CurlyGeorge

LOL. Dave and Bryan, I was thinking exactly the same thing, when I read the topic. :D :ph34r:

OK. Santa finally gave up her source. :) She got it from a place called "Bits And Pieces", on line. Here's the link to the cast iron banks page. But I just looked and didn't find the blacksmith. http://www.bitsandpieces.com/cast-iron-novelty-banks/c/43/ipp/5000/t/c/sb/4/action/showall/ If you want to give them a call to see if they still have some, here's a toll free phone number: 866-503-6395. I hope this helps.

My new retirement fund. Santa brought me a cast iron blacksmith bank. Put a coin in the slot on top of the anvil, push down on the button and he hammers the coin into the bank. :D

If your anvil was made by Trenton, Anvils In America shows that serial # from 1915. :)

WOW!!! That's a GREAT score. Congrats. :)

John, that is a beauty!!! If that guy doesn't pick it up soon, I'd let him know that you are going to sell it.

According to AIA it was born in 1909. Happy Thanksgiving. :)

I agree with Big D. I have one of the Harbour Freight saws that the link shows, and have used it for several years. I have cut a 3" round shaft and 2"X2" square stock and they cut pretty square. For the money that I paid for it, it has paid for it's self time and again. It has a small table that comes with it and can be mounted with the saw in the vertical position and, with a couple of washers to shim it up on one side, it works great that way too. Of course, it is not American made. But that was all that I could afford, at the time. :)

Yep. That's what AIA says. :)

Are these eating utensils, or serving utensils? I make my eating spoons from 5/16" square stock. Fold the dish end back onto itself and faggot weld it. This doubles the mass and you can them flatten, draw and swage the dish. On serving spoons, I use 1/4" square stock for the handle and 18ga sheet for the dish. Then I use 1/8" diameter rivets to attach the dish and handle. Works very well and is sturdy, too. Hope this helps. :)

No, but saw an old power hammer on American Pickers, last night. :)

Good job, Keith. Get their interest while they are young. Like Sam said, Spending quality time with them is priceless. :)

Very well said, Grizzer. I agree with your statement. :)

A friend showed me a tool that they found amongst his dad's tools in his shop, while cleaning it out, and they have no idea what it is. His dad has passed away. So they can't ask him. we had a couple of ideas. But don't know for sure. So I thought that surely someone on here would recognize it and know what it is/was used for. Anyway, here's the pics. I hope that they are clear enough to get a good look. Thanks.

Kathy and I are praying for everyone out east to come through this storm in good health. We hope that all will be safe.

That's a nice looking forge, John. Built in traditional lay out style and looks very sturdy. Good luck with it during the demo. Thanks for sharing. :)

Can you forge the ball in the center and the wings on the sides, all from one piece? That way you could keep it solid and no small weld areas. Just a thought.

Prayers from Illinois, Jimmy. She's in a better place with no more pain and suffering. For that we need to be thankful. George

Nice looking hammers, RT. I need to get one of the doghead hammers, some day. Good job. :)

Both serial number are shown as from 1943-April 1945 in Anvils In America. :)

That looks pretty cool. Nice work. Thanks for sharing. :)

I had two of them that are 2" thick and I used them for the base of my tire hammer. :)

Cut a short piece of the pipe and then cut the pipe open. If it's galvanize, DO NOT FORGE WITH IT!!!!!

Yep. Just plain wrought iron. I started with a 1"X1" square bar. On the second one I drew it down to 3/8" square and cut it 8" long. Then forged to shape. Thomas Powers suggested trying to etch the complete opener instead of just the blade, like I did on the first one. I like the results. I have a demo/camp coming up in a couple of weeks and I plan on having several of these made up and etched ahead of time. We'll see how well they sell. :)

OK Thomas. I finally had the chance to forge another letter opener from the wrought iron and I etched it, including the handle. I like it. I etched it for two hours. Then, after neutralizing and wiping dry, I oiled it down with mineral oil. Then wiped off the oil. Here's a few pics of how it turned out. I had trouble keeping the glare down. And YES Stan, I did have my hat on!! :ph34r: :lol: