David Gaddis

I made one of these things last week in a hurry...so without any pictures. My version was quite long at the arm position with a bit more expanded goose neck. Man that thing would hold down the moon but it was butt ugly. So last night I went out to make a more proper replacement, It had a more pleasing shape on the gooseneck and not quite as long of working reach. It looked nice to me...but it will not hold anything! Point being, as stated by the gentleman from Missouri, the neck should be quite springy and long so that the binding in the hardy hole and tension by the springy neck ...well..it will work that way! Carry on

You will have a nice time with those guys at Fire in the Swamp. Friendly is not good enough of a word to express their hospitality and charm. Carry on

Dog-gone neat approach! carry on

And there are a bunch of those fine fellows that reside in Picayune, Ms (very close by). They do all sorts of stuff including pouring hot iron. And they are a fun bunch to be around. Carry on

Some of the blade guys in our area carry with them little trinkets or other blacksmith gifts to offer in exchange for cutoffs at cable suppliers. Some have even offered up a cable knife or two and came home with enough cable pieces to last a year or more. I know this practice will not close doors but it surely helps open them when trying to make a trade. The value of the cutoff ends at a cable place is scrap. Those guys are dealing with feet, yards, meters, etc in lengths with the added value of installing eyes on the ends. So in reality if you are paying or trading more than scrap price you are in the wrong place. Be savvy while being a good patron. Around our neck of the woods being gentlemanly goes way farther than strict business as usual. Carry on

You have presented a good directorship from the beginning to end. Perhaps your real calling in this world is in instructions on blacksmithing projects, as you pictures make great instructions. Carry on

I think you created a very good piece of equiptment, regardless of some of the negativeness expressed. In fact you have inspirred me into making some for myself and others. Perhaps they would make good items for Iron in the Hat at the club meetings. I am thinking on using 5160 about 3/4 inch thick so that it will accomodate most anvils. Carry on...............Joe

This hammer has been DIE_SECTED Carry on...and on...and on

Well...what about those half hammer face blows now? carry on

Investigate the style of hammer that Brian Brazeal has made. Many swear by it, but mostly the power and magic of the hammer is owned by the ability of the smith. Good luck Carry on

It seems you have that problem repaired. So now you can give us some more in-depth perspective about moving metal effeciently...please. Good video Brian Carry on

Try contacting Allen Kress...in the Alabama Forge Council. He did a demo with pipe and fullering. The demo was for a rat or gigantic mouse, however there exists some similarities in the drawing process. This is not an easily described project and I am cetain the process will seem to be unobtainable...until you see what Allen Kress can do with hot metal. I would be on that tomorrow morning myself if I wasn't banged up. Good luck Carry on

Do not skrimp out on the diameter of the pipe! Or the height of the pipe. The exit of the pipe must be above the roof line. The taller the pipe the more velocity it works, but there are limits (laaws of physics). Many old school people always had their chimneys 2 feet above the peaks in their roof. So, there must be something to that. Carry on

It is worth only the parts that what you have or setemental values. Ortherwise it is a doorstop.

What would it take to trade for a piece of that stuff? I sure could use a piece or two. And how much does one piece weigh? Carry on

Save up you money and not waste any more on stuff like that. When you purchase a good anvil it will become more meaningful than your first hot date. Carry on

you got a price just for the slab, with or without a hardy hole. The hardy hole is not so difficult to make, once the primary hole is established. If I were to drift a 1 inch square hardy I would start with a hole larger than 3/4 and no larger than 7/8...most assuradly less than 1inch. There is a need for an economical piece of metal such as that here...just saying. Carry on

Well those are a nice collection. Many of us would like to know what thickness of material you made the body from , as well as the fins. What ever you used, you did it with a nice appeal. Carry on

1.3 gpm and a cylinder of that dimension will seem similar to the same setup as a hydraulic hose end swaging machine. It should be good enough for you project unless you demand too much total pressure in the push. 4 in diameter and 3000 psi will give you about 37,000 pounds force. Carry on

striking anvil need not be so hard. Remember that many people nowdays do not possess the accuracy in weilding the heavy hammer as greatly experienced smiths. If one uses a hardened striking anvil and make a bad strike the next thing he may see is the high-speed hammer returning to his head. A piece of A36 can absorb all the missed hits and still hold a pretty good surface. If fact the high quality surface is not even so greatly required as much of your work will be conducted with bottom and top tools. A36 is also very easily repaired comparred to hardened steel. Think of it as a platten instead of an anvil, or other shaped plate, but the shaping will be mirrored via the tools. It seems the height and rigidity are the supreme qualities, followed with a good hardy hole that makes bottom tools intact yet removable. Do include a pritchell or two. The requirement of a very wide piece is almost non existent and may be wasteful. A thick chunk about 6 or 7 inches wide and about 13 inches long will be plenty large enough for most. And yet there can be exceptions to everything. Go ask some boiler makers or ship steel formers and they will give you plenty of exceptions to carry out their extreme work. There is not so many of those guys present on this forum. Carry on

anyone care to speculate as to how I could apply Bruce M's system on a Champion 65 Thanks carry on

Please remember that Alec weighs less than a full sack of potatoes. He also weilds that 5 pounder all day without a disgruntling rebound. His address to a striking position is even more impressive. Should he have lifted the sledge just a little off-handed then he would fall over. Many of us are appreciative to be able to watch him smith. And it is not only his strength and toughness, as he owns the ability to properly instruct those that will watch and listen. Carry on

There is little or no doubt that Alec Steele is a talented and strong smith, besides not being old enough by a long measure to buy a beer. SInce I have seen him smithing and what he can do if he wants to beat the heck out of the anvil to a hillbilly tune is okay by me. For anyone else if the dinging of the anvil bothers you then turn down the volume...remember there are more highways to travel down. It really is a matter of how one feels inside after he completes the task Carry on.

Alec that is an excellent video. But you still talk funny! Come back to Mississippi for some refreasher courses in the proper way to talk..Yall. Carry on

Brian How about pulling up one of your videos about such techniques...especially the one that shows the six-sided heads for punches. it is a real neat one. David G carry on