danguite

What are those pipes you're using under the hammer? I'll be picking up my 50lb hammer this weekend hopefully and have been struggling with how to move the xxxx thing around once I get it unloaded.

Have you looked at the Controlled Hand Forging lessons from Abana? http://www.abana.org/resources/education/chf.shtml All great lessons, but you might want to look at Lesson 22.

According to AIA, 15263 would be around 1912.

What kinds of PSI are you guys using to get to welding heat? I'm using a Diamondback and I run it around 10psi and I don't think it would get a piece up to that kind of temperature. I know I have definitely not burned any steel yet, which I'd like to do just to prove to myself that it will get that hot.

How deep should the fire clay be? I assume I should make a bowl shape near the vent?

I've had a Diamondback 2 burner propane forge for the past year or so and it has been working fine for me, but recently I took a workshop with Dan Nauman and we used coal forges for everything. I think it has me hooked. I just happened to be browsing Craigslist when I came across this unit and sent off an offer which I thought would be too low, but I'd be happy to pay. Somehow my offer of $225 was good enough and I picked this up today. I noticed that there are some cracks around the air vent and was wondering what I should do about those? Should I worry about them?

I didn't want to create a whole new thread for this and since the stuff came home with me at the end, I think this will be the best spot for it. This weekend I took a forging workshop with Dan Nauman of Bighorn Forge. It was a great weekend with tons of information, lots of fun, and awesome hands on teaching. We made a hook which we also learned to blacken it and wax it. We then created our own tongs( a first for me ) out of a single 14" piece of 1/2" square. After the tongs we made a cold chisel and learned to anneal and temper it.

According to Anvils In America, if the serial number is A4652 it was made in 1918. If the serial number is A4652X ( not sure if that is another number at the end or not ), then it was made in 1922. I can't really comment on the condition other than it does look a bit sloppy.

Been looking for a vise for awhile and yesterday I went to one of the local scrapyards when I came across the bed of a pickup completely filled with what looks like a blacksmith shop emptied with a bulldozer. Tongs, hardie tools, square and round stock, everything. Including this vise. I've never seen one quite like this before, it doesn't have the typical handle. Also in the picture are a couple hardie tools I grabbed.

Awesome advice. I'll have to pick up some of those sticks. If anyone needs material this size or bigger, there are two places here in central Wisconsin that have a bunch for sale at .35 to .40 a pound.

I'll be getting the anvil on Tuesday. I had a buddy tell me that before welding it I should heat the end of it. Did anyone else do this with theirs? It is 6.75" solid round.

The ram and the counterweight are listed on the parts list as being made out of lead. The plans just indicate that they should be poured into the mold. However, I don't know if I have a way to melt 38 lbs of lead at once. Can the ram being poured in layers or is it best to get the whole amount liquid before pouring?

Anyone have advice for pouring the ram and counterweight?

Awesome advice. I'll take some pictures along the way. Something I've noticed while researching this build is that people must get very excited in the middle of the build and stop taking pictures. Another question I had about the tire hammer build is how the XXX do I make the lead hammer? I can't find anything that explains how to do that part.

I've been collecting parts for a tire hammer for a couple months now and I'm just about ready to start the initial assembly. I have a Lincoln AC225 stick welder and I'm not too shabby with it and have a buddy who is also fairly good with a stick welder. I'm looking for advice on how to proceed. I've bought the plans and I'm following them exactly for sizes, etc but I'm wondering what type of rod to use and what voltage to set the welder to. Also if anyone has advice for ensuring the large peices are set and stay at 90 degree angles, etc it would be very appreciated.

If it is a Kohlswa, wouldn't it be marked with kg instead of lbs?

Picked up this Trenton this morning. 170lbs, 1" hardy, double pritchell, and a farriers clip. Very excited about it. The guy I bought it from looked up the serial number and came up with 1906 for the manufacture date. I paid a bit more than I usually would have paid, but I couldn't pass it up.

Haven't checked today. What is a good search term/location for it?

I saw this on Craigslist this morning. If I wasn't already picking up another anvil on Saturday I would have jumped on this.

Wow, those are beefy tires. I shouldn't need those unless I get really lazy with the sweeping in my shop.

I was looking at the Harbor Freight 1 ton shop crane, but was feeling cheap so I searched for a coupon. I found a coupon on eBay for $1.65 which would bring the price down to $99! I was pretty suspicious, but figured it was worth the gamble. It paid off! The seller sent me the code from the coupon and I ordered it online. So now I'll be able to join the heavy equipment ranks.

I was looking at the Harbor Freight engine hoist and might go that route. I don't NEED it, but I'm picking up a new anvil on Saturday and it would be handy to have it. I will however need something like it when I go to the scrap yard to pickup my tire hammer anvil soon. I was thinking I should be able to weld a couple tabs on it so that I can use the hoist/crane to hold it up while tacking/securing it to the base.

Since getting into blacksmithing I've been getting bigger and bigger tools and shop items which so far I've been able to manage( barely ) by myself or by waiting for a friend to come and help. Lately I've been looking at getting some significantly bigger items and I'm trying to find a good way to move them around. I've been looking at getting a shop crane. What does everyone use to move things around their shop?

Yeah, I have the plans and I'm getting the parts together, just not sure about my ability to complete the project without a fair amount of assistance.

I would love to attend, but getting it home would be a bit much. Someone needs to do one of these in/near Wisconsin!