Finnr

This part of Wisconsin has a lot of low grade iron ore and a lot of bogs. As soon as I start getting around a bit better I am going out for ssome serious bog ore hunting. Just poking around a local pond I have come up with a few pounds.

I had one for a while. I thought it was pretty decent. As I remember it went to a youngster on here from the Southern part of the state. As I had a slighter heavier and in slightly better shape PW I had no reason to keep it.

Nice indeed! So how does it work? You should have had time to get a handle in it by now.

I like wood. I can shape my handles to fit my rather small hands and to accomodate my grip. Having read the articles on synthetic and steel handles did nothing to change my mind. Guess I am just a crusty old fart about some things!

Most of the hammers I have made have a peen radius about equal to a nickel and slightly flattened like Frank's hammers. I got lazy on the first and didn't fully round it like I had planned and ended up liking it that way. I have some lighter ones with sharper peens for special uses .

Last one I picked up I just squirted a bit of Marvel Mystery Oil on the threads and ran them in and out a few times . The crusty old grease wiped right off the screw and an olod milking machine brush took care of the thread box. YMMV. My vises stay inside and I usually use 30 weight oil on them. If I am using them a lot it gets replaced once a week. As I have been laid up for quite some time it's been near a year but when I went to the shop today they were peachy keen!

I had one and didn't like it. Traded it off to another smith. It's hard enough for me to stand on both legs and work. Having to keep pressure on a pedal sucked big time.

Here I have run across several 5 inch vises in the 55 to 60 dollar range. Most run closer to a hundred though. I got lucky on the last couple.

Glad I live in the outer boonies! Haven't mowed all summer and don't plan to. Hard enough walking down to the mailbox right now. To get back to the original subject. My demo vise is mounted on an old Chevy wheel. I welded a section of three inch pipe to one side and the peg sits in one of the lug holes. Easily rolled to where ever I want. A couple of rebar pegs lock it down when in use outside.

My first anvil was RR track topped by a chunk of busted truck spring I found on the road. Worked great for a good while. I gave it to a friend's son when I graduated to a larger one. As far as I know it's still in use. Get what you can afford and then watch closely for a way to upgrade.

SWEET! Fisher with it's cast iron body will not have a real ring. Some love that . Some want to hear the anvil ring. In either case you scored a fine tool! Give it a good brushing and make use of it. If the pitting isn't too deep then just have at it!. Off hand I don't know the thickness of the face on these but taking any off unless you must is always a bad idea.

My first anvil was a piece of RR track cut to general anvil shape with a piece of truck spring welded on for a decent face. That one worked well for a while coming in around 35 pounds. Next I got one of the infamous Russian anvils that are no longer imported. That served until I got a 127 pound PW. Ivan ( the Russian anvil) is now being used with some pretty good success by a student of mine. Now I am keeping an eye open for at least a 150 pound anvil. HB if I can score one. All being said. Get the best that you can afford in the heaviest weight you can get for the cash yopu have available. Dad alwasy told me as a lad, buy the very best you can afford and then you don't have to replace it right away.

Looks great!

Got you covered here Scott!

Actually Watson was born in 1917. The first publication of the book was in 1968. Not a bad book , but not the most accurate either. It is a very good read though.

Real good to be back! Hope to contribute at least a bit.

Welcome aboard!

You can always cast pewter in place and shape it to your liking.

Looking real good there Jim! A nice change from the crowbar look.

Hey Jimmy Great to hear that things are working out!

Hi fellas. I've been laid up a bit and haven't posted or chatted in ages. I'm back to give Y'all more grief! It's great to be back home.

Super demo Dave. I am a hammer bouncer too. I find it keeps my rhythm going .

Super news Ian! Been a bit out of the loop here and am trying to catch up. You have worked hard for this!! GOOD SHOW! Finnr

I have the four in one edition that came out a few years back. In fact i have gotten three copies to date. One for myself one for a buddy and one for A friend of my daughters. Great old time infor ! Fun reading but EXTREMELY dated. Even so I would say if you find it grab it! Finnr