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Nice. Neat. Shop. I like the outside looks of it. The little porch is cool. I'd love to reclaim a old bark made outta logs. And set back up on my place to set up my coal forges and have pea gravel in the floor. That concrete in my shop now. Sure tales a toll on me after a while nowdays. Plus I. Store my fishing boat and decoys in there top. So gotta keep stuff covered up. Its 30x48. But no matter what. I'd fill it up with stuff.
I'm picky anyway. And think I'm gonna add on To one side down the length of my shop. And move all my blacksmith out there. To stand on pea gravel and save my back. And keep all that grinding dust off my hunting and fishing stuff. While being attached So my welders and band saws can stay in the insulated shop until I need them.
Hard To have all Your hobbies under one roof. And not Cause problems between
Grinding dust has a way of getting into things you Don't want.

But you've built a nice shop there. Doesn't look like a shanty. My wife worries I will eventually build sheds all over the place around here. She don't want to look out and see that. Her daddy was that type Guy. Sheds thrown up all around their old house. She thought it looked junkie. Lol.
But I'm gonna show her yours and prove that a nice shop can Be pleasing To the eye.

Thanks for sharing. Good luck with the rest

I have. My great grandaddys BLACK JACK. Anvil.
It was made and sold thru keen kutter.
Hay Budden made these anvils for them To market thru their catalogs. That's probably why the lettering is not so prevailate. They left It up To whoever To label them.
There are some catalogs online That show the prices of the anvils under the keen kutter brand name. But its a old anvil. And below the black Jack USA stamp. Mine says. Solid wrought iron
But its a Good anvil. No doubt. But mine has been in the family over a 100 Years. So its a working heirloom to me.

If anyone ask what kind You have. And you want to simplify it for them. Just say it's a HB and be done with it.
That's if you care about that type stuff. Some have anvil envy and drop names of What They have. You got a fine anvil. Enjoy it

All great advice from.everyone.
If you Can't find a anvil in due time. Find a piece of railroad track. A few Tongs to start out with. You can find some at flea markets with no trouble. Of course a fire source. Beat thing to do is get the word out that you are in the biz and are looking for somebstuff. My aunt is also a blacksmith too. And she's 67 now. Of course She had some breaks in service. Lol

But most fellers will gladly help you find something to make a anvil put of. And help load it too.
Just put the word out in Your area. You Never know who has what or knows of someone. There will be plenty of folks saying.
" I wish I knew about you wanting to do that stuff " I just saw this the other day or just sold some things that they would've been Glad to give you
I have most everything. You never have everything but I tell everyone I'm hunting anything, post vices. Hammers. A layout table, whatever you can think of. And you Might. Have to start out on some Juno in the beginning. Just do What you can. Scarp hunt. Find grader blades, saws, etc

Pick up coil or leaf springs at body shops. Ask then to save Then for You.
You'll have to build up slowly to have quality stuff. But that shouldn't stop you from moving metal. If only for practice, learn how to face or dress your hammers. Be a opportunist, grab up rail spikes. ,gravel truck parts that are being thrown away.

Research all you can. There are several great books on Google for free. To read.

I thought the Backyard Blacksmith by loriel Sims. ?? Not sure on here name. But she made a Good book that anyone xak follow. But its better hopefully for what your wanting to do maybe?

You've made a Good choice by coming here. Amazing set of folks that are all willing to help

A trick I showed my apprentice, was to get some copper piping. And bit it in half long ways. And go to town on It. I use copper alot to accent my frames or make leaves out of. Some Eben say use modeling clay to learn how to draw the material around using different grips and direction on the swings too.

