larrynjr

I'm in the same boat - my 250 was never a piece of cake but I could hook my arms under each end and walk off with it.

Abenakis, where are you located? If you go up to the user CP at the top of the page you can update your location. Knowing where people are makes it easier for smiths local to you to help when they can.

I guess it wasn't so much hard to find a stump as I didn't look very hard for one because of my cement shop floor. I didn't want to have to try to cut the stump so that it was level perpendicular to the floor or bust a hole in the cement to plant a stump / log into the ground for the anvil.

I like the box and sand method, it also gives me something non flammable for hot steel to land on instead of a wood surface.

I used the blueprint plans as my guide and basically made a wooden box then filled it with sand. I put a piece of plywood that was just slightly smaller than the interior of the box under the anvil then covered the base with additional sand. There is almost zero ring even when I hammer out at the tip of the horn.

For me it's a great alternative to a hard wood stump. Those are very hard to come by here in Eastern Wa.

I think it would depend on the diameter of your handle and the size of your hand. I think the additional friction might cause extra blisters too.

When I've been able to get out and hammer, it's been great Sam. We are in the process of painting new decks and ramps here at our house so I haven't had as much time lately but the few times I've gotten out have been good. The anvil is not shifting at all now with a plywood baseplate under it and the sand on top gives me a nice place for my chisels and punches. If I get a chance this week, I'll take some pictures of the items I've made recently.

I new there would be some 2112 fans out there. Good job boys.
Gobbler

Very cool, once again I open my mouth only to exchange feet!

true, I didn't take that into account. I'll take it off and people can PM me and I'll email them the photo directly so as not to offend.

I believe there is a 3rd designation of "member" from 50 to 100 posts.

It sounds to me like something someone made up who doesn't know anything about smithing. Or it's something really cool that is supposed to be kept a secret from neophytes like me! :D

This followed me home back in the early 1990's from Italy but I didn't know what I had till I "rediscovered" it in my box of "stuff" Seems like forging like that could be painful.

So the missing photo was of a Italian 50 Lira coin with a naked smith (probably HEPHAESTUS) hammering at his anvil.

Wow, if they are cast iron then that's probably why the welds on the base of my post vice snapped off while I was pounding on some metal in the vice!

One idea I've had for bending the "hard way" that I haven't had chance to actually try yet is to use a piece of angle iron on that outside corner and hammer that against the piece you want bent. I guess you'd need to be careful not to hammer too hard and leave gouges in the straight sides though.

Welcome Justin, great score and good plan for brake drums. I have several I've gotten from the bus garage where I work.
Are they tool steel? What are you using to cut them? My Ox/Ace torch didn't seem to like it much, a bit thick it was and wasn't cutting through, just puddling up. Perhap a larger size nozzle would help.

Good work, keep it up and keep having fun!

Are you able to upload and post these to youtube for watching after the fact?

$2,621.16 including tax and shipping for a 450lb. Nimba Gladiator.

I was just looking at that site and noticed this, I think I need make one myself!
imagetemplate

I hope lots of you get to do some hammering today. It's unlikely that I will. My daughters birthday was last Monday but I only have them alternating weekends so we are celebrating her birthday today.

Happy Hammering!

I would leave it as is, if you need a sharp edge, look to the hardie end of the RA, looks pretty sharp edged to me. Also you could make a flat sided hardie tool if you need a flat face to work on.

What part of Maine? Dave M lives in Southern Maine.

I'm glad I use a gasser and don't have to worry about it, I probably would have pronounced it tire, as in auto or bicycle.:p

Great luck Dave, just what I'd expect from another Mainer!

cool, that makes sense now. It's not triple digit's here but getting close today.