norrin_radd

Thats really nice. I like the rivets.

A friend of mine asked me if I could make him a knife (knife shaped object maybe) to use for a prop in his churches "Living Last Supper" presentation. He is playing the part of Peter and its based on the Da Vinci painting. He supplied the materials: a rusty 1/8" x 2" mild steel flat bar, a very old 5 point deer antler, some brass to cast the "hilt" and a picture of the painting. I had the brass rod for the brad. He also told me that he wanted it to look hammered and sort of worn or roughly made. This is what I came up with the blades about 8":

The picture that he gave me to go off of:

For my first hidden tang knife like project I thought it came out pretty good. He seemed really happy with it.

Thanks for looking.

Thats pretty cool, great idea.

looks really good

My vice is on a wheel

I can roll it out of my way. Never really had any issues with it, if I need too I just put a my foot on it but its pretty stable. My anvil stump is somewhat mobile, its about 14" across so its really stable, but its not bolted to the floor but I don't move it much. I just put 2 casters on my table saw on an angled platform where I can pick one side up and roll it around. My shop is about 13'x19' and I try to have space for woodworking too so space is tight. I plan on building a woodworking bench that has wheels on it too. 

No problem, I've been wanting to try this for a while but was also concerned about the zinc coating. I wonder if you could burn it off outside some how and make it safer. Don't know if the local hardware stores carry black steel nuts & bolts.

...I find it uncomfortable being thanked by strangers for doing my job. I felt called to serve, and so I did. I did my job, and then I went home, and I've always found the instances when I've been thanked uncomfortable...

I'm right there with ya and with the rest of what you said about the people that look for that kind of attention.   I do think alot of it has to do with the guilt people feel from how the military were treated in the past.  Anyway not trying to hijack your thread.

 I'd buy that above anvil for 20 bucks if he goes for it, just to have around, probably find some use for it even if you never fully restored it, that's just me. I'm gonna guess at the weight at about 80-90lbs+-

Anvil hunting gets alot funner after you find your first good one.

This may not be something you're interested, in but Gary Huston on youtube has a video on a "handle or foot cheat" that he uses a bolt on the end of his work piece to make something similar to what your are showing. I think it is a pretty good idea, but it may not be suitable for your application, just thought I'd throw it out there.

Nice, is that a Carrier deck that I'm seeing for the base? Neat idea.

That drum smithy is pretty cool.

Like I said in another post if I didn't re-purpose this would be a short lived hobby, I spend enough money on it as it is.

Stainless steel kitchen trash can with a charcoal smoker back extension for my side draft forge hood. Actually most of the forge is "re-purposed".

Our first anvil setup, little over a year ago, 2" plate and various other things mounted in an old weight bench frame in the back yard. We've come a long way.

I have a pic of a hot cut hardy tool that I made from an auger tooth in the gallery but I cant see how to link to those pics in a post.

Thanks for the reply. If I didn't re-purpose as much as I can this would be a short lived hobby   

I have been using DraftSight for about an hour and I am thoroughly impressed. The learning curve from Autocad commands in practically zero, all the basic ones I tried are there. After 20yrs of using Autocad this is probably the best alternative that I've tried. Anyway just wanted to say thanks for the heads up on it.

There is a good isometric demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duB7LMlmwNI

btw I've done paper and pencil drafting too, IMHO CAD is the way to go, no eraser dust and smudges

IMHO, cats are nice to have in a shop that rodents can get into. But I do not recommend leaving any of that oil dry stuff laying around for any length of time or unsealed because they will use it, even if its on a spill.

Thats what i do.  What is "nut coal"? 

Is it bad form to post a link to another blacksmith forum/sites pretty decent RR track page? 

Man, I like that clothes dryer forge! Here is the forge I made from a plow disc,

Link to video

I made a hood from a stainless trash can and the back of a smoker

I'm using coal but it should work for charcoal I guess. I made a video of it working.

This is just a quick video demo of my forge and chimney I made mostly from stuff I already had. The highlight of the video is making part of my chimney out of a stainless trash can (woohoo!). This is also my first Youtube channel/video. I figured I'd start to take video of the things I'm learning to make as more of a personal historical document. Anyway I'm not a pro but it was fun and maybe it will give somebody some ideas. Anyway let me know what you think.  

This was my first "Anvil"

Its really hard to beat Autocad but it is pricey. I have had some success with sketchup, I liked the older version better, 8 I think.  I have demo'd Microsoft Visio years ago and it had potential but I dont think its as good as sketchup for the money. If you're going to buy something Id go with AutoCAD LT.

Welcome from another novice. There is alot of info here and a great place to learn. Have fun.

I found this at an antique mall for a buck. I say tong(ish) because they may not be tongs at all. Figured I'd try to find out before I turned them into something else. The ends are shaped differently.

thanks for all the advice. Ill see what I can do with it.

That is a great idea. Might be my next tool to try to make. thanks

Member Kette commented on the pic in my gallery about the hot cut possibly damaging the hardy hole by using it diagonally. Should I try to upset it more at the base and try to make fit the entire hardy better or sit flatter on the anvil? When I insert it in at 90 degrees its just a little too narrow and has alot of slop.  I used it, and it cuts just fine and wasn't hard to make, but I dont want to damage my anvil in the long run. Any advice would be appreciated.