they made in the video Frosty posted.  Much like the Gransfors-Bruks video I saw posted some time ago, there is a segment of our economy that enjoys buying and using tools made by skilled people.  I'm really glad that companies like this still exist.  

While it may have been anvil poor compared to some years, there were plenty of great anvils at great prices when I left on Saturday. I'm glad I didn't take more money or my car would have had suspension problems.

That is a great video. I don't have any Ariou files, but some others. There is another French company called Liogier that has a similar product line. I use mine when replacing saw handles and plane totes. If you do a lot of shaping wood these things are great. I shaped the saw handle below using files like they made in the video.

This was my third Quad State and first for camping. It was a really good time. I wanted to make it in by picture time but couldnt. It was good to meet some of the people that post to this forum. Thanks to Glen for the tshirts and WayneCoe for selling them. The demos I saw were very good. I hope that next year I can make it in before Friday. See you all again next year.

I'm coming Friday, hopefully before noon. This is the first time I'm camping. Hopefully I sell everything before I get there, I'm sure I'll find something new that I need.

I'm originally from Shoals. I hate when work gets in the way of fun.

I've got a couple of pairs of Centaur Forge wolf's jaw tongs.  I like them a lot.  Where in southern Indiana are you from?  There is probably somebody at one of the Indiana Blacksmithing association groups that has some different kinds you could try, depending on when you need them. http://indianablacksmithing.org/satellite.html .  

Mine is a Bailey's no 4 from the Illinois Iron and Bolt co. I was going to paint it, but I have too many other projects going on. I was wanting a smaller one, but none of the ones that I've found were complete. This one is 150 lbs. I just got this mounted today, so hopefully I can take it for a test drive this week.

Jacob, you should look up the value of that drill. Those small bench drill presses can bring a lot more than $15.  Yours looks like it's in super condition.

Even more impressive doing it alone. Great job. 

That is a really good looking hammer. Nice job. Did you have a striker or do it all yourself?

January 1902 pg 19

Whoops. http://www.google.com/patents/US699585

I saw an ad in blacksmith and wheelwright magazine on google also.

There was a vise like that for sale on eBay a few years ago. The patent is,http://www.google.com/patents/US699585.
I have seen some advertisements in some of the older trade journals available on Google books. I think it was in a blacksmith and wheelwright.

What kind of finish did you use on it?

I recently made rough looking split cross for one of my friends.  Another friend said he wanted a cross too.  So, after failing to make a nice looking split cross, I just welded two pieces of flat stock together.  They both seemed to like them, even though I was short on time and they turned out pretty rough.

I agree on communicating beforehand. Telling them what you want to accomplish while the metal is heating can reinforce stuff you've already gone over too. I've had people with no experience strike for me and some more experienced. We have several hammers for striking, the new people always seem to choose the smallest available. 

My girlfriend and I made this little hammer. This was her first time doing anything like this.

The website www.roseantiquetools.com, has downloadable catalogs and manuals from various companies. There are two from the Atkins company, the anvil is listed on pg. 77 of the catalog. They also list a forge on pg. 82. Anyone interested in antique tools should take a look.

I started out using a similar piece of rr track. I still use it for a bench anvil. I've straightened and tensioned a few saws on it. The small size makes it convenient to move to and from the bench.

I found a picture of one of these in Town-Country Old Tools on pg. 152. They refer to it as a key filer's vise.

Thank you. I made the chimney for a champion 401 forge. We've since used it on a couple of larger forges. It's no where near perfect, but it keeps the majority of smoke going up and away. It also really helps with heat in the summer. Luckily the far shot hides the wire joinery used to hold it together.

I cut all of the pieces to length, tried to taper them roughly the same, turn the points the same, and the bent them around the same jig. I tried to view it as a manufacturing process, rather than completing each link separately.
Thanks for the comments. Like I said I totally copied it from someone else, so I had an idea of what the end product would look like.