L Smith

Some kind of fixed shaft, Both ends of the chrome show bearing/bushing marks.

Take it to a plating shop as suggested above. I had the chrome removed from my entire 3/4" socket drive set that way. Got tired of being cut by the chipped chrome. No cost to me they got the chrome for free! And it didn't take long either. However under the chrome is nickel plate. Mine are still nickeled.

If you can "lightly" scrape any metal off with your pocket knife held vertical it is probably coated with zinc.

Had to replace the brushes on my craftsman ten inch saw today. If we think coal is high priced try some small pieces of carbon for comparison!

My take on this is they never realize a lot of us found anvils,forges, vices, and assorted tools without internet. Then came trial and failure and the road search for someone capable to explain where we went wrong and how to accomplish the task correctly. The long ride home gave us time to rehash the conversation. The internet approach costs nothing; the road search meant you were willing to pay for an answer.

Yes Joel clean is down to bare metal. Then an evaporating degreaser like acetone on a clean rag. Clean is basic to a good paint job it is what makes primer and paint last for years. Handle only with latex gloves while priming or painting.

Yes I bought one years ago and turned it into a top cut until the wire handle broke. Am thinking about reshaping the back end beyond the handle hole to fit my hardie hole for an anvil tool and leaving the handle hole as is. Since it is really high grade steel it might be difficult to forge down to one inch square, only time will tell. But yes if you put a sacrificial piece of plate on your anvil and re-handle the rail cutter It will make a good top cut tool. They were made to notch rail for cutting. Very good steel.

When I worked in aviation the new guys were given to me to sort out on who stayed or were pushed out. The first obligation was to check out their tools. Those with a giant pair of channel locks, a large hammer, and a foot long screwdriver didn't get very far! It was a surprise to me to see big tool boxes with only one drawer used. My box was their other tool set. It got old because my tools were vintage and not made anymore. Most of the "I wanna make a sword" crowd don't have anything but Dad's old claw hammer. What I would rather read is I want to make a flower or a ladle. I guess the answer is to pound forward thru the dust and smoke.

Joel check out aircraft primers. Like Petere said light coats over CLEAN metal. You must have complete coverage and spraying works best. Then cover with your top color with good drying time between coats.

Any liquid will turn to gas at some temperature including water There must always be a pressure relief hole. You guys were fortunate. Too bad the directions did not state this.

On the good days when it all works together YES---Those other days I am just a slug abusing iron.

Do yourself a big favor and forget rebar. The stuff is not worth your time and effort. That stuff is so ugly they bury it in cement! I like the leaf it is a good start.

Yes it is the hammer slap that bothers folks. My neighbor has a gasket making business and ran it in his garage for a while, before he rented shop space.Rattled everything in our house. My wife was going to call the city on him every weekend. My reaction-- he is not on welfare leave him alone. Glad he found shop space though.

I used those North masks for years aircraft painting they are very good if you are properly fitted and tested. The thin flat disc filter also pictured not so good as it interfered with side vision and got in the way if doing close up grinding. We are remodeling our home and create a lot of sheet rock dust so I got my wife one also and taught her how to test it. We use them all the time. Home Depot sells them with replaceable cartridges. Harbor freight ones are junk.

It should be one quick step back to give the handle a flip. At least that is how I always kept it going.

think about ship ballast. Here in the U.S. nail kegs have been shipped as ballast.

When removing split collars always examine them and the shaft for dimples or other identification marks. the identifiers are there for reassembly to the correct side of the shaft.

I once drove over 200 Miles to ask Mr Witticer (sp) how to forge a leaf back towards the leaf stem. He looked at my leaf samples and said "son black smiths use files a lot". Gave me something to think about on the long drive home. It was a long day.

I made one for my brother out of a bearing race from his 1 ton chevy work truck. The hard part for me was not ruining the bearing numbers when finishing. Yes it is a hard material to work.

The companies that supply cleaning solutions to aviation repair facilities use 30 gallon drums.

The questions you are asking is the very reason I recommended Jr college night school. All of those questions will be resolved there. Your parents and neighbors are paying taxes to support these schools. And soon hopefully you will also with your property taxes. Jr college is cheap.

Always think long term when buying power tools. upgrade/buy better than you need today. It pays long term or you will soon replace with what you should have bought. Fall classes are now starting in jr collage and most area have night classes in welding. This was the cheapest welding course I could find (tax funded) Your questions will be answered there by teachers that can guide your learning curve and help you with your projects. The night welding courses I took were fun,cheap, and educational plus I met a lot of nice people.

Make a clinker hook - - Forge a 18" small bar or rebar into a right angle hook about 2" long on one end and drag them out. Not hard to see after a while. I was preparing a new fire one morning and raking them out by hand and pulled out a scorpion, both of us were surprised!

The reason I said that is mine is swayed in the middle from the day I bought it in the sixty's and I haven't worn much more off since then. We often worry too much about serviceable life. I have no idea how old mine is and really don't care Since I will never wear it out at my age of 69 years..

I bet you can't wear a hole in the center of the face working with it!