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An acid pickle bath works well, and is a cheap alternative compared to a bead blaster cabinet. Stainless steel toothbrushes are handy, in fact they are indispensable. Keep an eye out for the stiff wire brushes, the soft ones won't even clean the foul mouth of a Jarhead.

Nathan Robertson's Diamonds in the Rough is, indeed, art.

Have you called any steel fabricators? Good chance they will have the material on hand and can size it for you.

An quiet stroll through his online gallery is, well, simply astounding and speaks volumes of his magical ability. JodySamson.com -- Gallery

Hoot! That's a flypress! So, the weights are simply held in place with gravity, and you haven't yet installed them in the first photo? Are you holding a part to a smaller press in the second photo? How are flypresses rated and where is your big press on that rating scale? My son likes your bicycle. Seems there is a resurgence of the classic road bikes (the retro bike), and apparently yours has possibilities. ;)

You've piqued my interest. I like what I see, but I'd really like to see a couple of photos of the entire flypress.

Never let a cutting edge touch the anvil. Always use a cutting plate, never the step on the anvil.

It's a quiet anvil with a softer steel face than most anvils. I would welcome one to my hearth that hasn't been abused, and without abusing it myself, I would expect it to serve me well.

If you feel inspired to rebuild the nut this blueprint may help.BP0060 Rebuilding a Vise

It will cut well enough without sharpening, but a little rust removal and dressing the edge would be approprate.

Hot eye chisel. Think of it as a hardie on a stick.

A revision and expansion sequel to The Blacksmith Cook Book by George Dixon might be an acceptable substitute unless you insist on obtaining a copy of the real McCoy. Blacksmith Craft The Legacy of Francis Whitaker, A - Vol. 1 Author: Dixon 8 X 10 Hard Cover 800 photos and drawings 157 Pages $US52.00 A BRAND NEW Book--It is a revision and expansion sequel to "The Blacksmith Cook Book" by Francis Whitaker. Francis realized he had not addressed the beginning smith in his first book and that their was sooo many more things he wished he had put in the first book. He starts with discussion on lighting a coal fire and expands from there and contains a helpful index, as well. The Blacksmith Craft is a "must have" for blacksmiths of all levels of expertise! A large percentage of the proceeds of this book go to the Francis Whitaker Foundation: helping blacksmiths all over the country. In 1987 Francis Whitaker wrote his first book,

Negligible if you first fire up the beast outside and stay downwind from the smoke, or you could dip the flange in diluted muriatic acid bath (swimming pool acid) to remove the zinc. POUR ACID INTO WATER NOT WATER INTO ACID. On edit: the zinc will be removed in a matter of minutes. Oh, it's a good idea to stand upwind from the acid bath because the pickle will generate strong fumes. ;)

Today, sailors have the luxury of purchasing marlin spikes made from stainless steel. If you know how to treat stainless after forging, I would suggest using stainless. That being said, steel is still a most appropriate material. Forged and normalized medium carbon steel would do the job unless your buddy works steel cable, then the tip could be hardened a bit. The eye could be designed to double as shackle pin wrench, a clever and thoughtful design I've been seeing the last few years.

Farmingdale, NJ

Five-eights inch overlap was too much? I was told the cuts should overlap half the diameter of the stock; in your case, one-half inch. One-eighth inch doesn't sound like all that much difference, so my informant must be blowing smoke, and I speak with no authority because I have never attempted a Fredrick's cross. The the flour de lys are a nice detail.

Industrial or food grade?

You have an artistic gift. Perhaps bronze would be the proper medium for your outstanding work. Seriously, if I had your talent, I'd try and hook-up with some foundry people and explore my options. Cast bronze, or aluminum would be cool, but just think of the patinas you could develop with bronze. I like!

A fine pair of handcuffs for mentally challenged criminals?

A well used tool box would be idea, but it telegraphs to much information to sticky hands. A used attache case, an old cosmetic case, or maybe even an old overnight suitcase would be more appropriate. Check thrift stores. Used hand tools are very welcome. Old quality hand tools made in USA are viewed by Jamaicans as being superior to the cheap Asian stuff they see in their markets. Oh, slip in a carbide saw blade for good measure. A 10 inch carbide saw blade makes a wonderful gift to the local woodworker, he will return favors in spades.

My guess would be a vineyard hook or a grape hoe if the implement was forged with an eye for a removable handle. I've never seen one with a socket.

Richard (rthibeau) can fix you up with something that will suit your fancy DANCING FROG FORGE If you're looking for something a little more traditional, Bruce Wlicock can set you up with some genuine historically accurate hammers. Take a tour around his web site to understand what I say. About Us - Bruce Wilcock Forgings Blacksmiths Page 2 - Bruce Wilcock Forgings

Warrigal, your case hammer sounds like it could be either an American lath hammer or a box hammer (employed to assemble produce boxes). Interesting, both hammers look almost identical, are essentially obsolete, and are often confused with the American shingling hatchet. The shingling hatchet has the same shape, but has a slightly heavier blade; it, too, is fast becoming obsolete.

One way of holding a spike would be to make a dandy, and soon-to-be world famous, pair of JAYCO

Climax welding flux is listed in my 1932 Schaw-Batcher Company wholesale hardware catalog for 30 cents a pound - in 5 and 10-lb. boxes. They also list pure borax - refined. In sacks averaging 90 lbs. Per 100 lbs. $17.00 (17 cents a pound) Judging by price alone, Climax about twice as good a plain old borax.;)