keykeeper

Hope to meet ya, Thomas. I'll make sure to look for the hat!

Alright folks, as of tomorrow, we begin the 3 week stretch going into the SOFA Quad-State Roundup. So, as I'm gonna go this year, let's have a shout out to see who's going. Who can I look forward to meeting in person? Man, I'm getting shakey just thinking about it..............as this is probably one of the biggest events I'll ever get a chance to attend!!

Great score Finnr, and Doug C. Some folks have all the luck.

Keep in mind also that most of the folks that get "free" gas only get so much per year. How much gas will a natural gas forge use? If there is a cap as the usage, can you stay under that? Just some thoughts.

Burned? From Scale? While Forging? Never. Wait until you get a nice piece down into your shoe, while not wearing socks. I'm not a dancer, but was that time!:D

Sounds like a good candidate for a "Darwin Award" to me.:D

I think there's a blueprint somewhere for that, may be tied up in limbo with the site upgrades. I think I may have had a hand in it. I would use a longer threaded rod welded on, and a washer and nut to make it adjustable to different thicknesses of stock. Or, if you have the tools and ability, get a piece of square to fit the hardy hole, center drill it and tap for the the right thread pitch. Then the clamp would be centered on the anvil better, if needed. I may have to work on that sometime.

Finding a name for your forge can either be an easy task, or one that makes you obsessive/compulsive. As I said, think about what you do, people important to you, etc. It will come to you eventually. CurlyGeorge: Yeah, I thought "Peedabed" was a fun name. Seems like all my life I've been involved with fire in one way or another. I actually heard that warning a lot growing up coming from my mother, when I was either burning something, playing with a torch, matches, lighters, etc. Then, for a while, I was a Volunteer Firefighter. More fire, among other things to deal with. Now, I'm playing with the hottest fire I've ever had, and having the time of my life, so far. I've even discussed with the wife my last wish of being cremated, if I go before her. Seems only fitting. NateDJ: The sig line about "hacks" came after a discussion with a good friend about people representing that they knew how to do something, when they really don't. He sent a part out for a firearm for some work, and when it came back, it was almost ruined. So after talking for a while, I decided I never want to be referred to as a "hack". My sig line is just a reminder for myself, really. If I don't know how, I'll tell em up front. ( On a lighter note: I posted on a "forum" on another site similar to this, and my post was removed by the admin. there. One of his reasons--he thought peedabed forge was a "questionable" "handle" as he called it. Guess my mother is "questionable", huh? Oh, well, just won't go back there, anymore.) Anyway, enough said, you can have your thread back, didn't mean to hijack it.

Welcome to IFI,Aaron, from another Aaron! IFI is a great place to learn. Do some searching, there has been several threads concerning gas forges posted here. Lot's of info for ya, just have to look a little further. Also, give us your location in the User CP area. There may be a few smiths close by that would let you come over and check out their gas forges, before you commit to any one particular model. -aaron c.

No Oak in it...hmmm... Ok....we need more info in order to come up with some proper names, especially if we are not basing it solely on location. You could name it using initials from you and the wife's names, using you and your kids initials, using just the kids names or initials, something you enjoy doing in life, something you've associated with for a long time, using a nickname from when you were a child, etc. etc. Possibilities are endless. I have a backup name for my forge, in case I ever see fit to change it for whatever reason. But I'll keep that secret for now.;)

That, my friend, is an awesome score. Beautiful face, no large chips, and under $2 a pound. I'm envious.:D

Smokin' Oak Forge (referencing fuel for your forge) Smokin' Acorn Forge (possible other fuel) Burnt Oak Forge (fuel again) Burnt Acorn Forge Oak Nut Forge (Does an acorn qualify as a type of nut?) Acorn and Oak Forge Monster Oak Forge el Grande Oaks Forge (don't know if my spanish is right, but you get the drift) All I can think of at the moment. (I'd offer Oakwood Forge, but that's taken, right Jens?)

Currently I have a small benchtop drill press, 4 x 6 bandsaw, flux core Mig welder, 4-4-1/2 inch angle grinders (keep different wheels on all of them), bench grinder, and a small air compressor. The drill press is indispensible in a shop, IMHO. The bandsaw is very handy with vertical use, instead of killing your arm and shoulder with a hacksaw. Those cheap angle grinders are good, more or less disposable, but for me and my hobby use, not a bad investment. Things I'd like to have: Power hammer (either manufactured or a "rusty" type), a good arc welder to handle everything mig won't, larger compressor so I can make the most of my air tools, and a decent, older metal lathe. And, Oh yeah, a bigger shop wired for all the above.

That "meat and potatoes" anvil looks like a Vaughan & Brooks. Nice anvil. The school bought a good one.

You could order new, from a place like this Speedy Metals - 1" {A} Sq CA 360 Brass A foot length of this would last quite a while, just cut it as you need it. Just my .02 worth, may be easier than scrounging it.

That seems like quite a bit to take off with a milling machine. The face on mine is around 1/2" thick as it is. Taking off that much would leave little stepdown to the step area, making that area pretty much useless. Have you thought about using a welding buildup method, then milling the whole flat?That way you wouldn't sacrifice any of original steel of the face.

Vanadium Steel anvils are cast steel, how bad is the swayback. I have the same anvil, hard as it gets, awesome rebound, and rings like a bell. Let's see some pics, if you can. Then, maybe the OT's can chime in on how to fix it, if it needs fixing.

I agree with Dan. Never been to Quad-State myself, but have heard the stories and seen the pics. Plenty of equipment available there. Not that far from where you live and you could catch some good demos there, also.

Looks like you and little brother had a good time. I know you mentioned getting proper safety equipment, so I'm not gonna harp on ya for that. You'll find when you have some closed toe shoes on and pants, you can step up to the anvil and really get hammering. It'll maximize your hammering to a whole new level. How scale down the shoe or between the toes isn't very fun, eh? Keep on forging! -aaron c.

Elrod, I think by looking at the picture that is a flywheel to keep the momentum going when cranked. The installation of the motor negated the need for it. I may be wrong, but if I am, someone on here will correct me. The feed wheel would be the smaller one in the front. This drill has the feed lever also. -aaron

You are welcome, Sir! You can probably get a pretty good print of it if you print it out to full page size. Really, I like sharing information on these old tools. I have a passion for old tools, especially blacksmithing related ones. Finding them at a bargain is only half the fun, researching them is the other half. I have one of the Champion 93 drills to refurbish. I bought one, then an even better one, so between the two and another part I picked up on ebay, I have everything except the table support bracket. Hope to find one of those in good shape someday, but I'll probably fab something up until that comes along.

Not to highjack the thread, but here's a scan of your drill Frosty! In case you don't have one! (You posted while I was scanning, Frosty!) It does have a flywheel. Enjoy! (One of these days, I'll have the whole book scanned!)

Alright Elrod, as promised, here's the scan from the 1909 catalog. If it's not big enough, just click it again, you should be able to read all the text. Make note of the original price! Bruce is right, it's a dandy you have there. I love that engineering of the transmission. Enjoy.