Ironscot

I wasn't aware that Mr Jaqua had passed away. Sorry to hear that. He was super nice to me when I got the chance to meet him several years ago. I went to the boat school that was just up the street from his shop and had the opportunity to work on one of the very first anvils he had made while there. After some of the ASOs and other well worn anvils I've hammered on, that thing was an absolute dream. From tip to tip there isn't a spot that doesn't work like a champ. I'm going to have to crack open my piggy bank now and get one in case they go out of production. One word of caution, don't work until you're too tired with these things. If you miss strike it'll just about feed you your hammer! LOL I still have my teeth though and my nose is where it started out.

The gift of knowledge has more lasting worth than one of novelty.

Just goes to show, there ain't no substitute for heavy when ya need it done. VBG

That's pretty much the description of Babbaw, or my dads dad. He lived in a town called Yonkers that is now under Ft. Gibson lake here in Oklahoma. If it was made of iron or steel and was used by anyone for anything he either made it or repaired it. Dad says that he used to watch his dad smooth a wagon axle with a piece of broken glass, much like any modern wood worker would use a scraper, until he got a perfect fit then just slide it together and listen for the air to whoosh out. The only tools my granddad owned he made, and legend has it he owned the best team of pulling mules for as far as anyone cared to challenge from. Dad says that the team was sold for five hundred dollars which was a kings ransom for poor white crackers at the time. Dang, I wish I coulda been there just to see. Mammaw sold all the tools and the anvil, vise and everything else back in the very early 60's for a poorly whistled tune. That was a just a bit before I was a inkling in anyones mind, and I cringe every time I hear the recounting of it. Costs a pretty penny now days just to get back to what they were all tryin' to git away from. LOL!!!

I have a twenty pounder that I used to use with slugger wrenches when coupling rotor halves in steam turbines. The stretch that we would put on a bolt to bring it to tolerance sounded plumb crazy, but it was like eating an elephant. Just take small bites and don't quit til yer done. God bless the inventor of the Hy-Torq! Seems the lead in my pencil went from 3H to 2 sometime in the last several years. Tried swingin that hammer the other day and man that thing sure got heavy. LOL

You have to hand it to him, he's one creative corker! I wonder if he lives anywhere near those peyote buds I've heard about????

or quit lurking about! LOL! I've been up to my gills here lately with a WSP who is making great demands on my time. For those who aren't in the know, a WSP is a 'woman shaped person'. I've gotten the rings bought, but haven't had the perfect chance to spring them upon her. Crikey what am I thinking!!!?! I get angina every once in a while when it crosses my mind. At least every twenty minutes or so! Suffice it to say that I have had my mind in yonder pastures. ACH! She is so totally cool with the idea of expanding the blacksmithing and post industrial iron working into a business that I think I've been hit in the head with a brick. LOL Love, however it may manifest itself in ones life ought to be as cool as it's been in mine. I just wish there were more time allowed for it. ;-/ There now, I've made my post!

I had a hundred X built out in Lost Wages Nevada years ago when I had way more dollars than sense. That hat has had snow up to the crown looking like a wedding cake, heat like I hate to think about, rain like a cow pishin on a flat rock and it still looks pretty much like the day I got it, though the finger roll is a little more loose. You can't go wrong with a good pure beaver block. The style is all in your hands though.

Ed Thomas, those are some great links. I'm going to give them a deeper read when I get a chance. Bashoi Spasibo! Mr. Smith, What I'm getting into is just complicated enough to require serious files to shop out to some specialty sub-manufacturers. Tough as it is to admit, if I could do it all myself I'd be talking to whales and such. LOL My dad started his lifetime business with a drill press and several sets of swiss files. This is just a tad beyond that realm. VBG!

Thanks for the input fellas. I used to have folks with retriever like focus to do this sort of thing, but it's a one clown circus now days. If I remember correctly, the AutoCad was something like twenty grand a seat years ago. Last time I was at IMTS everything was headed towards Microsoft operating systems on the machining centers etc. I was a little curious as to whether the design software was flowing in the same direction. Spose I'll just have to truck my rear end back up to Chicago to find out. I appreciate all y'alls help!

