oakwoodironworks

What brought this to mind was I purchased an anvil the other day and after cleaning it up with a wire brush decided to weight it. It was stamped 154 on the side and when I weighed it on a set of scales it weighed 144 lbs. I haved weighed a few anvils over the years and they tend to weigh less than their stamped weight. I know that this is probably from loss of material due to rust, various chips, use, etc. It could also be because of how they were weighed when they were made. Just wondering if anyone has had the same experiences.

Good Job!! The hawks look real good.

There used to be a well known smith about 1 hour south of Buffalo in Mayville ,NY. His name was Mitch Fitzgibbons and he operated the Skunk MIsery blacksmith shop. It was a neat place. Don't know if he is still smithing. Something to check out.

Good looking hawk!

Looking forward to seeing the finished product

Sam, I am having some fun and seeing a lot of different things. I walked down Bourbon Street last night and seen something's that a country boy for Georgia couldn't believe . Guess I've lived a sheltered life.

I'll give him credit for having a nice blacksmith shop.

Someone said one time you have to be tough if you are going to do dumb things.

Thanks for posting the video. Really makes me want one of the Peddinghaus style anvils.

Ditto for the wire cup brush. I brush mine and then spray a product made by CRC Industry for rust prevention. Makes the anvil look good and prevents rust.

I was wondering around the streets of New Orleans yesterday and did find some old hand forged hinges with forge welds where they were folded back and welded around the pin. It was hard to see the hammer marks because of all the paint on them. Also, found an old machine shop and it was real cool. It took up about half a block and the doors opened up on 3 different streets. I like all kinds of metal working and stopped to look in the shop. A guy was working a lathe by one of the doors and came over to talk. He told me what they did there ( general machine shop work mainly for the ship industry ). I asked him did they they do any forging and he said that two guys who did the forging work had got old and retired. He said that at one time they forged a lot of big shackles and hooks, etc. I asked him did they have any of the old tools around. He said that they sold a large forge and power hammer about two years ago!!! I hope it didn't go for scrap. I always seem to be a day late and a dollar short.

Thanks for another good tip!

Lord Chaz looks cool! Might have to forge me out a vampire stake and take it along with my hammer to defend myself !! Thanks for the tip! I'll check it out.

Thanks for all the replys. I will be staying downtown and wiil have plenty of time to walk around and look. I'll keep my eyes open. Never know what I might find.

Thanks for posting this. It sent chills up my spine !!

I really enjoy the pictures and info you give on the axes and tomahawks that you make. Keep up the good work!

I am going with my wife to New Orleans next week for a conference she has at work and will have four days to wonder around and see the sights. Having never been there, can anyone familiar with the city point me in the right direction to see some outstanding iron work. I know there must be some given New Orleans place in history. Thanks, Mike

They don't really whip around because of the way the belt grinder is configured for the belts to ride on the platen and contact wheels. The tension on the belt, provided by the idler wheel, just releases when the belt breaks. This causes the belt to loose contact with the drive wheel and it doesn't continue to spin with the belt grinder. I sure people have been hurt by this so it pays to be careful. I know it wakes you up when it happens !!!

I am thinking of buying one of the SOFA firepots and was wondering if anyone had an opinion of them. I haven't seen one in person and was wondering about quality, etc. Thanks, Mike

Mark Aspery , in his first book , shows how he forges a bull pin into a hammer eye drift. Shouldn't be too hard to adapt his idea into a tomahawk drift.

I also use a Grizzly 72" inch grinder and have had a few belts break while grinding. I haven't gotten hurt yet but it always could happen. Mostly, it just scares the crap out of you. It pays to be safe so I always wear safety glasses and a welders cap. Can't afford to get hit upside the head since I don't have any hair to cushion the impact!!

I have had "new" belts come apart, but they had been hanging up in the shop for a while exposed to various temperature and humidity changes. I have started to put them in large plastic zip lock bags and close them up. So far it has worked very well. Also, I haven't been buying more belts than I can use in a reasonable length of time.

Mark is a first class blacksmith and great guy to be around. I'm sorry to hear about his accident and am praying for him to make a speedy and full recovery. Mike

Although I didn't know Grant personally, I learned a lot by reading his posts. He knew a lot about blacksmithing and moving metal. He will be greatly missed. I do have some of the tongs that he made and will remember him every time I use them.

I sure do love your shop!! I also enjoy the TV shows when you make your motorcycles. It is always enjoyable to watch someone do exceptional metal work. Keep on doing what you do.