You can make alot with no fire or anvil. To keep. You going and progressing. Its like playing a guitar. It will always have more to teach you. Learn What different car parts are better To make certain tools or pieces out of. Check the stickeys on here prior to posting your questions. It will help get you better answers. God bless

I too, saw that mythbusters episode when They hit those hammer together, face to face. And They were really hitting alot harder than I ever could. It's still scary to do. But I've been hurt more from a nail head breaking off and flying back into me. Had That several times. Which is a Easing hammer I used And of course the nail head was made out of softer material.
But When I was 17 and had a die scatter on me while using a ironworker piranha punch press. The chip flew off and went thru my chin, up thru my bottom teeth and sheared them off at the gum line. 15 stitches on the inside and 20 on thr out. My lip was held together by a little piece of skin. Now my beard grows white hair over the scar.
The moral being : I was super lucky. It was under 125 toms of pressure and I saw 3 Sparks and was then spitting teeth out over the shop floor.
Had It hit me in the eye it would've gone like a bullet To my brain. I wasn't wearing any safety glasses. Either. So I've Bern super careful about my eyes ever since. And I've been a Boilermaker for 26 years next month.
I'm terrified of loosing my eyes. And in my career. I've had multiple chances to lose them both so easily.
So anyone attempting To do any work. Please wear the proper Z-87 glasses. It only takes a split second and You could be screwed for the rest of Your life. No one wants that.
I think of that day. Everyday. I keep the die too. So no one else would try to use it. It had been cut down. And I didn't know it.
But I was blessed to have kept my eyes this long. With wire wheels on grinders being used in the boiler around me and flying wires popping me in the face from 50 foot away. I'm scared of those wire wheels. We holler " power wheel, coming on! So in case someone around Might not have their glasses on at That moment. Cause its Such a hot job that someone is always wiping sweat or cleaning their glasses. I Don't want to lose my eyes. Much worse. Be the cause of someone else losing theirs.

So Please. No matter What anyone believes. About tempering or whatever. Always wear Your glasses. I wear them and a clear face shield alot. But always my glasses.
I make my family knock befiore they open the door To my shop. Just in case.
Its my worst fear. And they make some Good glasses That a man can wear all day without any issues. Actually some are better to wear than my sunglasses at home. They came a long way over the years. So no excuses. !!!
And I've enjoyed reading all yalls post on This subject. Very much. Alot of Good info.

Would a shot of bleach work as well or pine soil? ?

Even. Turpentine?
Cause I live on the Tennessee river and sure I've added to the problem, by not decon my slack bucket.
Guess anything would work. I'm sure Copenhagen spit ain't working as good as my guest think. They like to spit in a wooden barrel full of water. Once I told them not to. Lol
They do it to aggravate me. On it. Till I steam It up while they are fixing to spit again. That usually stops that little game.
But, I thought about using those disc. Hard for me to tell from where I live. But mines inside a big shop. That remains closed up unless I'm out there.

Sorry for the rambling.

@ Kael
If your referring to my suggestion on books. Look up mark aspery. He has two volumes out. One is all about making Your own tooling. They are expensive but you'll never out grow them.
Can't recall the names of them. Search and it'll be the first thing up.
But they cover it all. Look on the book review portion on here.
And view the blueprint section too. Good ideas and instruction For anyone.

I've worked in construction all my life. And above all. Please. Please. Find you the proper eye protection and keep them on. You can't imagine the dangers from just being in the shop or around any hot or cold steel.
Make that your first priority above all. Ear plugs are great. And When you get used to putting those two thing on before even starting. You'll Be the better for It.
We gotta wear safety glasses at work And they get foggy and they get sweat on them but you'll get in the habit That you want feel right without those ittems on. Buy extra For vistors or helpers.
They make better glasses and plugs now that are really comfortable.
As far as getting started. You've done yourself a good service by getting on this site.
You may not be able to do this now. But I can't recommend mark asperys books enough. Until you could buy those. Definitely go to his YouTube site. Their are many others. But you gotta make your tools to do alot of things. And he's about as good as it gets on inspiring future smiths.

But read alot on body position. Its easier to learn good work practices rather than hurt yourself and try to undo that damage.
Most will wanna hammer away immediately. Which is great. But you need to start out safely and. Correctly. Or you Might end up in the way alot of us older guys on here are. Sore everything.

But seriously. Eye protection. Scale will find a eyeball from across the room and a gust of wind will blow grinding dust right in them too.
I've had more stuff in my eyes and Had to have alot of rust rings cut out of them. So hang your glasses between you and the anvil. So you gotta put them on When you walk in.

