Anachronist58

That is a lot of hippies.......

I would not be able to make myself pay retail for that thing - I got it 75% off on Cruds List. At that price, it was cheaper than the time I have available to fabricate. I estimate $150 in materials on a bad day, plus labor. I could be way off on the aluminum alloy and the UHMW, and that light upper assembly is what makes this thing a Winner. takes 90 seconds to set up - DROOL AWAY!! Even a heavier DIY in all steel would be nice. Robert Taylor

Seeing as how I can not tell the difference between those three species, I am glad that I live out here where the Vipers have buzzers on one end! Robert Taylor

That is a pretty stripped-down version - As stated above, a ratchet model would be much nicer and $300 seems high to me. Robert Taylor

Sorry sfeile, all out of shipping boxes . Quite a haul, Mr. Bones, Happy Hammering to you!

Thank you Mr jclonts82 - Perhaps my in-person normally terse and pragmatic demeanor will warrant a few minutes of his time - and perhaps not. I will watch for cocked bear traps and other subtleties to establish his amenabilty to Interlopers, although having my lovely wife at my side has gotten me a pass through some quite formidable portals. Thanks again. Robert Taylor

NICE piece of Bronze, Hans. Picked up this 1 ton OBI Press, and this 700# Receiver Hitch Crane. Mast and boom assembly are all aluminum. Just because I can still lift 150# with my body, does not mean I should........ Robert Taylor

Thanks for the tips, MotoMike. It's forecast to be 90° next Monday - a nice, dry, heat . I am quite interested in all things "mining". I never pass up an opportunity to look at a 12 foot ø flywheel! I do not much care 128° F myself. Robert Taylor

My Bride and I will be stopping at a well-known blacksmith supply house in Camp Verde Monday, on our way home from Williams. I will look into purchasing a #5 made in India Fly Press, Trans-shipped from Wisconsin to San Diego, Ca. I started to post this topic in "Everything Else" but decided that it would fit better here. Does anyone have any suggestions for where I might visit while in the vicinity? Blacksmiths being of major interest, of course. Back to Fly Presses, I used the IFI Search Engine (Forum: presses, Pieh) to research Prior to asking, does anyone have anything to add about this #5 Press? Please note that all identifying information is included in this post (Points to a single model from a single manufacturer), so if you have been there and done that, any additional Quality/Performance information would be appreciated. Thus far, the above mentioned search has only yielded Positive feedback. Robert Taylor

OK, so now I know that this stuff is Frost Fractured, or otherwise not premium for knapping. I am Learning. Robert Taylor

Delightful Sir, it has translated well for this reader in California, USA. have a beautiful time at this international festival of iron. divertiti in questo festival internazionale di ferro. I too, am using Google Translate. bon voyage, Robert Taylor

Frosty, I inherited three large pieces of this, the first piece pictured will probably remain intact. So, limited supply. As to fracture, there will be flat and curved pieces depending upon the level of Flint Whisperer that one has attained to. The copper faced hammer made short work of it this morning. Pictured below are the two pieces that I intend to make samples available for fun, to any Knappers who have thus far chipped in on this thread. I am no Flake, so this is a sincere offer of workable samples off the Old Block. As I mentioned to someone recently, I have knapped, but I am no Knapper. I do knap every day before my second shift engagement.

My grandmother up in Clarendon was a collector of Alibates, so I have some nice pieces. I have not knapped any of that yet (I am no knapper). Seems to be pretty tough. How does Alibates compare to other materials for workability? Some VERY nice work, by the way. Robert Taylor

Howdy Micah, Do you have a clear idea now of how to wire your blower? Just checking. I can see in your photos that there is a conduit box hidden under your hand. That is where all of your work will be done. If you are still in need of direction, post a well-illuminated photo of the inside of that box. Robert Taylor

JLP, that is some question. I am a journeyman metal removal technologist, with 60% of the Path still ahead of me. I do not consider myself to be a blacksmith, but my passion for the craft springs directly from the fundamental principal of my profession, that principal being the controlled alteration of metals through plastic deformation: For this discussion I address only the narrow concepts of shearing for the Machinist, and squeezing for the Blacksmith. The more microscopic the observation, the more similar these processes appear to be. My passion for the craft erupted from the tedium of hours of conditioning cutting edges under a binocular microscope. Hearing the machines savagely applying my edges to the task was satisfying. But errors in Aerospace are often costly and unforgiving, and is was the savagery sans risk that drove me to the Anvil and the Primal Fire. The Mental Health benefits of Blacksmithing are well covered on Iforgeiron. Pictured are two polar examples - I am particularly keen on the forge-welded clevis rod detail on the standpipe. Although I also admire what went into the creation of the swirly-tailed dragon, I prefer a red ochre finish. Now JLP, tell me that the clevis rod is not one of the most beautiful things you have ever seen. Why have you chosen to reproduce Period Hardware that represent a pinnacle of form, function and Delightful Aesthetic Beauty? Your work is just plain gorgeous. If you do not wish to be known as an artist, then please revert to the pure functionality of dismal squares, rectangles, compass-constrained arcs, and triangles. no matter how austere you try to make your hardware it will still look like roses. Time for me to clock in. Robert Taylor