SLAG

Folks, The tool may be some sort of scutching tool for masonry or rock carving tools. There are also similar ones for scutching flax. But that is not at issue here. A scutching hammer is used to knock masonry off of old bricks. It is a brick layer's tool. But that is just a guess. Take a look at this figure, https://duckduckgo.com/?q=stone+masonry+tools+pictures&t=h_&ia=images&iax=images&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fimage.slidesharecdn.com%2Fbrickmasonrytools-151127123349-lva1-app6891%2F95%2Fbrick-masonry-tools-7-638.jpg%3Fcb%3D1448627784 It shows a scutching hammer, but there are scutching tools that are also used. also look at , https://duckduckgo.com/?q=scutching+tools+pictures+images&t=h_&ia=images&iax=images&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wonkeedonkeetools.co.uk%2Fmedia%2Fwysiwyg%2FScutching-tools%2FST-1-2.jpg SLAG.

Thomas, I just noticed this 'thread', hence the delay. I am glad that you are stabilized and on the mend, and back at the forge. Hopefully your new medical crew and the transition period works for a better situation. Regards, SLAG.

C.G.L., You are welcome. Did Sam enjoy a cucumber and carrot, Christmas feast during the holiday? He deserves it. SLAG.

Mr. G.D. 2, I carried a small block of magnesium, (Mg). I got it free from, my friend, the head engineer and manager of a mine located up the Ottawa Valley. (it has since closed). They were mining dolomite, (CaMgCo3) and reducing it to magnesium by electrolysis. (Quebec province has an enormous amount of hydro electricity). I used a steel and some flint or chert to strike sparks. The magnesium ribbon or cuttings, quickly caught fire. and yields an extremely hot flame that lights almost any fuel. This was years ago, but I have seen magnesium blocks for sale in camping goods stores, recently. (magnesium ribbon is usually used to ignite thermite mixtures for spot welding.) (especially train tracks together). I hope that this entry answers your question. SLAG.

C.G.L., Folks in the Appalachian, Laurentian, and Ozark mountains, can start a fire in the soaking rain. They find a thick branch or small hunk of wood and split it. The inside wood is dry and can be used to make kindling, small sticks, and wood bits, all to make a fire.* Once a good fire is gong it will dry larger pieces of wood, (logs even), and it will burn nicely. Having char cloth will avoid all of the above effort. Indeed, we were taught, in military school to survive in the wild with as little as a good knife. With it we could make almost all the tools in order to come out of the bush alive. SLAG. * pine needles make good kindling too. Personally, I carried a small 'block' of magnesium, in my pack, to start fires.

Controlled burning does not consist, solely, of setting fires and retreating to watch the fun. The Aboriginal tribes employed elders that were highly skilled in fire setting. So did the northeast American Indians. In the latter case fire setting was done in the relatively wet spring, so the fire(s) would not spread too far nor get out of control. The former group assess the relative moisture of the brush and slash before burning. They use many other indicators to determine when fire setting will give optimal results with a minimum of damage. (enumerating many, here, is overkill to this thread). It is time for Australian, European, Canadian, and American forestry scientists to profit from their knowledge gleaned over millennia, of empirical native observation and putting into practice. They can teach us a lot that will accompan forestry research and experimentation. Just my two cents. Regards to all the i.f.i gang, SLAG,

The Aboriginals have practice controlled burning for well over 40 thousand years. It worked fine under for them. They knew the land. North American Indians did the same in at least the north-eastern part of the continent. The "green gargoyles" are besotted with earnest belief and spurious anecdote. It is apparent that most of them have never studied ecology, nor educated them selves in the subject.* Regular, small scale, controlled burning of slash at the most appropriate time of the year, eradicates fuel buildup and prevents vigorous, disastrous crown fires. The alleged balancing of fuel decomposition, without clearing of the undergrowth, is a nonsense. SLAG. * "I saw it on the net somewhere" p.s. regular controlled burning destroys more of the introduced invasive plant mass, than the native plants.

Mr. Dragon, Has cogently stated, concerning stuff "... My experience has been buy high and sell low". Aha! another person with that track record. We must be kindred soles. SLAG.

An alternative is going to a feed store. They have scales that will easily weigh an anvil. A few donuts should motivate them to weigh your anvil. SLAG.

In the interest of better Missouri - Alaska friendly relations SLAG, Industries L.L.C. will be most pleased to gift said circular saw blade to representative Hon. J. Frosty of the exalted state of Alaska. Respectfully submitted, Herr SLAG.

Folks, You can probably buy many new circular saw blades for $100. Sorry I.D. F. & C, Herr SLAG bids $5.15 for it. SLAG.

I suggest that you consider a 'cannel grind' profile for bone chopping. Cutting Knife profiles will not work as well. And they might chip or worse, shatter. Just my two cents worth. SLAG.

Mr. D-B, Welcome to I.F.I. Could you please identify FAMAGA for us? (is it an acronym or the propriety name of the vendor or manufacturer). Also, where are you located? It will help us to consider your problem and, perhaps suggest possible activity to get your product or money back. SLAG.

Mr. Powers is correct in suggesting use of creosote. I have a long soak in a water copper sulfate, (CuSO4), solution followed by a creosote application after the wood has dried. It works well but copper sulfate. But copper sulfate is difficult to obtain. Because it is a poison*. (I had to sign the poison control list when I bought it years ago) . Additionally placing about five inches of builders sand at the bottom of the hole and them hammering the post into the hole, keeps it dry. Bacteria and fungi require water to live. Wood preservation is a large subject. So I suggest reading the Wikipedia article on the subject. Try, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_preservation SLAG. * copper sulfate was used as a rat poison in Victorian days. Murderers used it too.

JHCC, Thanks for the clarification. It is appreciated. SLAG.