rfb343

That sounds like my kinda place. I know what ya mean though, I lived in a similair place in WV, but it was about coal.

how true, I'm not much of martial artist myself at 5'9 275lb its gotta be something pretty scary to get me to move that fast...lol

Thats awesome stuff Rob, thanks for the picks and the summary... I think youre right I think I've learned most of the stuff yall covered at the Red Creek Forge School of Hard Knocks and Burnt Fingers, lol. but anyway the facility looks quite nice and I've heard CCFM/BGCM has some great instructors, maybe I'll just wait till the have some other classes availible.

While most likely a very intelligent woman, she obvioously has no taste for the finer things in life.... :D

So what yer saying is that its likes IE? and not the mozilla thing?

Not only a 'smith of the first order but a part-NINJA as well :p

Rob, so would yuou recommend the class at ccfm? I've been thinking about taking it being a beginer, but the I'm wondering if i'd be better off dropping the money on tooling and stock as I've got quite a bit of practice with the good advice and guidance I've picked up on here... Mark

172# unknown havent found any markings(put it straight to use) edges are a bit beat up and has a bit of dish to it but for my first anvil 40$ and half an 30 miles worth of diesel from craigslist. I was thinkin about takin some navaljelly to the sides of it but im not sure.... Anvil # 2 comin soon from my step brothers basement, unknown size (other than 1 man can carry it) unknown condition, but the price is right if it ever gets here...

LOL no doubt, fortunately I dont have to cram a cord of green oak or a ton of coal into a Citroen but it hauls nice in my 7.3L f250, although I would mind having a 50 plus mpg biodiesel burning car to haul the family around in. I'd be willing to bet that the change to the ultra low sulfur diesel has something to do with the jump in petrol

I made these fire irons for my fire commisioned piece,lol, no really a guy at work found out i was smithin and he begged me to make him a "tripod for campin" which I did but thought I'd save us both some $$$ so in my infinate greenhorn wisdom thought I'd use 3/4" round bar that i got at the scrapyard... well that was before I knew how hard it was for my puny arms and my small forge and inadequately supported anvil to work that size stock into those bends but I persevered and learned alot doing it and improved my smithy and knowlege... and I made that nifty little hook as I want to make a few bucks back so I can buy s'more steel.

Sears, Home Depot, Lowes, Farm and Family, Tractor Supply, your local hardware store, auto parts stores, any industrial or machine shop supply, I'd avoid flea market, Harbor Frieght(HF), trailer sales, as I broken many import/no name cutting tools from those operations and its worth a few dollars more for a tool that preforms well(and safely) although I dont think I'd pay SnapOn prices for a item like taps or drills that will eventuly wear out. I've found that Craftsman and Irwin(the spade bit people) are a good blend of value and durability. Remember use the right sized hole, cut SLOW with lotsa lube.

LOL, thats what im talking about, the heavy artillery, I've gotten the snot whomped outta me before by some indignant heifers, but I bet one of those babies could reduce a man to a pile of guts and crumbs... I've never eaten moose, does it resemble beef? deer? none of the former?

At least the pup is smart enough to hide under somethin' LOL :p

Whew, thats crazy just a few weeks ago VIRGIN lead was goin for $3k a ton, id hate to imagine what it is now

I feel yer pain, as i have drooled over many o' yard ornaments, and listen up my friends I HAVE FOUND A WORKING SOLUTION. It doesnt always work, but I have lucked out a few times, this trick works especially well if yer blessed with the gift o'gab. The first step is to aquire several pieces of yard art of thing that are of low value to you or that are easy to get(eg wagon wheels, wheel barrows ,tractor parts, stuff you made, etc), second, get business cards(not a necessity but very helpful to yer ploy), third always carry a little flash money to sweeten the deal, wouldnt you pay $100 bucks and some POS that you found at the scrap yard for a nice HB 200 pounder or what ever the dumb yup has rotting in the yard... so in summary offering a trade can grease the wheels as well as offering a little cash, but you gotta act like yer spending you kids lunch money for it so you can make some more money as a starving artist, these skells LOVE "crafty type stuff" while yer getting your dream equipment you just may drum yerself up some business.

^^^^^^from the same blokes that think ring circuts are a good idea^^^^ LOL just teasin, but I must say yall have some strange idea regarding electricity(including the above, and LUCAS electrical systems built by the prince of darkness :p

Nothin like runnin yer own bullets, but enough of that, we stirred up the pot(no pun intended) the quite a bit on the last thread like that Matt... :o

Thanks Don, Thats the answer I was afraid of, LOL, looks like im off to the flea markets as I struck out with all the overhead door type places nearby and even 1 installer that I offered cash to call me if he got a good stack of 'em.

I need to make some flint and steel strikers and and having a problem finding stock at the right price... I was thinking about using something like Kasenit on some mild(which I have tons of and I cant bring my self to cut up any files for something as simple as a striker, any one have opinions or insight about this?