brucegodlesky

Welcome to IFI Dave.
I'm in s Armstrong County.

I was looking for a blueprint on how to forge one but didn't see, unless it may be called something else. Anyone know?

Those trips aren't fun Steve. Glad you're able to talk about it.
Save them staples in a container where you can see them as areminder to BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!!!

A good place to watch , in this current day and age , is for some of the car dealerships that have been in business forever and have now been closed by the manufacturers.
I've bought several out of closed / auctioned dealerships. After all, before they sold cars, they sold wagons.

Nice job Finnr. Can't be wastin' that stuff :-)

I've read that putting clogged rusty files in acid will not only clean them but also sharpen them. Any fact there?
I know I get some dandy sharp edges when etching damascaus blades.
Thanks bruce

Anyone ever gone there??
i'm looking for any additional info about Fairbanks/Dupont/United hammers that isn't commonly available. What limited mateerial out there has been gleaned from Doug Freunds book, info from Sid Sudemeir and a few other sources.
Ther USNavy had probably hundreds of these hammers in shops and in shipboard workshops. I figger there has to be detailed records, specs, etc. somewhere in the archives.
Any ideas?? Thanks bruce/birdogforge

Here's a cable hawk I finally got around to finishing.
16" curley maple handle, head is 5 1/2" long. 1 3/8" at the edge.
copper nails and brass wrap at handle.
Thanks for lookin'! bruce

Nice start RRavan
Next time , I would go with a little higher carbon mix.
Pretty neat when see that pattern come out for the first time, eh??

Tranny fluid and heat for me.

After you've twisted a section 2 or 3 times, you should be able to feel it go solid. Then it's time to go to the anvil/swedge.

Once you have the ends welded, untwist a little , reheat wirebrush and twist again. You'll see if it isn't clean.
In lieu of a swedgeblock, weld a piece of flat steel to the outside corner of a piece of angle. Chuck that into yer vise. Better than nothing.
It almost sounds (to me) that you aren't getting enuff material hot at one time. I weld about 6-7 inches of cable at a time. Then overlap the weld. 6 inches then 5 inches making sure there is no soft spot in between.

As for the 52inchers, check for a name and ID #. Sometimes you can speak with someone from Simonds who isn't a jerk and find out the chemical profile.
The last 2 I got were 1080 plus 2% Ni.
These are great for making any kind of knives plus give a great contrast in pw billets. Pretty tough stuff it is. I also use it in everything I send to the sandbox. JMo bruce/birdog

Jump in with both feet

15N20 would be my guess, as long as we're guessing.

Keykeeper, ya mean a handheld (or powerhammer ) tool for drawing?
I thought that at first but has a regular hammer handle unlike the handles on my punches.
Hmm, reckon I better do some homework:-)

Visited an estate sale yesterday. Reckon no blacksmiths had been there yet :-)
This is a virtually unused D. Maydole hammer. I suppose its a cross peen. Odd shape. Google search says circa 1920.

Very nice John! That stuff lying on a bear rug or a labrador?

Congrats Mike!!!
37 for me
13 with the first
24 , this fall coming, with the second.
beena heckuva ride (BOG)

I didn't think there were any more HayBuddens left in Allegheny County (BOG)

1 Fairbanks A hammer
2 Turner Turret drill press

Dave my arm hurts thinking about it

I did the test this morning on my Fairbanks A (50#)
The 5 hit test was 11/16" 0.6875
the 10 hit test was9/16" 0.5625

Coupla things....
I electric weld my ends, keeps things together easierSome guys wire the ends and forge weld them first to keep things all neat and together. .Once I bring the piece up to red, a whack it a few times on the anvil. All that crud and corruption inside will come out. After doing this several times, I flux and whack it again. Then flux and begin the welding sequence.
Some fellas take the cable apart, like Chad said, and scrub it to remove the crud. If you do that, some folks then soak the cable in a water/borax mix, drying repeatedly.
I find I get better welds by doing the hammer and turn as Chad described. Tightens everything up really well.
Just make sure you bring it to welding heat everytime.
Dr Jim has a really great chapter on welding cable in his pattern welding book

You have overcome the biggest obstacle. You got out there, found some tools, made a fire and beat the snot outta some metal. You found it was fun. The next step is to aquire some knowledge. You come to the right place for that :-)
You can't imagine how many come here, ask a million questions and haven't even yet found a hammer or tongs or a fire.
Some guys just want to want to. Good on you and yer bro.
Now get another fire built and beat on some more metal :-) bruce