This is coming from someone That has pushed crews at work For the last twenty years and have to remind the guys all the time about their glasses. Cause its so hot there. But hate to nag anyone. But want everyone to see their kids or grandkids.
Just start our with good safe practices. And read all you can. And watch out for yourself and everyone else , while using a wire power wheel on a grinder. We always holler " POWERWHEE,COMING ON. Just in case someone has their glasses off. That is my worst fear ,losing a eye. I Don't even fish without glasses. So be careful. And good luck with everything.
Enjoyed the replies.

Very true. Something to think about for sure
I laughed last night When a comedian ,showing a picture of bin laden house.
That the media stop calling it a Mansion.

God bless America.

Any tool you gotta make to do a job like a half inch swage, should have a percentage of the time/material cost of the tool added to the work/job

Its just like a auto mechanic. , they Might have to buy a tool to work on a certain car. And That tool was or will be needed on other cars later. So you can't forget yourself on that stuff.
After making a tool like that to do a certain job, but one that will save you time and Money later on future projects. When you don't drop the price, cause your faster with the tool, now.
Well point is. Then Your actually charging the next Guy for the tool too.

Did That make sense? ??
You know what I'm saying. Any tool will pay divedends. If not tgw customer will have to pay for the tool to do That job, if its a tool That Can't be used on future projects. Which there ain't many you want use again. I make up reasons to use It. Even if I am just playing around.

Bare with me on my chatter. Lol.
I high rpm. Low IQ.

Not suggesting this for a filter. But the local shell divers on the river use This and they survive.
Route the air out of the compressor thru a piece of say 3"-4" with a cap on each end. Inside this three foot long piece or maybe four foot long.
They used kotex pads and aquarium charcoal.
Of course with the caps reduced to you air line size And by placing the kotex and charcoal inside. They survived. Until they started making oil free compressors.

So this is just what I seen done. And It was what most did while diving For mussel shells. Sure there are better things now. Check grangier or someplace. Cause oil air is not that good on you.
Be careful whatever you do.

Sorry, Rich Hale. I didn't see Your post before writing mine. On the pro pole. , bicycle seat.
They also make them that the seat Can't Be adjusted to lean basically on a 45* angleso you ain't gotta bend your knees as much to get up.
I know They are a life saver while in tournaments or just fishing in general. I let mine go when I sold my bass boat and whole out the other day on the river. Was wore out quickly, due to not having it. I Never would set completly on it. Just lean with it in the small of my back or hang a Ham off it.
Anything to get all your weight off will help. You can make everything And then Just buy the seat. I would suggest the piston adjustable type ones. They travel 6"-10" or more. To fit your back for leaning or When you actually need To set on it.


But didn't mean to copy rick hales post basically.

What. About using a pro pole. Its the bicycle looking seats that are in bass boat. Mine Had a adjustable piston They raises or lowers You quite a bit.
They are made for leaning on or just lower it to sit. I too. Can't stand over a few minutes. Due to a injury.
They also have boom swing arm for the seat. They mount with a pin on the end of the pole. That is Just a 3/4 hole in a plate you bolt to the floor.
This would help Cause When not needed. You can push it outta the way or just pull the whole post And seat outta the plate in the floor that will remain flat.
Look in bass pro shop or cabelas catalogs. To see what I mean ..I know they helper me. And its solid too. But not a lot of money and can adjust the height with a lever under It. Like a office chair.

Hope you get some help. And maybe my idea could help you. I made everything for mine except the seat. Check.it out.

Pandtol or panadorl clips.
There was a post on here that had the exact name and picture of them. Forgive my spelling.

Sorry For my poor spelling. Its this phone

I'm like Winston said. I noticed that move about making two then make two more then Welsh one to connect them all.
Pretty smart move. Its the little things Like that I miss. On my own.
I. Would've done one then one then one. And wrestled a whole gob of chain the whole time.
But Its the little things That male the difference.
Thanks for the video and the method.
Great job for only six weeks into it. I've been doing it more than half my life. And would've Done It one at a time.
Jeep upnthe good work. Ain't no telling What you be making in a year from now.
Thanks for the post

Congratulations, that amazing. I know it made you happy as all get out

Wish I could find deals like That.

