macbruce

Saw this on Denver cl...........................''Very rare blacksmith bolt forming swage anvil. Has two interchangeable dies to form the shank, then form the bolt heads on the upper swage. Foot clamp to hold the dies. Very heavy, I estimate about 600lbs''.

December 3 2014.....I don't like ladders much.........I needed to replace the burned out box fan I use to push warm air down in the winter so after taking the old one down (by a different rigging) I figured placing the new one atop my bridge beam prior to screwing it in to a rafter would be a good resting place for it and to rest the ladder on.....Bridge beams are supposed to roll......Ahah!......I'll anchor it to to the 1600lb power hammer anvil awaiting further fabrication, sound logic I thought.......Trouble was I when I set the beam where I wanted it I reasoned that setting a good firm tension between the load and the chain would be a good thing.....It was not. When I got to the top and put the new fan atop the beam I noticed the beam creeping AWAY from the ladder, I utter no, NO and started DOWN!!! I had about 8'' of ladder left on the beam and about half way down away I went......I landed on squarely on the layout table....The ladder jackknifed between my hyd bender and another beefy table, wrecking the $200 ladder but breaking my fall somewhat...It's been a long nine weeks since the wreck with frequent visits to the chiropractor and medication but all in all I was lucky not to have wound up in the hospital or worse :)

Two words. Apple. Orange........If I want to cut a piece of hardened stock like and old file (un annealed) or thin tubing my choice is the chopper.......Cutting annealed tool steel for say a power hammer die the bandsaw shines and with my Roll In saw I can cut out shapes freehand.......For precise little pieces I've got a 10'' Wilton cold saw......I need em ALL but you may not.....

My bolt on dies never come loose but I use a special compound.......It's called TORQUE......No lock washers,ever,

After that 867 lb Monster you posted I was expecting something REALLY big when I clicked on ''5 foot anvil'' :lol:

Still, that's a nice one old one in very nice condition......

 

Threaded schedule 80 is the way to go. You can order say 8'' nipples easily from Mcmaster Carr, part them in the middle and then you have two 4'' threaded units that are easily tapped for your mig tip(s).............  http://www.mcmaster.com/#4550K124

The rattle can cold galvanizing paint will take a patina when treated with gun blue, presto black or any silinieum (sp) based compound used for patina and turn dark.

Have you ever put an amp meter on it while it is running under full load? After charging the tank does the motor seem warm or is it HOT to the touch?

My compressor uses a 7 hp, 3450 rpm, 240V single phase motor.

This sounds like a big box store compressor to me...... they are notoriously underpowered and not made to last. What brand/model is it?

 I have not felt any of the common effects of Metal Fume Fever,

 

Unless you BURN it, you won't. Zinc is pretty user friendly stuff and I've installed kitchen counter tops of zinc sheet, totally safe. That said, I sure wouldn't breathe fine particles of the stuff like when you buff it with scotchbrite or steel wool  for extended periods.

The worst dust I've encountered comes from bronze/brass, THAT will mess your lungs up big time and it doesn't take much. My father in law helped me once buffing/finishing silicon bronze and he refused to wear the dust masks I offered. He suffered for days but came through ok and  was a believer after that.

I've never seen the like......Perhaps a prototype that didn't go into production or what? With a guided spring arm it might be able to run fast, say 250+, maybe that's the reason for the guided spring arm? What size is it?

I'd just bolt them on as well but if you do go down this road warpage of your base plate could be an issue. 

 

Yes, this will occur. I always put a slight bend in my across my baseplates before I weld them, this will insure if it doesn't pull back flat at least there is a slight concave face down, which is far better than the reverse

You don't need 8 bolts, two (per die) will do just fine if you nix the dovetail......never mind the tool holder in the foreground.

Excellent!

Anvils are like Women, if you are desperate to find one, you're one lonely son of a so and so............

3/4'' hex what?? Why hex? I hope you don't plan on forging a taper with it, that might prove to be problematic since you can't forge a common hex with a hammer and anvil or even a power hammer without special tooling......

Looks like a small Columbian cast steel to me but those usually have a mark somewhere, mine had a decent ring to it.

That, it a very narrow brush to paint a broad question  :)  You can use something as common as ATF or power steering fluid with good results but the variety and choices are huge.......Generally if you go to the farm store or auto parts place anything labeled ''hydraulic oil'' will get the job done......

Details, details......Couldn't bear the thought of working on my knees to drill,do more welding,grinding and fit up the treadle so......I love my crane............... B)

I have no idea.......Looks like the creeper could have been Photoshopped into the original.....I like the belt coming through the wall....... B)

Another cool one......the guy on the left looks a bit dodgy though............ :unsure:

Fortunately for me Ken Zitur has already done the R&D on an old Bull Hammer so I knew the configuration would work. I've talked to Kenny allot lately and he says the little (90lb) converted Bull is a favorite of his but I couldn't feature  building something less than 150lb+ using a $1500 control.

The cylinder is a new Wolverine hydraulic from Surplus Center 3''x14'' and has been modified inside and out  but it only cost $100 compared to $ 450-$850 for a comparable aluminum  air cyl,,,,,,,,A steel air cyl would have cost even more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mbh3-xG_byA..........http%3A%2F%2Fkensiron.com%2F

 

You and me both, I was mainly just trying the single blow yesterday and it hit good and hard even with halting the ram 4-6'' above the bottom die....gentle too if I chose....... The reciprocal action has to wait until I get the foot treadle dialed in which I'm doing today. Here's some stills of the fabrication for now....... 

Been working the past few weeks on a KZ controlled 200lb utility hammer, a sort of keep me busy in between jobs project hehe....groan  :P

Still lots of finish work to do......Foot treadle,welding,drilling,grinding but I tested it yesterday and it hits snappy hard. Can't wait to use it............... B)