JKindy

Sweet! Now you have a useful tool in your shop. A tool that will be used. And a connection with family lost. Life can't get much better than that!

I do have a cot, I still consider that ground camping. I camp year round so I come prepared for all sorts of weather. Thanks for the heads up though. Hopefully I can bring my son as well. We'll see though as he will be starting his fall semester at the local college on the 20th. I am really looking forward to this.

Oh yeah, I will be camping in the primitive camping area. Since there probably no trees for my hammock, I guess I'll be sleeping on the ground. Look for the Don't tread on me flag! That's where I'll be. Jeff

I'll be there! I plan on going for the whole weekend. I will probably have to take off Friday to make the trip, but I plan on being there for everything I can I can get in. I will most likely be just observing, and buying, and learning as much as possible. Jeff

That looks like a lot of fun. Nice set up you have going there as well.

That's great first! You got the talons worked out nice. Like you said proportions are next. Makes a nice chicken claw though LOL. Keep us posted on your progress. Looks like an interesting project. I just wish I could remember these things when I go to the forge!?!

Happy Birthday! Wish you many more.

Congratulations all the goodies. Especially the Daughter.

I call it! Just got a couple questions. What would shipping to 48192 Michigan cost? Do you take PayPal? Jeff

Nice video. Very well done. Thank you for sharing, I'll have to give it a try.

Prayers sent. May God give the strength to endure, peace and tranquility.

Welcome to the forums! Putting your location into your profile may prove helpful in the future. As far as your anvil, congratulations. I'm sure someone with way more knowledge than me will be along soon.

Giving the size that you want to thread would be helpful. If its under 3/4" you can hand thread with a die. Put your piece in a vice and turn the die set with the appropriate wrench. A twisting wrench with 2 handles will work too. The main thing is to start it straight. As a millwright I tap and die rod and holes all the time. Sometimes up to 1 1/4".

That looks very nice! Thanks for the inspiration.

Great job on that knife!! A credit to the maker and the teacher. Keep up th e good work, looking forward to seeing the second knife. Jeff

Dont pass it up. I am sure if you decided it was not for you, you would have no trouble getting rid of it on this or another forum. In fact tell me how much you want for it, my brother is very interested in one. You of course should make some kind of profit on procurring it. Jeff

Very good job on that! I like the shape quite a bit.

The scrap yard in Wyandotte will let you roam the yard. He has good prices for what you pick out. I did get a piece of steel for ya, just got to get it out of the plant now. Tomorrow we are changing some RR tracks in the plant. I will see if I can get the welder to cut us a couple pieces. I'll let you know. Jeff

Very nice, I like that idea. I just happen to have some keyrings laying around too. Thanks for the tip.

Hooks are very simple, quick and easy. You could probably make nough for them to take one home even. Just start with a stock as close as the finished size as possible. Square would save you time from having to square it up. Draw one end to a point, scoll the tip, couple twists and bend into hook. Fire poker is another. Marshmallow/hot dog forks. Leaves, small letter openers from some 1/2" square stock is easy, and you don't have to worry about anyone getting cut. Tent stakes with a fancy twist and a curly top. Tent stake puller, dutch oven lid lifter. Dinner bell and dinger. Here is a link to thread that may give you some more ideas and some visuals of what the look like. Demo items don't need to be intricate or hard. Quick is better. Bring some of your wares to show what can be made with some skill and patience, but show how easy some of the stuff can be. What are you taking to craft fairs this year?

The scrap yard near me usually has some on hand, I'll check for ya. I may be able to get some out of work after we change some rails next week.

The forge is surprisingly stable, right now we aren't using any stock very big. That was a concern when I built it also. I am planning on making a seperate stock roller/stand. See what you could have gone home with Chuck? LOL

Here is some stuff we made this weekend A tool rest for the forge; A leaf A drawer handle I made yesterday Some simple hooks and 2 leaves Not a lot, but I'm still working the steel. Trying to get used to what the hot metal is doing under the hammer. Building stuff out of structural steel is what I'm used to. so making stuff out of stock is a little trickier. Jeff

I'm just atrating out too, so yes. Here is a set of tongs I made, I flattened the jaws as others have suggested, they work better that way. Very simple twist method of 1/4" X 3/4" flat stock 36" long cut in half for the two pieces. coal rake, and others too as we go along. I eventually even want to forge my own hammer.

Sounds great to me! Why send the money buying it from the scrap yard when you have it available. Take the other three brake drums and make some forges to sell on Craigslist to buy some other stock for you pile and pay for your forge. Here is how I built my simple forge; I added the two half rings to help hold in the charcoal and get the fire higher in the pot. I have since added a stock rest made from 1/4" square with two tee's to rest the stock on, sticking into one of the angle legs openenings at the top next to the drum. The blower is from Grainger, $65, the gate allows you to adjust the air flow, incidently you only need it open about 3/8". it will run off my 100 watt car inverter too. The grate is from Lowes, stainless floor drain grate. It has lasted so far for 7-8 heats with no damage. Should last a long time.