GMoore

I am volunteering at a museum in Sandy, Oregon and we have a nice blacksmith shop display (and, quite a few smithing tools in storage).  I have taken on the task of identifying all of the smithing tools and equipment.  Included in our display and collections are a number of tongs, an anvil, two post drill presses, a forge and blower, a post vice, hammers, and a swage block.  Rather than trying to show all the photographs on these pages, it might be better, if you are interested in helping with the IDs, if I email you the photographs.  Otherwise, I could place them on these pages (approximately 75 photographs).  I am interested in the type of tool (function), the manufacturer of the tool (if known), the history of the tool type, the date(s) the items were made, and, any particular information you might know about the tools/equipment.  Any and all help will be appreciated. email removed

Looking at spending somewhere between $1000 and $1500.

I'm thinking about enlarging my welding capabilities (actually, practice would help more than new equipment, but that's no fun) and would like to add a TIG welder.  What are your collective feelings about used TIG welders?  I guess I am wondering why anyone would sell their TIG unless something is wrong with it.  Advice?

Mine is 4' by 8', with a 3/4" top, 6 square tube legs sitting on casters, and a shelf (expanded metal).  Sturdy.  Weighs about 1600#  6" post vice attached.  Rolls easily (two people).  Moved it from Colorado to Oregon.  No problem.

I am doing some volunteer work for a local museum and am trying to catalog items ion a blacksmith display.  Can anyone recommend reference materials listing and showing various smithing hammers and tongs?

I am, sort of, kind of, a smith.  I have a fairly good shop, coal and gas forges, anvils, hammers (etc.), welders (gas, MIG, ARC), power hammer, and more equipment than I have room for.  But, I would like to forge some knives.  Grinders/polishers?  Don't want to waste my time on an inferior machine (and, turn around to buy a better one down the line).  Recommendations?  Say, I am willing to spend $1,000 to $2,000.  Costs of sanding belts?  110V or 220V?  Help, please.

Looking for a floor drill press, somewhere in the $200 - $450 range.  Would prefer new, but will consider used.  Any suggestions as to brand?

I drink enough iced coffee to stay ahead of the game.

Iced coffee (I prefer McDonalds sugar free iced coffee), lots of it.  Cotton shirts and pants (Levis), boots, and welding caps.  My shop has two huge fans mounted in the rafters.  But, most of all, a shaded shop porch, under which I can sit and watch the grass grow.  I understand heat.  I grew up in West Texas and have worked in East Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, etc.  Now, I can just walk out my back door and there is the Sandy River (Oregon) - cool water from the melting snow on Mt. Hood.  If all else fails, the house is air conditioned!

I use a large wine barrel (wood).  Put a trough heater in it in the winter to keep it from freezing.  Put a BBQ grill grating on it to keep out critters (drowning).  Put a mosquito killer ring in it in the summer to stop it from becoming a "nesting" ground.  And, put up with the smell.

Don't even know if I can ask this here, but I'm off to the Northwest Blacksmith Association meeting in a couple of weeks and they have a tailgate sale.  I have a tinsmith's anvil (about 3' long) on a stand.  Good condition.  If I might ask, any hints on what I should ask for it (if that isn't against the rules).

I have an Edwards No. 10 metal shear - without the "handle."  What did the original handle look like?  Was it just a pipe?  Thanks

Near Sandy, Oregon.  Interested?

I've decided that I need a press - a hydraulic one (I would like to stay in the $1,000 range) - mainly for forge welding.  Suggestions/recommendations?

Somehow, I now own a "tinsmithing" anvil - long and skinny, "T" shaped - about 3+ feet long, on a stand.  Other than using it as a plant hanger, front porch decoration, is there any market for these, sell or trade?  I am not attached to it.  Thanks.

I've got a large box full of copper fittings (elbows, caps, tees, etc.) used for household plumbing.  Any ideas for something I can do with them?

I bought these swage blocks about 4 years ago (at an antique/junk shop in the South Dakota Black Hills.  They seem to be in excellent shape, made of good steel, and, certainly, serve my purposes).  And, I paid, only $175 for the pair.  I am no expert in the matter, but I think I got a great deal.  Opinions?

I'm confused.  I am an amateur smith (and, I have a Peter Wright - excellent condition - anvil), which I managed to buy for a very reasonable cost (thanks, David).  Now I see message after message, both here and on Facebook) talking about used anvils (almost always with defects) weighing from 80# to 150#, running from $600 to $1,000 (various brands).  But, I quick review on line shows that I can buy a TFS single horn, 200# for $1,248.  Doesn't it make sense to save one's money for a little while and buy a brand new anvil (assuming that a TFS anvil is a good one.

I'm a retired archaeologist.  My name is Gary.  There is a dart (spear) point called a Gary Point - the ugliest of the dart points, but not related to me.  So, I named my forge Gary Forge.

Can anyone tell me the color(s) of the original Champion bowers?

Recommendations for leaf spring steel for knife making?

Already have built a vertical quench tank, but am looking to build a smaller, horizontal tank for quenching just portions of a knife blade.  Ideas?

Looking for info. (book, video) on smithing presses.  I know next to nothing (closer to the nothing end) about presses.

Ammo can, leak proof, lid, wired down for stability, chained down for bottom weight, outside for fire prevention, deep for larger work.