Finnr

He's got my thoughts and prayers for sure.
Finnr

That's insane! I bought a 115# PW and a 124# Wilkinson today for three hundred for the pair. I don't need an anvil shaped watch fob at that price!
Finnr

I just wire brush stuff, make it clean ans usable and oil the metal lightly. The top tools you can re handle with seconds, no need for wedges. that big by large drill may be a keeper. I use mine all the time.

For serious rust , there is a BP on using electricity to remove it that works slick!
Finnr

Good to have you here. Learning by doing is great!! Also connect with your local guild or club, those guys are a great fund of information, and from my experience darn nice guys as well.
Finnr

What? Sweet Lil Ole me?
Finnr

Tap when hammering and when I enter the shop
Finnr

A Blacksmithing Primer
Randy Mc Daniel
ISBN 0-9662589-1-6

I found this to be an excellent book for a starting or intermediate smith. The illustrations in the book are clear simple Auto-CAD and Tutbo-CAD drawings. The information my McDaniel imparts is clear and complete with a great sense of humor. I would highly recommend this book to anyone starting out in smithing or teaching others the craft.

Finnr

I will be thinking of you for sure. Prayers go with you Duck.
Finnr

Polish the high spots, mount it on a slab of walnut, put a name on it and sell it for big bucks. Seriously it ROCKS!!
Finnr

The rubbing looks to be 0-3-23 that should give you a weight of 107 pounds
Finnr

They have been in my thoughts and prayers since I first heard about the accident. They will remain so until I hear one way or the other how things work out.
Finnr

Both those illuminations are new to me. I am only familiar with the double bellows being used by an apprentice while the master forges. But then My time period is closer to the Mastermyr period. I do tenth century Norse.
Finnr

I am not aware of grinding wheels ever containing anything of that nature. Grinding dust is nasty and a dust mask won't do you any harm. My worry with old wheels would be cracks that do not show. Hang one on a screwdriver blade and give it a tap. It should have a clear ring. Thud probably means a cracked wheel.
Finnr

Royal Oak makes lump and in this ares Cowboy lump is common. The better of the two is by all means Cowboy. Royal Oak has LOTS more fleas and fireflies.
Finnr

Hmm, that's a whole lot like my habit of ringing the anvil to keep my rythm as I turn stock. Drives my non ringing buddies NUTS!
Finnr

I like the horn to the left. I just always have had it that way. Can't even say why.
Finnr

A wad of crumpled newspaper of handful of shavings and you should be up and running.
Finnr

It's EXACTLY the same as my cheap nasty soft faced HF anvil. The one I paid a heck of a lot less for at the HF store.
Finnr

Right now I am in the process of hauling foundation material , one rock at a time for my new shop. 16x 24 one coal forge, one gasser in the plans so far . One wood stove. Gets nippy here in WI. Room for a LG 25 hammer. Lots of bench space and a welding table . 240 for the stick welder.

Should be enough room for now and space to add on later is I need it.

Finnr

Nice Nick!!! Turned out better than the one I did based on the same hammer. Looks like it's back to the forge for me, LOL!!
Finnr

Nice set up. When I merchant at SCA events or other themed shows I cover my table with a neutral plaid I picked up as a remnant for about half a buck a yard. Sets off things real well.

Now that I will be adding a trailer to the setup I will be able to take more elaborate displays. I'll shoot pictures when I have them done.
Finnr

It all depends on what you want to make. For tongs I use mild steels. For things that need toughness more than hardness I use mid range carbon steel, and for things that need to be hard it's a decent high carbon steel. No point in making an S hook from 1095 . It just isn't required. Have fun experiment !
Finnr

right now I am doing a run of draw knives from coil spring stock. I have used files they work just dandy. Follow Jr's BP and you will do just fine.
Finnr

Real nice job Mike. Think I'll "borrow" a bit of that idea myself.
Finnr

At a recent event we did classes in S hooks and simple forged spoons. The faces of the students walking away with a thing they made with their own hands was worth more than money can buy. I love seeing the craft being passed on .
Finnr