larrynjr

buying scrap steel from my local suppliers scrap bin they are charging $.15 a pound for mild steel.

you got the same anvil as me!;)

My 110# harbor freight russian cast steel anvil.

Do you actually "use" these collected anvils? To collect but not use an anvil seems like a waste of a good tool to me.

If you browse the photo gallery you'll see lots of anvil pictures. Also there is a thread here somewhere that many have posted their anvil pictures to.

I think I've discovered what the issue is, the gun hose as it connects to the welder itself doesn't seem to have a solid locked in position and after moving around from weld position to weld position seems to work it's way loose. Push it back in and it feeds fine. I didn't take the time tonight to look closer and see if I've missed something in my setup that will keep the connection tight.

I contacted the seller also and he confirms the reserve at $9200 and said that if it does not sell he'll add more pictures when he relists it. He is out of town and doesn't have the pictures available to do it now.

It certainly won't be selling to me!

It's quite possible that I was getting past the duty cycle of the unit, it is a pretty low end unit. I considered that as well but not having the experience I wasn't sure. I'll do the paper towel / scotchbright cleaner solution as well. The spool is inside the welder.

I will strip out the old wire for sure, don't need the hassle of trying to clear out jammed wires!

Once again, Thanks to everyone here!

Still being new to welding and getting close to the end of my first spool, I was wondering; when the old one runs out do I yank the wire in the gun out or just put in a new spool and it will push out the old wire with the new?

Also, I think I know the answer to this one from other posts but as I was welding a new metal table for my gas forge today, towards the end of what I was welding I began to notice that the wire wasn't feeding consistently. I've read here that dirty / rusty wire will do this but this is a relatively new spool and I'd already used quite a bit of it prior to the feeding issue. Should I adjust the feed rollers or clean them?

Holy Xxxx! Even if everything were brand new, It doesn't seem like it would cost much more than $9200. Far to rich for my blood. He should add more pictures with better details of the power hammer if he really expects to get that kinda green for that stuff. At that level I won't even bother try to increase my bid.

We'll see how it goes, so far my bid hasn't met the reserve minimum. I'll wait until either someone out bids me and then up my bid to my maximum or wait until just before it closes and bid my max and see if I can meet the reserve price.

you can get there first but first you have to outbid me! If I win it, maybe I'll get a chance to stop at your forge and say hello!

I just placed a bid on that auction and though I am current high bidder, the reserve still hasn't been met. All that including a Kerrihard power hammer I'm guessing he want's quite a charge of $$.

Vintage blacksmith shop complete - eBay (item 250227648963 end time Mar-29-08 20:31:33 PDT)

The BibleJesus

those seem like a good / quick tong. You could even use a smaller piece of flat stock instead of the round to give more surface area for holding.

I've always been interested in them but haven't really been in the right place / time to go for it. The only part of my heritage I really know about is from my Mom's side, German / Swedish. My dad's side was adopted in about 3 generations back so no one knows for sure. I may not be blood Scottish but the freedom sounds very fine!

I actually just ordered one from Amerikilts last night just before posting this thread. I like the look of the Utilikilts but wanted to try one and make sure I had the right stuff to wear one before commiting to the price of a Utilikilt.

Habu, where did you get those moccasin boots?

I was wondering what the general consensus is concerning kilts.

Do you like them, do you or would you wear one?

Should we make it a requirement to wear one to be part of IFI? just kidding!

That's some nice looking work. Keep it up and keep posting pictures!

I might have asked about buying the tools. Was there an anvil also? I didn't notice one in the pictures.

A problem that I ran into while making a bunch of wall hooks, I got a good heat on them after they were formed then water quenched them to help get the scale to come off. Not realizing that cooling them that quickly also makes them very hard, I ruined quite a few drill bits try to drill holes through the top of those hooks before I figured it out and reheated them and let them cool slowly. After that they drilled easily. There was a very high pitched squealing noise when try to drill those hardened hooks!

Here is a link from the official rusty (Appalachian Power Hammers) a video of one builders power hammer; http://www.youtube.com/v/DWkI-d3vEYM from this maker; Dan Brazzell

What I'm now considering is either building a Rusty style hammer instead of a treadle or a treadle that I could then convert into a Rusty. Would the solid pivot bar of the treadle still work for the Rusty or not provide enough snap power?

It seems like you would need a massively strong stand to hold it while it beats down on the metal. I've alway seen the guys with the large beer bellys holding them down with those bellys! I've never used one either but it also seems like the distance the hammer actually moves is small, the work is done by vibration more than seperation and impact.

Looking at the basic design of the "Rusty / Dusty" AP Hammers and the Treadle hammer plans that are available from IFI. The basic framing seems to be about the same to me with at least one telling difference being the flat springs on the Rusty being used on the pivot arm on top and just the piece of 1 1/2" x 3/8" flat bar used on the treadle.

Appalachian Power Hammers

Is there a major benefit from using a flat spring for that pivot instead of the flat bar steel?

Those are some great looking crosses Sam, so far my attempts have left the diamond pretty ratty looking. Once again, practice and repetition will correct that!