ausfire

Neat back scratcher. I've done a couple by hand but it's hard work drawing them out. Power hammer??

Great work with the lilies! They would have been much appreciated.

Used it throughout today's demos with no problem. We'll see how it goes over time.

Too cryptic for me.

OK, so our local welder removed the cracked section and welded in a new piece. I reckon he did a superb job, and the hammer is now back in use. Here's a picture of the repair:

Great work on the guitar, Das. I have been using a few cogs and gears as well today, putting together a few of these little owl paperweights. Here's an anvil of owls:

I had to Google 'baluts'. Now, that has to be the epitome of revolting.

In Australia we call them crayfish, redclaw, or more commonly, yabbies. But they're just as disgusting. Here's a scrap art one:

Dasher: Yes, you would have got it straight away from the front view. It is very similar to an FB Holden though - just a few cosmetic differences around the grille and bonnet emblem. The EK has been in the family since bought new in Cairns in1962. It earns its keep too, carting steel, bags of charcoal and assorted blacksmith supplies from time to time. It delivered the rail spike seat today.

Thanks Dasher, but I'll give you one more guess. Not FC or FE or even FB - one year later. And thanks, JHCC. A compliment from you is highly valued!

OK, so the rail spike chair is now complete. It comprises exactly 100 spikes. Since it will be installed on a railway platform, I have branded the station name on the backrest. Probably not the prettiest of park benches, but certainly solid, surprisingly comfortable … and eminently suitable for a railway platform. Now my wife wants one as a garden seat.

Hi Neddy. Where did you do the knife making course? I did one with Terry Drennan at the Cobb and Co Museum in Toowoomba. Great bloke. Perhaps you've done the same. Anyway. welcome to the forum.

Sorry guys; I seem to have missed quite a few replies here. I do appreciate the suggestions offered. The seat is to be built mainly out of spikes, but not exclusively. It is to b placed on the railway platform, so spikes should feature prominently in the design. There is no reason I couldn't add some fish bolts or sleeper clips or other railway associated scrap. I have already started on the sides, made by welding rail spikes together. They are awkward things to weld as there is not much surface area between the domed heads. I'm using a lot of triangulation for stability. For comfort sake, I'm making the seat part from timber. Sleeper timber was too thick and out of proportion, so just 50mm water gum slabs. I like BGD's idea of driving a few through the timber so the heads are showing. I have a long leaf spring across the back and some scrap rebar for supports. At the moment, I'm thinking it looks butt ugly, but we'll see how it develops. I won't post any pics until it's complete. Thanks again for the suggestions.

Old Crew: not sure why. I had to wait a few moments before the vid was ready to play.

Sounds like a gong in slow-mo! The tourists are always amused with this little diversion in the blacksmith demo. Thanks for posting the video, Morris.

Well, I was unable to contact Mr Hofi for advice on repairing the hammer, so I decided to get another one, this time from America. I found a company on the net operating from Amarillo, TX and ordered a 2.4# Hofi-style hammer from them. It arrived yesterday and I gave it a trial run today - seems OK. It's a bit lighter than the original damaged one but seems well balanced and comfortable. I thought the price was reasonable at US$126, but as always the freight to Australia was expensive at US$114. The old one is all but useless apart from the cross pein end, so I have given it to a local engineer/welder to rebuild. A couple of pics of the damaged one and the newy:

Das, those two old pliers were badly seized up. I might do another one with a pair that I can open and put the rod between the jaws. And I know what John B means about cube twist handles - they are rough on the hands straight off the forge. I give mine a really good hit with a flap disc so the cubes are more rounded. (I suppose they are then technically not cubes). Then back in the forge for some brass burnishing.

So which way did you see the handles facing, Das? I did one of each and both are comfortable to hold:

This guy needs one of my bull's head billy lifters. Much easier than using that fragile-looking gum stick. It's not really all that hard to swing a billy. We have a tour operator here called Billy Tea Tours, and they come by my forge regularly. The operator has some pretty flash billies made from stainless steel fire extinguishers. They last longer than the tin ones. Not sure what function the gum leaf has - I have made many many billy teas and never used a gum leaf. I think that's just to entertain city tourists. The smoky flavour from the fire is enough. YouTube link removed

Thanks, Das. Yes. pliers would work well. Nice symmetry. I could see a whole set of fire tools with matching plier handles. Not enough hours in the day! It's the height of our tourist season here at present … carpark full of Winnebagos , caravans and camper trailers. Over 100 visitors past the forge each day. Can't keep up the supply.

Been rummaging around in the scrap as usual and noticed (while looking for something else) that several things could be used as handles for fire pokers or billy lifters. People just seem to like things that are recycled. Surprisingly, they are all comfortable in the hand and balance well. From the top (or left in pic 2) Rail spike poker, Ford truck wheel stud poker, harrow point poker, tractor tow pin poker, brake pull from vintage truck poker, metter's fence tightener poker, swivel link poker, twist handle poker from a Holden jack handle, horse bit poker with ring, horse bit billy lifter with ring, horse bit poker, horse bit billy lifter, and just a couple o knot pokers. Equestrian enthusiasts especially like anything made from stirrups, shoes, bits etc. Fun stuff to do when you get bored making standard pokers!

I know why you asked that, Mr Brasso. By way of explanation: Brasso is a workmate of mine and he has a sense of humour. This is the man who had the anvil balanced over Roadrunner's head in a previous post. Stanley the croc, now resides near my forge at the Historic Village where we work. This is Brasso's latest little trick:

Thank you. I didn't put it in with the intention of winning - just to show it. However, it's nice to have a win and the prizemoney will replenish the welding rods, mig wire and argomix which Stanley gobbled up in the construction. Now the question I have been asked a few times … what will next year's show sculpture be?

Thanks for the suggestions … yes. a buggy step seems likely. Some of those cast steps were quite ornate … maybe we'll add this one to our collection. We'll assume that it is a step until someone tells us differently. Thanks.

Just an update on Stanley. He certainly got some attention at the local Show, but it was quite an effort getting him into the showroom. Fortunately I could back the trailer up to the doorway and there were some burly looking banana growers nearby exhibiting their crop, only too willing to lend a hand. Stanley must have impressed the judges, and I'm pleased to say he won Champion Of Champions: