nutinauniversalshell

working on it...now if I actually use them :( got the stuff just need to line the forge, get piping to hookup blower (possibly borrow welder), and finally beat on some metal for the first time in YEARS. At least Im learning about anvils and slowing working toward what I want (A BIG ONE...cheap). Plus making connections is always good too...hense the barn cleanout someday :)

Well, today (after many calls and some waiting) resulted in ANOTHER anvil coming home with me (an possibly 1-2 more once I get another call to help dig through an old barn). So once I got back, I decided it was bath time....for the anvils. Wirewheel chucked up in my air drill and much time later....all my anvils were "cleanish" while my shirt, pants, face, and facecloth were ORANGE...the final part of the bath was a hosing and wipe down with Gibbs Brand Lubricant. I had less time with the biggest (last) anvil I worked on as my air compressor was getting tired of constant running and I shut it down to rest. I know you all want pictures, but first Ill describe what you will see.... :P NEWBIE: Hay Budden 1 0 0 (112lb) in pretty nice shape. under $2/lb too serial....idk maybe someone else can read it. Also (oldies), Peter Wright 0 3 13 (97lb), ??? (Mousehole suggested) 1 0 20 (132lb...weighed 128) with a chunk out of the back, Hills (Brooks from what I'm told) Birmingham 1 1 27 (167lb...weighed 163) with a broken foot, chunk of steel (125lb) 8inDiameterx10in height, and ASO from my bench top. Overall average under $2/lb but paid the most for the PW/lb as I bought other stuff and may have given a little much overall. first up...shirt and cloth for my nose next HB (top) and PW HB serial HB closeup Mousehole? (left) and Hills (Brooks? right) The whole family

no picture or link...no way to say what it is

Ill second the Gibbs Brand Lubricant. My dad had trouble finding it for years, so he finally became the Indiana distributer. By the case saves a bunch of money or a gallon and a spray bottle.

I wasnt thinking of magnetizing the files. The magnets have a tape of some kind over them and they are a c channel. I Mostly intended to use them for punches, jigsaw blades, and randon tools that didt fit on my pegboard well, but I bought over 100 files and didnt want to just leave them in a crappy plastic tub. I plan to clean them up then maybe I can make something to put them in and use the magnets for other stuff (I have plenty of other stuff on the floor, shelves, and everywhere else).

I bought some magnetic strips on sale at harbor freight and finally got around to putting them up. While I have a backboard on my workbench with lots of hangers, the magnetic strips are great for oddball shaped items. Anyway, the big thing to note for those who might want to try this...prepare to use 2 strips. One strip is ok for small stuff like jigsaw blades, screwdriver bits, SMALL files, etc, but my longer punches, bigger files, etc all needed 2 strips (spaced a couple inches apart). With 2 strips most of the stuff you may want to hang should hold....if you plan on magnetic strips for hammers...you might consider stacking 3-4 to get it to hold (anything over 2 lbs most likely). I got the 18 inch ones for about $3-4 ea, but now all I see is 20 inch for $4.99....the right couponing may help especially with harbor freight. The only real issue I have----->not enough of the strips (7 limit forthe coupon I used). I bought a BUNCH of files about a week ago and need at least 3 more to hold them (and spread them out as I put the flat files on their sides and they dont hold as well). PICTURES? sure here is an example........so if you need some storage, maybe some magnets?

OK cool. I have a metal grate piece I use for lead casting...it may be good for some smaller things. Im sure I can make another table of some sort pretty easily when the time comes.

Im not too gentle with the bench (I have no problem with breaking it as I can repair and reinforce if needed). I dont really know what all cold work I'll be doing yet either but I do hope to have some good stumps in the near future (2 anvils need mounted plus post vice and post drill). I was going to check on some firebrick today at a local supplier but I passed by right after schools let out (its near the high school) and it was REALLY cold so I just came on home to get warm and dry. As for it being too clean....its not near that neat right now. The pegboard is near full, the top WAS covered in sawdust (now only some sawdust), metal flakes, stain, etc are all over. But its a work bench so I clean it only every now and then when something else needs mounted or a cleaner surface. For now, I need to focus on getting the firebrick/sand and figuring out how the blower will mount and attach...I really want to get it fired up soon. I believe it may be anthracite that I have...have to get dirty again and make sure another day.

wasnt thinking about a drum. possibly be picking up some next weekend anyway (need burn barrel and used oil barrel). These are used oil drums so they might make things messy/smokey though. Plastic barrel would be good too if I can find one locally...especially a 30 gallon as 55 would be HEAVY and hard to move. Would a BIG workbench work for a cold work table? I have a 2.5X8 ft bench I build that is for about any project (3'6" height too as I wanted a tall table) I have actually added more hooks and mounted a fuller 5 1/2 vise to the right corner...trying to clean it up more (also ordered magnetic tool holders for punches and other stuff but it wasnt in my box so Im waiting again for a box to arrive).

Thanks fellers. I just have so much stuck in the garage bay that I wanted to get some smaller and in buckets to clear space. I know where a couple coal buckets are but they wouldn't handle what I have, so I thought about building a coal box from 2x4s or whatever the cheapest wood box I can construct is (I hate using plywood, osb, mdf, msg, etc though...prefer boards of any size for projects). One big block overfilled a bucket once it was smashed (this should tell how big some of it is). As for the type of coal, I have no idea. Some broke down real easy and sheared off in layers, while others took a 16 lb sledge (short handle) and barely chipped a piece off (at least for the first blow or 2). I may use a fire axe I picked up for the initial breaking of the other huge chunks, but Ill do as recommended and wait to break up more.

Had a relative-in-law who pretty much never runs her coal stove say I could take what I wanted from her shed (though the original inquiry was for a 5 gallon bucket). So I filled an old microwave box, smaller box, and bucket (was in the car), plus grabbed one lump that was bigger than a cinder block. Anyway, while I got a bunch of LARGE lumps, there are some already broken down and probably too much powder that made its way in the stash. I broke down some lumps earlier and filled a couple 5 gallon buckets. The pieces are roughly the size of gravel to maybe as big as 2 charcoal bricks stuck together. How small do I need to break up the rest? Just didnt want to smash it all up and have it too small, though I think some of what I broke up may be too big. Thanks for any helpful info. PS: If it will stop raining and I can get some firebrick and sand, the forge might get fired this week :) finally

I was looking at a metal supplier website their picture looked similar and the 8" said it was 1018 hot roll finished. No idea from experience though. I need to check the pawn shop, I think they were suppose to get a metal tester to avoid fake stuff (gold, silver, etc) http://www.metalsdepot.com/products/coldfin2.phtml?page=round

could someone explain the ball bearing test (I need to get a ball but am curious). the chunk has a little ring to it, and I looked up rounds from metal suppliers and it looked similar to hot rolled (big diameters dont seem to really be round), but Ill still test it some. EDIT: Nevermind. Found the ball bearing test. ;)

I wasn't going to spend much money as the last stuff hit my pocket money hard, but thanks to the crazy people WAY OVERPAYING for tactical stuff right now I solved the no cash problem (Kel Tec KSG and PMR both sold and even the buyer acknowledged he was paying WAY to much but he really wanted them. I dont like that he will probably have wasted over 1K in a couple months but if he resells soon he will likely make some money too.) Anyway, found another anvil today Hill Birmingham 1-1-27 that is suppose to actually weight 162.3lbs. Has a chip off one foot and the horn has a spot that was whacked with something but overall, it seems to be in very nice shape. Along with the deal I made came a 8 in diameter by 8.75 inch tall "chunk" of some sort of steel. I think someone used this as an anvil too as one surface is smoother and more shiny (heavy though). And of course another hammer...a 16 lb older Japanese made sledge with shorter handle. I think I did well at $425 for all, and he is suppose to dig out a BIG leg vice he has at home to bring in...for another $75 (if its big enough then Ill probably grab it too). Input here is also appreciated. I have no idea what such a large piece of steel is worth but I figured if somehow I must sell something down the road the anvil would cover all of it or darn close. PICTURE TIME:

Still have to make it to tractor supply (was closed on the first and was busy today), and hardware store to check on handles for some of the hammers. Did buy some welding gloves from the welding/gas place....had to get 2 tanks filled and saw the leather. $27 for heavy welding gloves, smaller thick gloves, and some kid skinned tig gloves....seemed decent. On a really awesome note, I ask them about a place to buy coal. Possibly local coop was response then the guy ask another salesman who called someone....ended up the other guy is supposed to bring a 5 gal bucket of coal down the next time he comes. Sounds like I should get at least 5 gallon bucket full of coal free :) if its good coal for this then maybe I can setup some sort of deal to get more too. Turned out to be a good day.

I probably will work on some other tutorials, just want to get the shop setup so I can play/learn first. I get free wheel weights too....or at least use to. Some of the places aren't cutting loose with them anymore, and one place wants a little for theirs ($20 for a 5 gal bucket full if they have a bucket full). Still a deal and makes CHEAP bullets for reloading. I still take any free lead I can get though as I need MORE and MORE to stick back.

If you click on any username, there is a menu under the avatar with gallery as an option http://www.iforgeiron.com/user/29991-nutinauniversalshell/ The only issue I noticed with a link is that the submenus still have to be clicked. (the pictures are also the last ones that were on the top of the main page. The firepot isnt cast. The previous owner said he cut sandstone, but I thought better suggestions might be offered on here.

While I had originally planned to pick up a brake drum and build a forge, I was searching the local classifieds (website) and found a "blacksmith shop" for sale with a poor picture of a couple pieces and a description that said "listed for dad, call XXXX at XXXX. I know nothing". So being curious, I called to see what all was for sale (and if it would be available individually....no). While being pretty broke and having the wife say no many times, I still wanted to see what all was there in hopes cash might sway a couple pieces away (cash fund raided that was meant for special cases). So after going to see everything, I ended up dealing on everything but a converted post drill (converted to a motor instead of crank, but I didnt have the money to get it too). General idea is to keep what I will use and recoup some from the excess stuff acquired. So currently I have: (pictures in my gallery) 2 anvils and an ASO....one old one from the anvil thread and a PW 98lb from this "shop" sale :) forge (homemade from 100 gallon propane tank from what he said) 2 blowers (both bufco)....one smaller and one bigger leg vise....needs some cleanup (iron city in a star marked) post drill Champion plus a dozen bits various hammers, tongs, and assorted pieces Items I know I need: coal piping to attach a blower to the forge something to attach the blower to (stand) handles to repair some of the hammers (I hope to reforge a couple of them too) Questions: Do I need to line the bottom of the forge? What works best? Are the tongs with the ball detent for flat stock or something specialized? Which blower would be better the smaller or larger one? Anything else that would be good to have before starting the first fire? Also there is a piece I got awhile back that looks like an arbor press....I think its for leather work, but does anyone know for sure? I appreciate any info and expertise. :)