clinton

It's the final countdown, getting packed now.
See ya-all around mid-day on Wed.

I'm with jw- Heavy Metal, Slayer, Pantera, Agnostic Front, Crumbsuckers.
Or I tune in the local station that plays a bit of everything "KPIG" Freedom CA

I will be there, don't know if I will throw a brick but I will throw back a "few beers"

Right on Dave- see ya-all in 6 days

Just clean it up with a wire brush, a knotted wire wheel on a 4 inch grinder works well. I use the cupped wheel for this type of work. It looks like you have real good edges. Do not use a grinding wheel on it. I really do not see any, "Rough spots" that need "Smoothing out"

I am with Stewart on this- you need this anvil. I would question the weight, it may be a 300 lb anvil. So you tell the guy, "You have it listed at $2.50/ lb, and it is 300 lb = $750" Anvils are usually marked for weight, I see them all the time where the guy says it weighs 300 lb because it takes 3 or 4 guys to pick it up, when in fact he has a 200 lb anvil and 3 or 4 wimpy guys.

It is nice that someone added the pulley to the back that will make it easier to set up with your motor.

Hitnmiss int. their belt has worked good for me and they will do the lacing for you if needed $3.75 / foot for 3 inch wide
http://www.hitnmiss.com/index.html

bigfootnampa is right on this- I would not take the job due to the inherent liability involved

Dave- are you kidding me? "Not able to attend?" Did you bump your head? You are going to miss out on this conference? If I were you I would beg and borrow whatever it takes to get there. Ride the bus out there or hop a rail. This is a conference that no one should miss.
This is a good reason for me to get a new camera. I will try to do my best to get some video as well as still shots.
I made all my reservations when I did not even have a job. If it takes years to pay for it or I have to sell some tools or my bus to pay for it then so be it. I will be there if I still have a pulse

Hop on a bus or jump a rail if you have to, or use the thumb express. Do whatever it takes to get there

Here is the ABANA email that I recieved


Conference Update


Opening Demonstration Announcement


In furthering ABANA's goal of perpetuating the noble art of blacksmithing, by promoting blacksmithing to youth, we have added a "Youth Showcase" Demonstration to our slate of Opening Demonstrations on Wednesday evening. Alec Steele, Daniel Riffe, and Kainon Baumer make up an international striking team which will put on both an entertaining and educational show to help open our 2012 conference. This team of three teens, all exceptionally talented behind the anvil through the tutelage of Brian Brazeal, will show what they know in dramatic form.

This is a first for these three young men and for ABANA as well. Young, old, beginner, and veteran smith will all walk away from this demo with a smile on their face, new techniques in hand, and comforted by the thought that blacksmithing is staying alive in their youthful hands. Bring your family in for this demonstration. It may even inspire your own youngsters to come out to the shop, or inspire you to recruit a few enthusiastic youths in your area who want to learn blacksmithing!



ABANA is taking an active role in supporting our youth through the development of our youth membership and now in this showcase demonstration. We are focused on preserving the traditions of the blacksmith through study of the past and the preservation of future smiths in the sharing of knowledge, skills, and experience. Come and be a part of history and ABANA's future at this Opening Demonstration at the 2012 Conference.

There is no special invitation or secret handshake, just show up and get in

When welding in the field or sometimes in a shop environment you can get arc burn from a reflection or from someone welding behind you. It may or may not be severe, in either case it came from an unpredicted source.

Not me but it is a good reminder. I was going to pick up my 125 lb Bradley last Saturday and had to turn around because I forgot my camera, lucky I was only about a mile away from the house.

Let you know what?

I use Aloe for arc burns- from a plant not the canned stuff. Put it in the eye = feels like a million bucks.

Thanks ironstein- I think it was a good purchase it will take some time to get it in working order but when its done this thing will be a serious forging machine.

Those look great- did I mention it was my birthday this last week?

Ya this thing is going to take some work to get going again there are parts that have been repaired and re-made that do not look suitable or use. I will be making and repairing parts to get this hammer working but I think it will be well worth it in the end.
If anyone has a parts machine let me know. I need new rubber cushions too if anyone has some

Went to pick up the Bradley today. It needs work but for the price I paid there is more than that in scrap value. It was a good 300 mile round trip. The guy I bought the hammer from was great, had it sitting right there ready to load when I arrived. We loaded the hammer and all the parts (He was going to paint the hammer before he hurt his back) So some of the parts have been removed. I got it home and in the shop so now I can sort out what needs reapair or replacement and work on getting this hammer working again.

Ok I just did my daily search and found "Our buddy" has 4 anvils listed in the $3.50 - $4.00 a pound range. He also has a Champion 400 blower with stand listed at $325 and he was kind enough to include a special note about an ebay listing for $800 for the same item.
I also found a Fischer anvil "From Mare Island" (amazing how often that comes up) The seller says that it is around 300 pounds and takes 2 or 3 people to lift. It is clearly marked 200 he wants $750 that is $3.75 a pound it does look nice but that is way more than what I would pay.
Then there is the guy with a 50 pound anvil for $250 and he was kind enough to sand blast and powder coat the anvil- what a guy!

Ya we have a guy out here that posts on craigslist all the time. He has a collection of anvils that he is trying to sell for top dollar and he will not give any breaks for any reason. I choose not to do business with people like that.
Good deals are out there you just have to get lucky and get there before the "Hoarders"

OK thanks for the info on the electrode- I am not familiar with it (obviously)
Keep us posted I would like to see how it turns out

Welding dissimilar metals may have mixed results. I would use chromoly rod if you have some. I think hydraulic cylinders are 4140. 7018 would be my next choice of electrode it seem to do well on mixed materials