Thomas Dean

Howdy Davina! Check with Tom Clark of Ozark School of Blacksmithing in Potosi, MO. One of his instructors, Tsur Sadan, is from Isreal and is a fantastic smith as well as a Great person. I took a class from him last year and it was the best money I have spent! Tsur apprentised under Mr. Hofi. And WELCOME aboard!

Aww maaaaan, I'm with Sandpile, wanting to look and see. Oh well.

Welcome Innovational Iron! Checked out the 2 sites you listed but haven't had the time to really look at your site as of yet. but have put it in my favorites to check later! You will fill right at home here as it is much like the forum you use. Good people, good smiths. Ya can't beat it.

Sqeezplay, FYI the anvil weighs 148#. Peter Wright makes an excellent anvil, I have the little brother to your...146#. Around here a good 5" vise goes for around $75-$100. The anvil depends on condition, but usually start around $2 p/lb and can get rediculous!! Have seen some upwards of $4 p/lb. The most I have paid for one is $1.75 p/lb for my 180# Hay Budden. I would say you got a decent deal. ENJOY!

Nolano, nice anvil. As for the stand, I built a tripod style simular to the one shown in the "anvil" section here. Mine was patterned after Tom Clark's tho. I use 1 1/2"x3" 11ga tubing for legs, 3/4" steel plate with 3/4" plywood between anvil and base. I then welded 5/8" x 2" bolts to either ends of chain, drilled holes next to the feet and bolted the anvil down. I have 2 Hay Buddens, 1--180# and 1--60#. I built 2 of these stand, one for the big HB and one for a 127# Swidish made anvil of which I can't read the makers name, just 'Made in Sweden'. This type of stand allows you to get closer to the anvil also. Hollis Woolridge built a 'pyrmid' stand of concrete which added about 300# of mass to his already heavy anvil--250#er. He says he can move it when needed....I wouldn't be able to budge it! hehe.

Atta boy, Jeremiah! That week at J.C. campbell's is definitely money well spent! And to have a shop to work in this soon is awesome! Welcome aboard and looking forward to seeing some of your work. Chime in anytime ya got something to add.

Just a suggestion, use a light grease if you use grease. I use oil in all my blowers and they seem to work smoother. (SAE 30 oil) lighter is you want. Keep us posted. I stumbled onto a NICE blower last month at the 'World's Largest Flea Market' in Canton, TX. The guy was asking $125.00 for it, I took it home for $50.00! Super smooth, will continue to turn at least 4 revolutions once you let the handle go. I didn't have to do a thing to it. sweet....

Howdy from Hallsville! (Harrison county, near Longview) Glad you came aboard and look forward to seeing what you have to say. I don't do blades (yet) but enjoy doing traditional, historical, and artistic work. There are a BUNCH of fantastic bladesmiths as well as blacksmiths in the Texarkana area and we meet each 3rd Sat. of the month. The web site is www.fourstatesironmunchers.com if you are interested in looking.

OK. Back in March I called about some BS tools a gentleman had>> 127# Swedish made anvil in near PERFECT condition, 4" leg vice "IronCity" excellent condition, Chicago blower in good condition. We talked for some time, he never giving me a price as he wan't real sure he wanted to sell any of it. I encouraged him to go with me to our next monthly meeting but he declined. finally when I was getting ready to leave he told me to back up to the shop and he would help me load the stuff, "Heck, I'll never do anything with the stuff and you can get some use from it" so I did. Paid the man $180.00 for it all and he was glad. (so was I) He also has a postdrill but it is froze up tighter than Dick's hatband. He said he would play with it and get it freed up and give me a call....who knows.... I was at a junk/trade shop and a man had an anvil. Wanted $75 for it, offered $50 we settled on $60 (he told me he had paid 50 and needed something for carrying "the d____ed thang around"! Got it home, cleaned it up and it is a 60# Hay Budden in great shape, well a few small chips on the edge but no problem to work around, especially for $60!! My traveling anvil. Most paid for an anvil...$325 --180+haybudden (at auction); $75--6" leg vise; $150--Canady-Otto forge (weighs 200#) with blower.and hood These buys are out there, ya just got to be patient, keep an eye out and when they do pop their little heads up snatch them up. When you get more than you need or can use help out a newbie and sell him/her one of them.

DILLIGAF, hopefully it is just loose on the shaft. Hand crank? If so take the outside cover off and there is a set screw on the hub of the blades, tighten it up. Sounds simple I know but check all the easy things first!

Howdy right back atcha! I HIGHLY recommend joining the Saltfork Craftsmen and Artistic Blacksmiths group there in OK. A FANTASTIC organization with some great smiths. They have 3 regions and if you are so inclined you can go to a meeting nearly every weekend of the month! As for here, if ya got a '?' just ask, there is someone out there that can give ya an answer. Also, when you get a chance post some pics of some of your work, we all like looking a pictures. BOG

Welcome Berty. Checked out your site, very nice. Would like to see some more of your work! Glad you're here. You'll find this place very friendly and full of answers if you only ask.

Thomas P. What's a "Stater Fair"???? are they fun?, do they have cotton candy? a really fat pig? wondering minds want to know!! HEHE

Thomas P, I have a friend that sells this type of rasp snake for $35or$45 each (cant remember exactly)....ya might think of upping yours some. I saw them whilst out there back in Sept. and they look great, well worth that price. Although I personnally like the snake without the bottle caps. Just twist the 'tail' a couple times or so then flatten out the top and bottom giving a pretty realistic rattler look.

If you ever decide ot attend a blacksmithing school look at Tom Clark's school in Potosi, MO. Web site is www.ozarkschool.com I was there this past May and Highly recommend it. There are other schools around that are just as good I'm sure, or they wouldn't survive! We can be a nasty bunch sometimes. Wish you were closer as I have several leg vises and anvils I could sell you to help get you going. Just keep you eyes open, they'll show. A rule of thumb around here is to pay about $10.00 an inch for a vise smaller than 6" jaws, seems the 6" vises bring more around here. Good Luck! I wish I had started when I was your age. ( that would be nearly 30yrs ago!)

I found the book "Little Giant Power Hammer" by Richard Kern on Amazon.com for $30.00! Well worth the $$. This was back in July that I purchased mine. Also go to www.umbaonline.org and you can purchase a DVD-R for about $5.00 +$2.00 shipping that has Fred Craylor and Sid teaching a class on rebuilding a LG. This was videoed in 1992 I think but is a good source of info. Shows most everything but machine work.

Prayers are going up for you, my friend. Also for Dawn.

Update on Mom. She is with her LORD!! The angels in Heaven rejoice her homecoming as do we. Thank each of you for lifting her and my family up, (please continue!)we have felt the strength of GOD's hand on us through this time. Thank you friends.

Please remember my Mom-in-love when you talk to the MASTER. She is in her last days. I am a very blessed man to have had 2 God loveing Moms. Thanks folks.

Sweet! I have about 200BF of aromatic cedar that I plan to make into quilt boxes/chest. Will forge all hardware also. Plans are to use NOTHING store bought. You have just put me in a bind to even come close! Beautiful work! I'm with Sandpile, wish you were closer...