I'll fess up first rattle out of the box that I'm no wunderkind when it comes to operating computers. Whenever I think I'm going to knuckle down and learn what these things can really do, something always comes up like the need to wash my shoelaces or study ants out on the back sidewalk. I have painted myself into a corner on a couple of projects that are little more complex than I can handle on a napkin or bar coaster. So, what do you that do use for your cad systems?? I need something extremely simple or user friendly, 3-D capable with enough solid modeling capacity to do stereo lithography models off of the files. Sounds pretty simple to me. It's been a few years since I did my exit stage left from the manufacturing world so I'm more than a little out of touch. Any suggestions??

IMHO It only takes four people and their spouses to build a nation, a blacksmith, a millwright, a sawyer/woodsman and a farmer/stockman. Within these four signal groups all the fundementals of significant germinal society can be found. The spiritual elements are into a league of their own. Of course, there is a deal of overlap as each does draw from the other from time to time. ;-)

Thanks Mr. Waugh. Just goes to show that even a blind hog can find an acorn every now and again. LOL Have a goodun!

Another form of gall is a disimilar metal surface deformation caused by a poor fit or improper combination of materials. It actually is very close to definition number two by Mr. Waugh, but in a different application. Some materials by their nature can gall on themselves. Certain alloys of aluminum are bad about it in their unfinished state. Consider that freshly exposed aluminum in almost every series below 6000 can gall on itself very easily due to immediate oxidation when exposed to air. If this is too galling, just pass on it. ;-)

Whoa!!! I just clicked that link and had my eyebrows slap my shoulderblades! That is absolutely fantastic. Without a doubt Pepin, Wisconsin is on my must go to places list now. Any bunch of monkeys can make big stuff. To make little stuff that is that big in its form is awesome. Thanks for posting the link Mr. Thomas.

I'd like to take the third one to my locksmith and ask him to cut me a couple of dupicates. LOL

I have to concur that you are all correct. Necessity/application, plus ability, with inherent productive capacity of the machine all are factors in a good deal. I've been bitten early on when it wasn't too crucial on machine deals, but when you are counting loose change then you better be absolutely sure of what you are buying. I'd rather spend a couple of hours running a 196 (or Best Test) in every direction than to get it home and discover that its sweet spot isn't so sweet. Buy it for what you need it for. If it's for resale then it relaxes your requirements. If you're buying it to use then that's a whole nuther kettle of fish. Never assume that you can buy to use and expect a resale margine on the other end. Those deals are too few and far between and will waste your time in the middle. JMHO Bret

Irnsrgn and Rthibeau beat me to it, but there's a reason you don't see any bugs. You're in the process of driving yourself mad over the best little exterminators you could ever wish for. Do like they've done on safari for as long as they've had 'em. Before you put it on, shake it out. Particularly your boots, but you shouldn't have to worry about anything but slow lizards twixt yer toes. :-) If you start running into fat black, orange spotted lizards, that's a whole nuther ball game! If you'll take the time to sit and watch the ones you have, they are really cool little critters to have around. Chinese took to crickets just because they didn't have cool little lizards for good luck. :-P

In the other power hammer line, I was asking if anyone had any experience with the Phoenix hammer. I've been looking over their video presentation for quite some time now, but haven't made up my mind. If I had my druthers, I'd have a stable of power hammers that would make the faint of heart fall into a swoon. LOL Given that I don't have unlimited space or capacity to involve, who has had what experience with what???? Tell me why you employ what you do. Tooling? Function? What else.... :-)

You guys have waaaay too much fun in that smithy. There ought to be a law or something. :wink: :wink: :lol:

Nah, but I been through there a time er two. :wink: :wink:

I can't decide whether to run or not. :? :? :? Which way is it headed?

I'm gonna take a page outta Tom Sawyer. The less I want to sell, the more they'll want to pay. Besides it's got provenance, it's been in MY barn. :lol:

LOL! I think I'll paint it up real pretty, maybe even put some pinstriping on it :wink: , and call it a Whack-O-Matic Hammer Stop. Then on the other hand I might just keep it. It's pure heck being so decisive all the time. :? :roll:

The fact of yours and the knowing of mine makes me believe that there must be some infernal paradox. :? :? :? I was driven by Toad Suck Ferry a few years ago. Actually it was a long time ago but recognisance would have me confront the liability of my age. :? So, should I ask more thtn three bucks a pound for the anvil?!? :P