PCornett

Steve, not being able to use a grinder at a garage sale to find the GOOD steel files, whats the most you will spend for an unknown file? I paid 5$ for the spike hammer thinking it was worth it and another 5$ for a huge 50lb. or so bench vice that I still haven't gotten broke free. I figured the salvage value was still worth it.

I wanted to find out what everyone had done as far as re purposed old tools/junk into new tools for smithing purposes. I am currently redoing a Railroad Spike Hammer into a stand alone bick like in the popular book "50$ Knife Shop." Last month I took a 8 lb. splitting maul and cut it inhalf and redid the wedge into a hot cut hardy for my small anvil, using a Railroad spike (-head) as the shaft. Will post pics in a very soon post.

Well planning on doing some sort of bick when I get the time. Any ideas or previous attempts, or what not to do?

Thank you to all who replied. I really do appreciate it.

I would love to see pics of what you have done! That is what my plans are to do with it.... I hate to destroy an antique but I am more anxious to get an anvil of some sort better than the RR rail I am using now.

I got this "hammer" this weekend as at a small sale. I went hoping to find an anvil and two guys walk out with one as I get there. I went ahead and looked and ended up getting a huge bench vise as well as this hammer and a coal bucket and shovel. Please take a look and let me know what you think. I am leaning towards some sort of RR spike hammer but as usual could be wrong. If it is a RR spike hammer I am considering repurposing it to a hardy tool somehow. Ilmarinen AKA Philip Cornett Joplin, MO

I have used several online identities in the past 18 years and most of them I still use in different situations, but Illmarinen is the Nordic Blacksmith Hero of legend. Creative, Intelligent and usually calm headed. Id hope to represent this as well so I took that. Philip Cornett is too long to type anyway.