Bluesman5656

Thanks. It looks like it would be very useful to bend or shape roundstock for sure. Probably beats the heck out of my method of just heating it and either bending it by hand or with vise and pliars for certain.

What exactly is that thing? It looks like it could be used as a die or something to shape metal but is that what it is in actuality or would it just be good for that? Sorry if I sound ignorant, but my smithing knowledge is definitely in its infancy stage.

I beleive it is the box that is stripped because just looking at the screw it looks fine. I wll try to post some pics of it if I can figure out how. Located in Petal, MS. Pete, I may try to get up with you Saturday but I have to make sure I'm not having to work first. I am starting another job Thurs and don't know what my work schedule will be yet. Having to take on a second one in order to keep the wolves away.

I'm an ag teacher and we have a post vise in the shop that we have used for years. As everyone knows highschool kids can tear up an anvil with a rubber mallet. With that being said, one of my estudious pupils last year thought it would be a good idea to see if he could "crush" a piece of a 2 x 4 in it while myself and the other teacher were busy helping some other students on a trailer build we were working on. So, the youngin puts the wood in vise and tightens it as tight as he can get it and then gets one of his buddies to help him "torque" it. Well, it appears it stripped the vise. I wasn't aware anything was wrong until I tried to use the daggum thing the next day and couldn't get it to tighten. When I checked the jaws they just fell open. I have looked on it to try to find a brand or something so I would know where to start researching to find information as to whether it can be repaired or not but haven't had any luck and don't really know where to start. Any advice on the vise would be greatly appreciated. thanks

That looks spectacular! I'm impressed!

Thanks for the welcome guys. I am looking forward to learning as much as I can to add to my other metal working abilities. I have been doing some metal art and think learning some blacksmithing techniques would help me expand what I have to offer. Stuff I've been doing has been things like horseshoe sculptures (Some of which are what you would call "functional art" because they serve a purpose other than just being pretty to look at), freehand plasma art, and yard art. I haven't done a whole lot as of yet because I have very limited time to work on my own projects because I'm a full time ag teacher and between that and being a daddy, my time is stretched thin. Youngins are expensive to maintain. :)

Stumbled across this forum this morning looking for information on making a steel basket to use as a handle on a smoker build project I'm working on. I don't have any experience at all in forging other than heating some metal up with a oxy-acetyl torch to get a bend to make hinges and such. I'm an Agriculture teacher and have been welding for years (well sorta) but had to get some "formal" learning in order to teach a different type class when my program changed. That is when I found my niche and natural ability that if I had known was lurking inside of me all these years I would have pursued it from an earlier age. Prior to actually getting some quality instruction and guidance my welds were GORILLA welds (ugly but stron) but now I'm pretty dang good and have been working on numerous projects, however I know I still have lots to learn and try to learn as much as I can when I can. I've been interested in b'smithin for quite a while (actually think I may have signed up on this forum a few years back and forgot the password and couldn't log back in) and have watched with amazement at craft shows, the Ag and Forestry Museum, and RFD TV programs. I would like very much to learn this art and add it to my list of "hobbies." I would say that I'm truly a "newbie" but am very eager to learn hope there is a smith or two that is close enough in proximity to me that I can visit and watch to learn. I would like to build my own forge unless I could find one that is within my current budget constraints and would definitely be open to suggestions from anyone wishing to give input. I know that some tools and such that are required to do this thing right are rather pricey but I'm not above using homemade or used equipment. Looking forward to obtaining as much knowledge as I can from you guys. :)