nett

brake drums may suck and are heavy annoying chunks of steel, but golly gee, some drums are 2-4 inches deep and could be dropped into a hole in a steel plate without any welding , making for a large forge that is mean enough to hold up for a long, long time.

after much use they usually crack and break into 3 pieces Irnsrgn, can you explain the mechanics or physics that cause the steel bit to brake into three pieces? Interesting, three pieces.

The motor is hydraulic, you can clearly see two lines leading to it in the 'Big Hammer' video. I watched the another video first and swore I saw electrical cord running into it and figures it was an electric motor with maybe an electric clutch. I believe the power cord runs the hydraulic pump that is located just behind and under the anvil. If engineered correctly, hydraulics can be extremly efficient.

The only part that resembles the Vaughan forge is the tue (tuyere) Iron. Is it a dry tuyere? Vaughans cast iron twyere

Everything a young man needs to know about blacksmithing can be found in one very wonderful book: The Complete Modern Blacksmith by Alexander G. Weygers Purchasing this book will prove to be a wise investment because you will find yourself referencing it and the pencil drawing extensively. A picture is worth a thousand words applies to this book in spades. If you don't buy it, at least check it out of the library to see what it's all about. If your library doesn't have a copy the librarian will be happy to special order a copy from another library. You will learn a lot in a short period of time, I guarantee it. I wish I had had a copy of this book when I was your age.

Centigrade of Fahrenheit? White hot steel is 2200

Yes, like a Bendix clutch in a starter. My first encounter with a Bendix was on my bicycle, it had a Bendix coaster brake. New Departure and Bendix were the names back in my days, Bendix had the brake shoes while New Departure used the slip washers. We used to spit on the hubs after a run down the mountain road, it would sizzle. Cheap entertainment.

Larry, think of it is as a freewheel on a racing bicycle. Flywheel/pulley wheel "C" (rear wheel on bicycle) can spin on momentum even after if the lever "M" (pedals) is stopped. The clutch is the freewheel hub. That's the best I can do with my pea-brain on a Friday afternoon with a triple digit temperature outside.

It took me a while to figure out what the heck a clutching device was then it hit me square in the face, or in this case, it wouldn't hit me in the face if I had the patented clutching device. I look forward to the photographs.

Use it up, wear it our, make do, or do without. The only supplies I've purchased lately are abrasives and coal. I amaze myself by discovering how much stuff I've purchased in the past that I'm just now getting around to using. I have no problem, say, boxing on old can of paint when buying new save time. My smithing is purely investigation, exploration, and recreation and is just an extension of my passion for repairing, restoring and collecting hand tools and hardware. I accumulated iron and steel for over thirty years, and now I'm getting around to using it.

Sacramento sells Cumberland Elkhorn Coal, the same as Lazzari Fuel Company in San Francisco. Same price, too. We used to have two houses that sold coal in Sacramento. We had three grades to chose from; two good, and one 'clinker city' that was so cheap I had to try it once. It was so bad I had had a huge clinker that clogged my air intake after just an hour of burning. The other stuff was just as good as Elkhorn, and probably WAS Elkhorn, but my pea brain can't remember. I mostly like the Elkhorn coal as it really generates significant heat and few clinkers, but I don't like the sizing. I have a small forge and found smaller sized coal packs better. I resolved it by sifting the coal through a plastic milk crate that has 1" holes on the bottom. The bigger chunks remaining get busted with a hammer then added to the mix. Much better.

Like sand through the hour glass, so are the days of our Lives. Larry, I assume the sand is an attempt to dampen the sound. I think sand is always going to shift because the grains are not unlike ball bearings. Perhaps a material that packs well might support the anvil and still dampen the sound. I'm thinking a bed of packed decayed granite might be worth a try. Kitty liter?

