Dogsoldat

what dad use to use for steel handles on axes was the oval tubing from bed frames. light enough that it really didn't vibrate shaped nice to fit the the hand, and fit into most maul and axe heads with very minor tweaking

Not smithing but sledges, Had two equipment operators driving in track pins on the 322 cat loader. One was hitting the link the other the pin to keep the link from spreading. Missed blow and the one guy took it full in the chest. Knocked the wind out of him but nothing broken wonder of wonders it didn't drop him dead. A lot of thump behind even an 8lber. Especially when wielded by loggers with more brawn than brains. Things were left to us mechanics a little more after that. finesse with die griders makes thngs easier...

nice start. ever so satisfying when it all falls into place.

That is a most interesting video. Wife didn't like the idea of me building a drop hammer similiar to that, especially her powering it :)

Yep, lots of tool to file back as time goes on. I've never thought of using it that way, I'll have to pass that on to him. He's after me to make a few large bowl turning tools for his wood lathe I have a few crooked knives made from files kicking around someplace. I'm sure the transmission springs I have from the log truck would make nice chisels or gouges. little over 2 inches wide and 3/16 thick or there abouts.

I was thinking of welding in a bit, just didn't have a xxxx of a lot of time. barely got it done before he got back. you know I know better steel in the cutting edge is a must but he is very happy with it and its an occasional use at best tool. He's happy just to have something I made and show it off here and there. And thanks for the compliment

Well Dad has been after me for an adze to rough out the bottomn of his wooden bowls he has been turning. So while he took one of the kids to visit grandma I played in the shop. Tried to get more pics of all the steps. But a little to busy working to get very many I'd like to say the steel is something fancy but it started out as a 1" square of A36. Didn't harden anything spectacular as expected, but there is enough that it makes a serviceable tool. Didn't dull to soon cutting dishes in boards and blocks that were laying around. Only thing I'm not super happy about is the depth of the cheeks. Going to have to practice drawing them out. I really need to get motivated and make more better tongs. That and make a better drift. Hard to forge out the cheeks with the drift squirting out. I am assuming that a longer less tapered drift works best for forging in the eye and cheeks. Added 5 rings down each side of my vise stand tonight. Tidies things up a bit getting the tongs I have where I can use them. Bunk springs off a log truck make for super quick rings. Planning a larger hole in my bolster plate for drifting handles gotta try and clean out my camera. lens covers are not opening and closing properly now. pointed the angle grinder the wrong direction :(

llooks like a clamp from a flaring tool set. haven't seen anything to dress threads quite like that before. http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ridgid.com/ASSETS/9F672F49DF3E4A54B01B4361F7D5292B/345_Flaring_Tool_3C.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/345-Flaring-Tool&h=776&w=800&sz=45&tbnid=VAiJnd8zY3Vg0M:&tbnh=90&tbnw=93&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dflaring%2Btool%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=flaring+tool&usg=__UPzil7LBOGXV5pnvFmhjzRw6smU=&docid=mkonf9Zf9VefPM&sa=X&ei=wBnhT6eFFqfg2wWG8e3uCw&ved=0CIMBEPUBMAA&dur=1031

That 's a big old beauty. From what I can see, I think the smaller 'hardy' is actually a small stake anvil with a pritchel in it. Anyways I'm sure someone with a little more knowledge will chime in soon enough.

Nice work, You guys make it look easy. Makes me wish I had a striker or two to help out.

Thanks Thomas. It is a neat device. I had first thought it might be something railroad related, drilling holes in the end of the track or something. Dad figured drilling something out on farm equipment. Can't remember now what he had said, think it was something to do with knives on a swather Really wish I had money and room for the 5 window gmc's never mind the drill press and pedestal grinder. And the big vise just keeps niggling away at me. Just know that it's not very likely that whoever buys the place will look after it.

Went to an Estate sale today. Guess an old rancher that had lived in his shop for years passed away. Wish I could have been there for the initial shop cleanout. All sorts of good stuff being given away. Missed an anvil, guessing it was around 150lbs as the brother had said it was carried away by the guy who bought it. home job pedestal grinder $100 cool old drill press $200 beauty of a post vise. to be left as a selling feature for the shop :( wouldn't take $75 for it. screw was well greased nice and tight. 4" post vise with broken box no spring was seized up got it along with 2 scythes, rock hammer head and masons straight peen 12lb I believe for a $20 dollar bill. There is a ?5 stamped on the moveable jaw could be a 35 it's hard to tell due to dings. haven't seen any other marking yet. the crosshatching on the jaws is still quite bold. the vise was half buried in the scrap steel pile. feels good to rescue it. $800 obo for an old truck. clamp on drill, handle ratchets. might be just what I need to re-drill some holes in a logging truck bell housing aquired with vise the box is freed up just need to get some measurements and turn a new end to be welded on then just like new. So if anyone has some measurement on the total length of the box on thier 4" post vise would apprecciate it. straight peen and rock pick either a 1S or a 15 stamped on the bottom of the mounting plate. Took a buddy back because he was a little interested in the trucks. Wish I had more room. All the bits an pieces, odd's and ends were going into the scrap heap to be shipped out. cans of bits for an old brace and bit. pulleys ratcheting 20ton jack, all sorts of things old and unique. Made me sad, but can't bring it all home nor pay for it. Need some pay checks first.

