ThorsHammer82

Well I didn't notice anything obvious when I was wire wheeling it yesterday, So either it was on the screw box (missing) or they didn't mark it. oh well. I've already made it fully functional. Just need to choose a paint color and build the mount/station for it. Not looking forward to digging into the hardpan. oh well.

^ that's where I found the most resistance in the post vise I picked up last week. I sanded down both sides and the pivot and used WD40 to help loosen it up for the initial assembly Will be using grease when I reassemble after paint.

I picked up the jaws of a nice 5" post vise from one of the forum members on the third and was wondering where to look for any possible makers marks.

It'll be painted, but only in grease.

It's a beauty that's for sure. My question is where will it be located? I ask because I'm in the process of obtaining a post vise. At least for the first few years of its life with me it will spend it outside in the elements so I plan on doing a complete strip and repaint on everything but the jaws.

a 6" in "near mint" for $160 sounds like a score to me. Yeah Frosty, I couldn't imagine what it takes to fine vintage tools up there in the great "fiery" North. Seems like that whole state is on fire right now.

I wish I could this weekend. But I've got a mud run Saturday, and my kids birthday on Sunday. Otherwise I'd gladly make that trip. Do you have a link to good events calander for things like that? I'd love to be able to plan ahead for something like that. It looks like I've found exactly what I need thanks to this forum. Thank you Monstermetal for your generous offer. This Forum ROCKS!

Work in Olympia, and live in Shelton. But I go all over the western side of the state for different things. I'll be in Lake Tapps for the 4th, And I go up to Crystal Mountain on a regular basis. So Auburn isn't a hard drive for me if I can add it onto a trip headed close to that direction. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm not afraid of a project to get it working. Biggest concern is keeping initial cost low. PM me if you come across anything.

I appreciate the encouragement guys. And I will keep searching. As I've got a project that I can't do until I have a vise I can beat on. I've got a large acme screw that was used for a house jack, and wouldn't be apposed to make my own if I had too. Does anyone know if anyone has forged their own? or are they all welded together alternatives? I'm not against welding it as welding was what brought be to Smithing but I wouldn't be apposed to forging one either if I can find the right materials.

Price is dictated by size and condition. $80 is very reasonable if it's in working condition. But we see guys from the east coast that pick them up from a scrap yard or garage sale in working condition for $20 or less. I haven't been able to find one within driving distance for less than $150 and most of the ones I've seen have been 300+ miles away for that plus shipping.

I keep hearing about people finding smoking deals on scrapped Post/leg vices in the scrap yard, or at a random garage sale. Is this even remotely possible in Washington State? or is it more for the older states where smithing was much more wide spread?

Let me know how it turns out. I'm san's Cable of any kind save internet. If it's worth while, I'll figure out a way to watch.

Very nice. If it's forge welded, you'll never know where the joint is.

Don't discredit what people can do with minimal tools and tech. As you can see by the thread, I'm a fan of this man's work. http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?123161-Home-made-machines&highlight=home+made+machine

Luckily, I didn't start smithing until after the crazy neighbor lady went on her way because her husband "was being mean". Granted this couple planed on building the walls to the house they were building out of "cord wood" (split and stacked wood, in 16" lengths). They did, and he currently does, live in a shed. Now I just deal with the guy living in his car hauler behind us, and the occasional tweaker. Three dogs, and a father in law that lives across the street and is retired helps keep our place safe. Luckily he's always tinkering with stuff at his place so I don't get any complaints not that my makeshift anvil rings much anyway.

Auto Salvage isn't going to have the stuff I'm looking for, but thanks for the suggestion. I'll look into Interwest, thanks for that BillyO, that's really not a long drive for me as I Live in Shelton, and work in Olympia. I know the Navy Salvage yard in Bremerton has scrap metal to buy, but I don't think they take scrap, and I'm hoping to get super lucky and get some smithing tools on the cheap if I can find some. Thanks for the help gentlemen.

I'm in Western WA, and having a hard time finding a place that sells scrap metal to the public. the one I knew of closed about 10 yrs ago before I got into smithing. Is there an easy way to find locations in a specific area that sell to the public? Or, because of the recycling society that we live it today, am I out of luck on finding a place to buy scrap from?

I am by no means an expert, but one of the trends I've seen in my research was that the more mass you can have under the hammer the better as it seems to move the metal better. I would love a 300+ pounder, shoot right now I'd settle for any true anvil. at least an anvil that was intended for metal. Currently I'm using quarry breaks. One from a rock crusher and one from a rock breaker. both intended to turn larger rocks into smaller rocks. but they've done the trick quit well as makeshift anvils.

why not just mount them into concrete and use them as post anvils?

ok, so say I have the right weights for this. would it be worth anything? I don't want to use it for metal stock if it's worth something.

Ok, So a month or so ago, I got the privilege to pick up a good amount of old metal, tools, and misc. stuff from my Co-workers recently Deceased aunt's house. Her husband had been a jack of all trades type of guy and even did blacksmithing. Unfortunately the majority of the Black smith tools and hardware were gone. But I did find a tool that I have no idea what they might be and would like some opinions. This looks like it could almost be a scale arm based on the pyramid (close ups) on the side. of it.

Any guess on the age of the chain binder? keep in mind, the aunt's husband has been dead some 20 yrs now. what was the mouth/hook on the chain binder used for? it seems to be facing the wrong way to be used in the binding process. Assuming of course that the binder is used in the same manner of the modern non-ratcheting chain binders... post split

Ok, So a month or so ago, I got the privilege to pick up a good amount of old metal, tools, and misc. stuff from my Co-workers recently Deceased aunt's house. Her husband had been a jack of all trades type of guy and even did blacksmithing. Unfortunately the majority of the Black smith tools and hardware were gone. But I did find a couple of tools that I have no idea what they might be and would like some opinions. To give some size reference, the wrench next to the items is 1 1/8" open end wrench head. post split, posts edited to reflect only one tool

that's a beauty.

it's a non-structural weld and it's solid on my forge so I'm not worried about it.