markb

Thought ....It's your first right.

Art is born from and evokes more emotion.
Craft is more about skill and precision.

I know this is a very simplistic view but I lack the ability to articulate this any better.

This big guy $20.00 at a yard sale.

Now I want the jaws, or pic., maybe I could make some.

Champion 400 came with 3'x3' forge paid $100.00 in the '80s, works great.

I have two, paid $35.00 in the'80s in Santa Cruz Ca. for the smaller one 51/2" jaws marked

133 Attorney St.
N York
Goldie


The other one is 6" no name paid under $50.00 same time period

Found this vice at a garage sale, that's a silver dollar in the jaws. Don't know anything about it, wondering if it had a special purpose?

Two wagon tires the thick one is 2 inchs wide, 5 eights thick, and 4 foot dia., I assume these would be wrought iron?

Nice wrought iron hook on the pulley, the grain doesn't show too well in the pic.

Welcome any opinions or info on the vice.

Thanks for the ID on that one Dan, some have said it was a welders chipping hammer but it just didn't seem right.

I had the same thought of sorts when I looked at the add on. But I think the Egyptian artisans used children for their good eye sight, looking through a drop of water for a magnifier. Time and technology march on, use the tools of your choice.

Wow! Terry,welcome to IforgeIron. Thanks for the info (and for doing the work!)

I just want to second the above.

You tell Her.

Enjoyed your pics, Good idea with the log spliter and nice tight scrolls on the fire grate.

Welcome Wagonmaster, you'll find lots of info and good people here.
Your forge looks good.
Mark

Garage sales, been going for about 30 yrs. Many anvils ,a couple of coal forges, lots of hammers and tongs, a few leg vices and lots of other tools, but we (my wife and I) go early and often, we don't buy very many new things. Ebay and craigs list are good too.

markb short for Mark Behnke I'm just lazy, sometimes it's taken so it may be markb1 or markb51 because I had a '51 suburban.

Another Master here Lu #595. I worked on a building at a military base and we had to install lightning rods. We used multiple rods all connected together with multiple leaders down to many rods. As Steve said path of least resistance, make it easy to get to ground.

The bible of design is NFPA (national Fire Protection Agency) publication 780, tells you everything you would ever want to know.
Here's some interesting reading.
The Straight Dope: Do lightning rods really work?

Let me see... 5300 X $6.00..... I'll take two. If they'd only fit in a flat rate box.

The power of positive thinking...talking

Ohhh I like that, tell us how you did it.

I've been making friends with my files. the top bevel is draw filled then 240 grit the bottm isn't done with the filing yet..

Check this link it may help
E. A. Chase Metalsmithing - Buckles Portfolio

Mike and I met a few years ago on a new home project. Mike was doing the railings (pics in gallery) and I was wiring the house.
We connected here by chance when Mike saw my intro.
Many thanks to you Glenn.

Mike is a ABANA certified instructor and full time smith. He invited me to his shop for a one on one day of instruction after seeing my post concerning fire scale.

I didn't have any trouble finding the shop , when I pulled up I could hear the THUMP-THUMP-THUMP of the 65# power hammer.
Mike gave me advice on hammer selection and face dressing and we went to work, my choice coal or gas, gas it was as I'm not set up for coal.

We started with mild steel and hammered out a punch and chisel, then went to 1085 and made a punch and tempered it. I can't tell you how much I learned in those simple exercises, I would never have figured it out by reading.

Mike passed on a lot of tips and tricks throughout the day, and gave me the solution to a repair for my 25# little giant, and to top off the day we took a spin his power hammer. What a treat that was, inspired me to get to work on my hammer.

So here's to you Mike (raises glass) for your generosity and willingness to share your knowlege and time.

Cheers Mark

I think but am not sure, that some brass is what they call "red short" ....too hot and it crumbles.
Again I'm not sure.

Got this Elk hide at a garage sale this morning, about 5'X8' very good condition, $20

Bummer, but you found some good in it and that's not easy.