Techniques of medieval armour reproductions by Price is an invaluable resource and the is another that is an online manual, Basic Armouring, A Practical introduction to armour making, by Paul Blackwell. I not sure if it is to still be found as it was a long time ago that I had printed it out.

looking on Craigslist, and this trenton pops up 31 in.long, 4in. wide, step down is 2 3/8. the feet is 13in. long and 10 in. wide and 11 1/2 in. high. anyways what would this thing weigh approximately. Looks like something I shoud have in my shop. would just have to find a way to aquire it.

With the right tabs welded on it would make a beauty of bolster plate base.

Any logging outfits in your area or commercial truck dealers? Might want to look for a bunk pin or carrot. Keeps the bunks on a log truck from turning when empty. Will look in the shop on monday, think we have one upstairs. Will try to post a pic. All it needs is the ring for the chain cut off and a shank put on. Might be a little small at somewhere around 2" dia by 8' long. But it is something to thimk about.

Making a bolster plate isn't all that hard even in 2" there is a Mark Aspery vid showing how. Makes it look super simple. Mostly it's all in the layout and drilling of the holes. Then the right chisel to dress it out. Only thing that might make it harder is if the piece of plate is hardened.

I think you will be looking for an 'ORB' fitting for that now whether it's metric or standard is the only question. http://www.goodvibesracing.com/orb_fittings.htm this is what they look like. Just the first goole link I pulled up. hope it helps

I'll assume I almost made the perfect score and ended up with 1020-1040 steel. Wrought would have been super sweet. You could be right that it is just a forging hammer. Either way, made for an interesting find. Now if I can pry myself away from other chores. Need to make some bolt tongs to hold all this new 3/4" stock I have. Thinking maybe a spearhead or three in the near future too. I'll have to go back and do some digging. But vaguely remember 1045 being used for axes. If the stuff I have hardens enough might have a few other projects to play with...

cut 2 more bits off the end, bent til broken in vice. cut thru a 1"piece of A36 round rod similiar coarse grain, but no pull out in the middle touched angle grinder to stringer, to a sliver of mild plate and A36, spark the same near as I can tell. shined one bit up toss it into the vinegar jar for a while and see what it looks like

It's not impossible that it could be wrought. Would be very cool if it is. I Don't have any Wrought around to compare spark tests with. It does harden a fair amount. Doesn't seem to be fibrous down the length of it where rusted and pitted. Though where bent/broke at cut it does pull apart a little funny. Any links handy for good ways to test that I have missed?

Little sad. A lot at the north end of town is being cleaned up as scrap. Tons of old treasures here and there. A good 2/3rds of it is nothing but scrap the rest... If only a guy could really go through it and have a place to keep it til it found a home. Did manage to pick up a bunch of 3/4" round stock that use to be bridge stringers. Think it is 1018-1020 hardens some but not enough that a file skates. Can make a heap of tongs an things now. Darned good score for $40. Made a set of tongs out of the material seem to have turned out pretty good. lots of spring in the reigns. Goofed up on the offset for the reigns when making the first half of the tongs. So the material was retasked to 2 leaves. The metallic flake silver paint sure shines them up. This is a pic of the grain as is off the stringer material. The next is after quenching in water. An old Japanese Gentleman passed away recently and his kids were cleaning up the garage. He had all sorts of goodies stuck in the corners. Kinda like vultures on a carcass down there. Found a few hammers that I needed as well as this interesting one. Anyone seen anything like it. Makes me think of cutlers hammer or maybe something to do with trueing saws? Feels nice in the hand. Would post a few more pictures, but they are not wanting to upload . At least the important ones made it.

They are quite pleasing. The bodies of the birds are very good. The scrolled base is nice to. the only thing that I find isn't quite right is the legs, not sure whether its the diameter of them or the bend is the wrong way, kinda hard to define. Either way would like to have them sitting on my mantle!

Has anyone ever tried filling in the majority of the engind cavities with concrete? Might be the best of both? Any thoughts?

Think it has to do with the amount of steel needed. As well you end up with a thinner skin of high carbon. Takes fewer sharpening to wear through it. Of course there could be other reasons, take somebody with a little more knowledge than I.