Good luck with it and we'll be looking for your pictures of all the good things you will make on it.

Your a lucky man.
like to hear good people getting good things. The freight sticker still on it is funny. Again. Congrats.

Is This movie gonna come out in theaters????
I don't keep up with things. We Don't have any theaters in my town or county.
Only 200+ in my town. So internet and TV is only chance I get to hear of such.
But wouldn't mind seeing a movie about old Thor.

So it was found in England? ??
Someone should Be able to tell you the maker. It shouldn't narrow it down being in England. Wouldn't think many anvils would've came from the US.
Tell us When you find out the maker. Very cool bicks on there. Great find.

Great photos. Thanks For sharing. A man can learn alot just by looking at those. @

Okay. I found That can of penetrate.
Its called. FREE ALL.
It really is a good product. I've used kroil all my life. At work And home. And I do believe this stuff is better. It seems to act alot faster. And I'm a professional Kroil user. Gallons of it. And I'm gonna see If the plant will order some of this stuff.
.
..sorry I talked about it and didn't know the name. But found the can in my truck.And just thought I pass It along as to how well It works.

No its not kroil. That's are drug of choice at work. Has been since TVA started I guess. There's can laying around like beer cans after a party.

Which I use Kroil daily at work. Its free So we drowned stuff. And its great. But this other stuff seems a little better. Just used it other day. I'll figure out the name of It. Just as soon as my son tells me where he set It down.
I know its FREE. Something. Came from Kenworth dealer. They sell it. I do know it was made in Ohio I think. Kroil is made in Nashville. Or it was.
I was just passing it along. Cause it really worked for me. Don't smell bad either. Thought folks might.try it sometime. Shame I Can't find the can. Blame it on the boy. But he had It last. I'll find it And report. Sorry for the lack of info.

That's a nice bunch of pix and great narrative. Two of my favorite things on your page.
The word and blacksmithing.

Really enjoyed that format. Well put together blog. I never read peoples blogs but will revisit your again. Well done. The brass finish was nice touch.

Just picked a post vice up today. That took two guys and a large pry bar to get it to move. Either way.
Its been outside for years attached to a table. A columbian. So we pryed it open and sprayed this aerosol lube called free away or free up. Can't remember. But comes from kenworth dealer.
Buddy said it was better than pb blaster. I never saw it before today.
But after a minute it was working perfectly without taking the pivot pin out. I Just took the guts out and pushed it closed a bunch and that stuff free it up nicely.
I Just happen to stop by the garage on the way home and glad I did. Ended up with a free can of that stuff. Saved me having to take it apart any further. And above all the threads are literally perfect. Except the first half inch. Ain't sure it was ever used hardly. The Guy I got it from didn't use it Cause it was stuck closed. So I got a good deal on it.
Amazing to me how penetrates have evolved over last 25 years. I apologize for not being sure of the name of this product. I'll post up on it later.

I was born in havelock county. At cherry point. Daddy was in the Corp and stationed there. Cost was $6 To have me. But he only made $7800 in four years of service. I know this is off topic. But all I recall was the B-2 bombers rattling the house.
Always wanted to go back and look around.
Didn't mean.to hijack.your post. Sorry.

That PB BLASTER stuff is the best thing around. Or I think so. Its done what I wanted and more. I've used it at work for years. But at home is were you can't afford to have things stripped and broke.
At least at work Its nothing collectible.
Keeps us posted. I gotta tear one down myself that I bought a few weeks ago. A Buffalo no. 0. Blower that is under the table with the big gears and long wooden handle that works the ratchet on the main flywheel.
Anyone ever work on one of these. ?? Its to heavy To load alone but I'm.dying to start on it. So I'm really interested at the progress And troubleshooting on this post. Good luck.