Mark, I saw that over at the other at the Blacksmith's gallery and enjoyed it. Now, the question I have is on your "large pattern welded billet", what's the story on that nice chunk of material?

irnsrgn, you helped me make the decision. I'm going to raise my block up to table height so I can store my growing collection of punches, drifts, chisels, anvil tools, and mandrels, on it right out in plain sight where I can find them. If I had a nickel for every hour I spent looking for something, I'd be rich. Your combo top and bottom round swage is one of the better designs I've seen. I studied your Blue Print of it awhile ago and put it on my short list of things to do. Now, where did I put that list? ;)

Thomas, with your experience, what would be considered a reasonable average height, a starting point? My wood stand holds my block fifteen inches high and is way to low for me. How high is the tall boy stand at SOFA? I say this because I can lower one a whole lot easier then raise one. "I cut it six times, Boss, but it's still to short".

Yes, John was a wagon maker. John Studebaker came from a long family of wagon makers. His father was a wagon maker, his grandfather was a wagon maker. His father trained all five sons in the trade. John's $8,000 nest egg from California, allowed for expanded operations and formation of the Studebaker Wagon Corporation; they begin building wagons on a large scale. John was named president when they incorporated, and his business savvy coupled with a superior product landed government contracts. I did not know about the British contract, that's cool. California gold greased they ways to allow Studebaker to become what is was back in its halcyon days, and that stout little Studebaker wheelbarrow helped it happen. It has never rained during our parade. Before and after, but never during it.

Those anvils have over half again as much face area compared to regular anvil of comparable weight. Interesting. I wonder if they use some sophisticated engineered alloy aluminum like aluminum baseball bats use, and if they did, I'd like to know more about it's characteristics that contribute to making a good anvil. I would not discount these anvils until I learned more about them.

I'm desiring or planing to make a new swag stand (who says wood was a poor choice?) and I like some of the details that one has. How high is the swag block, both upright and flat? That bead blaster would get a lot of use in my yard. Hoot. What are you doing answering this post when there is a well equipped shop laying idol? ;)

irnsrgn, I appreciate my history is off but it's the story us Californians like to tell, plus implying (implying is the operative word) the first Studebakers were wheelbarrows makes a great story even if it's not entirely true. I've always had my eyes open for any old wheelbarrows to try and identify one, but I suspect they are kinda like George Washington's axe; the head was replaced three times and the handle six, but it's still George Washington's axe. I believe only one documented wheelbarrow survives. I love Studebakers, I own two myself, a '38 Commander and a '50 Land Cruiser. I bought an old edition of Audels four volume carpenters and builders guide back in 1968 for a whopping four bucks. I have read them cover to cover many times, especially the How to Use the Steel Square section, and learn something new every time. I notice Audels are still in print today, but I enjoy my old copies with the genuine leatherette covers. I also have the four volume Masons and Builders guide with the red pebble leatherette covers and realized I haven't spent enough time reading them, there is a lot of material I glossed over because it didn't interest me at the moment. Hmm, maybe I can forge a masons hammer when I learn how to use one properly.

This thread is worthless without photos. I wager you pair of tongs will soon be you favorite and you will fondly remember every hammer mark. Good going.

The wagons are Studebakers. They participate in our town May Day parade (the oldest continuously run parade in the state of California) then parked down at the fairgrounds for the ensuing fair during the weekend. The horses are big and nice, you just don't need to get close to enjoy them. The wagon, however, is another story. I climbed under it and inspected it throughly. Suspension, brake drums, wheels, woodwork beefed up with lots of iron. Well engineered, just like their Studebaker cars were many years later, or the wheelbarrows made by John Studebaker in the California goldrush days. In 1853 in Hangtown a friend offered newcomer Johnnie Studebaker a job making wheelbarrows, which were in great demand. Studebaker

Frosty, what's the difference between normalizing and floor temper?

Hossfeld has download PDF files that might be helpful. The HOSSFELD UNIVERSAL

Santa Maria, I bought 2 tons of grapes there a couple of years ago. Drippy fog near the coast with hot as stink a mere five eight or miles inland. Interesting valley, I liked it. You're pretty close to San Luis Obispo. Isn't there a bunch of smithing going on at Cal Poly besides the farrier school? Maybe someone there can hook you up.

Shock resistant handle grip? I never had that luxury. I wonder if I can shove a chunk of garden hose on mine and make it go faster? ;)