keykeeper

IForgeIron Blueprints Copyright 2002 - 2011 IFORGEIRON, All rights reserved BP0385 Anvil Hold Down by Keykeeper This anvil is 70 pounds. A small anvil has a lot of advantages. Small in size so it fits small work perfectly. Easy to move or carry. And when you go to the hardware store and find a hold down clamp for the drill press, it fits perfectly into the prichel hole of that "small" anvil". It can be modified to fit any anvil. Just replaced the shank on the hold down clamp so it would fit the pritchel hole. View full article

Snowsmith: Listen to what Thomas is saying. There are myriad resources on the internet, and your local library will have some good books on the subject. Also, if you look hard enough, you will find some good, honest folks will to help you. Just remember, you can't learn it, without doing it! So get out there and make it happen! Personally, I read all the books in my local library, and even had some brought in on inter-library loan. But the true learning began at a conference, and was furthered after my forge was built. Good luck, and don't hesitate to ask questions as you go along the path of learning this fine hobby! Give us your location, someone on here is probably close to you, and would be willing to help.

Yesteryearforge and Ladysmith: That sound you may be hearing is the cheering from the rest of us for your offers to help out Elfshadow. You are to be commended, as without the passing of knowledge, and loan of equipment, some beginners would never get the chance to try it themselves. Bravo! Bravo!

ApprenticeMan: That is an awesome score. I see some blades in the making there. That vise looks sweeeeeet! Enjoy!

Backyardsmith, Use whatever you can afford or is available. I bought a Delta with the 1 x 30" belt and 5" disk on it several years ago when I was assembling handles to pre-made knife blanks. Worked like a charm for shaping handles. Also these tools are great for regrinding hammer faces and cleaning up mushrooming on chisels, or even sharpening chisels, for that matter. Just watch the heat buildup. The one you are interested in should work for a while. Be aware of availability of the belts, as the 30 inchers were hard for me to find local. You should not have that problem with the 42 inch length. I recommend Jantz supply for belts, they are reasonable, have quite a selection (including felt for polishing) and ship quickly. Check them out at Jantz Supply - Your source for knifemaking! Beware of eBay powersellers for belts, as they may not sell as high quality belts as what is out there. Also, hook it up to an old shop vac to pull the dust away, they create a lot of fine particle dust, especially with wood or composite materials. Most of all, don't fret about what you don't have available, use what IS available.

Very fine job Alan. Keep up the good work!:D

Mr. Smith, Thomas Powers, and Everyone else involved-- I posted the information about what I knew of the spoon with the hope it would give ideas to other fledgling smiths. Thats why I requested some more pictures of the tooling,for my own personal reference. So what if the legend that goes with the item has some fancy to it. If they sell at demos, so be it. Very few people are interested in the true origin of the little spoons, they are buying them for the whimsy or mystique involved! No ones gonna take it home and use it for spices. They probably end up on a keyring, with a new story about how this blacksmith made them in short order while the buyer watched! Imagine that, a century from now there could be an argument on a forum about these details! Let's say you increase the size of the tool to leave an impression about 1" or so, could make a nice spoon for soup I would think. It's all about thinking OUTSIDE THE BOX. Before this turns us all away from one another, let it go, it's not worth the fuss!!

We had a couple of those for auction at the Appalachian Blacksmith Association Fall Conference in October. They were made by a member that said they were great little demo items, especially with children watching. They attached a card that stated a legend about being used in Medievel times by women to measure their spices while cooking. Sounds viable to me! Could we get a better pic of the tooling used to make 'em?

Welcome to the community! I have a Shearing machine manufactured by Chicago Flexible Shaft Co. I believe it is the Stewart No. 9 Ball Bearing Shearing Machine. Pretty cool. I think the Stewart comes from one of the men that was a founder and inventor with the firm. Check the link Irnsrgn posted, it has some base info about the company. Otherwise, my searches haven't found much more on this outfit. Enjoy your time here, and don't forget to share your knowledge with us.

Nice Ferrous, Very, Very Nice.......Sometimes, the bushy tails have got to go, also. Got any ideas for pigeons? They are worse than squirrels, in my book.

Welcome to the site. Pull up a chair, share YOUR thoughts and ideas, and learn something too! It's a great place to share projects, also. I think you will find everyone very attentive and ready to help when you need it. You have plenty of welding and metal experience, so feel free to throw out your knowledge!!!

Welcome. Pull up a chair on Tuesday nights at 10 PM for the live Blueprints. I've learned something every time. Don't be afraid to ask questions, as there is plenty of experience here to learn from. I'm a newbie myself, and can't get enough of what this place has to offer!

Welcome to the community! Pull up a chair, learn and share your knowledge. Don't forget to join everyone for the live Blueprints on Tuesday evenings, there's always room for another!

I use a reel available at most home/garden type stores. You just hold the inside handle (the hole of the apparatus) and crank the knob to wind up the cord on it. Then just hang it on a nail or hook on the wall. Simple, effective, and works everytime with little cost. It will hold up to 150 feet of extension cord. For something very heavy, though, I would use Jr's mig wire wheels or pvc pipe capped off to make hangers.

Woody- I don't think anyone was taking the original post that serious, but thanks for the info. I have used Coke and other ingredients as a marinade for meats for years. It definitely tenderizes the tissue to a more palatable level, prior to grilling. I've also used Beer (insert favorite brand) with the same results. Same thing with Early Times. I've also been drinking Coke every day for the last 20+ years. And I'm not dead yet. I think the level of acid is so minute, it doesn't really affect the body that much. Besides, the stomach produces acid levels that will probably blow the litmus paper off the chart. I think I'll go have a Coke...........

Just don't leave it too long, Oak. It'll disappear like that t-bone...lol.

Welcome to the site. There's a lot of years of experience here, and plenty of good reading to be had on blacksmithing. Take advantage of it, and don't be afraid to ask, if you need to. Happy smithing!

That is one fine looking knife. What steels did you use in the blade, it has nice contrast.

I thought I had seen one before....I think it may have been in Percy Blandford's Sheetmetalwork handbook. I'll have to go to the library and check it out. Thanks for the replies Thomas, Irnsrgn, and Bruce. BTW Thomas...its plenty heavy. I haven't weighed it yet, but about 2 1/2-3 pounds in my estimation.

I'm new to Blacksmithing, and have been reading all I can on the subject. I think I've seen one of these tools somewhere in my readings, however, I can't remember where I saw it. Please take a look at the pics I've posted, and help me ID this tools use and name. Any and all help is much appreciated. I'm not even sure if it's used in blacksmithing, but I just couldn't pass on it at a flea market.

Very nice score. Lot can be done on that anvil. Keep on scroungin', dude.