Dragons lair

Juse my 2 cents. first your/my financial standing has nothing to do with anything. If I go in the hole this week I should just charge more cause I blew a couple of grand? Second the math aint right $40 hr= .66 a minute X12 is about $8. After 40yrs I gave up and charge by the hr + matl. Yeh I get a little flak with a min 1/2 hr charge. I just walk them arourd the shop. "this cost this much that cost so much" Asked a fellow smith at the last meeting. his cost for making a s hook. Answer was about $2. I pointed out his new anvil Hofi hammer and gasser cost hin a few grand just to be able to make them. Charge what ya can. Don't take on more than ya can handle. If ya are really a newbladesmith ya shouldn't take on 50 fold blades. rant over will go sit inna corner now. Ken

Hey Chris, Don't think 8secs will always work. Have been out bid at the last sec more times than I care to remember. Hope ya got a good one. Found one at the flea mkt same size for $30. It is nice enough for trade stock. Ken.

Thomas, Let us not forget. A decade ago how much was a new car or house? In 1955 I thought a Tbird was too much Just wait a while till they are cheaper. Heard one went at auction for 1/4 mil last yr. Still don't have one. Ya left out one thing. Ya gotta be first. Ken.

Add one more vote for H-B made for another store. does look like a thin plate. Look on the other side just bolow the hardy hole. All the tool steel tops I have seen have 3 # stamped in there.(mine does) Ken

While I do fix mine up. Yours I wouldn't do. Chunk is on the near side heel(weakest point on the anvil in IMHO) I try to never hit that corner. Clean it and use it for a while see if ya use that corner. Ken.

Not differant at all. I ride the iron horse up it's easier to find a parking space. Take little money so I won't have to cram an anvil inna saddlebag. Did get one last yr. A 1 in silver hat pin form Doc Neon. Ken

Glad to hear there is at least one more of us. I see so many 5-40 lb Blacksmiths anvils on line. I have tried to educate these folks.(over 1000 at last count) Most are cool. I also get "ITS AN ANVIL XXXX" or It looks like an anvil so it is one(3 1/2" long) Every ball pien hammer in the world is now a blacksmiths hammer. Any rusty tool is Blacksmith made. Oh well we can only do so much. Ken

Sam, Ill be looking for ya. Ken.

I feel your pain. found out about my class 48 hrs before. Talked my way in at 15 hrs. Only hope is to go out and forge a few fingers. Will keep your mind off the class. Grin. Ken.

OK didn't work last time. trying again, Had a client buying copper sinks(3rd world) Holes bad or missing welds. I used electrical wire. Stripped and tig welded or gas welded. Worked great. Ken.

Beer can chicken is a great way to try new beers. Good beer goes down the hatch. Bad beer goes up(ya know) Ken.

dismanteling is OK demolision is NOT. Friend called one day said I have this portable hyd setup. Want it? I drove over to check it out. Was a 3500 psi pump and a closed center valve. He cranked it up opened the valve centered the valve and blew out the back wall of the valve body.( It was much thinner than the body) He only knew about open center valves. He still has the remains. A micro pin hole will cut flesh even thou ya can't see it. Take care. Ken.

Hey if ya make it up this weekend give me a shout. He is about 20mins from here. I didn't make it over there yet. Ken

Great times there. If your close enough try to make it. I will probably skip my guild meeting to go. Been the last 2 yrs. Lots of demos and tailgaters. Ken.

Well Who really won? Yeh the birch got in a good shot. However birch ended up in the fire. I count that Frosty 1 Birch 0. He who lives to fight again WINS. I can only hope to be 1/2 as stout. Ken.

Addicted why shoot I can quit anytime. Quit at least 9 times this past yr. What? Your grandads smithing tools are getting rusty. I'll be right over. Sorry guys gotta go. Ken

Fab shop I worked at had a victor pattern burner. Ran it on oxy/mapp hotter cuts and bigger tanks. Prefer oxy/act unless there is 2"+ to cut. Ken

Guys ya need to look in the last Hammers Blow. Co claims ya can crush a grade 8 nut or hold an egg. Dang now my trigger finger is the size of my palm. Ken

You got the weight right. Being it has a pritchel hole would be later than your dates. Oh yeah much better than HF. Ken

Just as important remember to turn it off unless you have a water solinoid on the welder.Also ya don't need a lot of flow. Have someone check at the outlet while you are welding. Water warm-hot turn it up. Cold turn it down. Ken

Sign on my door. 3 Types of work done here. Fast,Cheap,Good. You pick 2 If its fast and cheap it won't be good. If its Fast and good it won't be cheap Cheap and good it won't be fast. Under that is hourly rate in 1/2 hrs. Min 1/2 hr. Ken.

Another thing to look for is spot welded studs holding things from the back side. Everything I have now has the lugs on the outside. Ken

I am with Bob. Start looking for a cooler. Might not need it now but you will. I found mine on flea bay A SS unit. had a lincoln and a miller like this 3 gal. better. Course ya could build your own. Started with a HF parts cleaner. Had a shop made one in Fla. about 500 gal. Had up to 30 welders welding aluminum piece work. Even a 125 amp air cooled gets hot quickly. Ken.

Good eyes Thomas and Dave. I cheat and use the magnifier. I can see armitage mouse hole forge(no mouse) AIA puts it 1830-1875 I have seen worse. shoot I have bought worse. Sight unseen of course. Go look bounce test then buy it. Ken

Son ya got some real help. Put on the quick disconnects. After 40 yrs I got smart enough to do that to both my Tig and Mig. Have them set up short and long. If I need to go outside disconect the ground at the tig connect it to the end of the mig ground. Now I got 25 feet. Ken