paradox1559

Well, ill certainly give it a try, I'm pretty sure I have high carbon rods laying around. I would want to etch it so that pattern pops out I feel I could knock on a couple bucks for that.

6 minutes ago, Buzzkill said:

While forge welding may be the preferred way to put high carbon on, it's not the only way.  Mr. Lincoln or Mr. Hobart can also help here.  Knife blades should be a quarter inch thick or less, and if you prepare the pieces properly then weld from both sides you should be able to create a solid piece of steel.   Then just forge out your welds and the cutting edge.  It's unlikely it would even be noticeable unless you etch the piece.  Of course that assumes you have access to a welder.

You mean, arc weld a bead onto the blade then forge it down?  Why is this the first I'm hearing of this?!? I have 3 arc welders, a mig, and limited access to a tig.

I don't have the knowlage, flux, or tools for that. With these blades the idea was to xxxx out as many as possible, while maintaining usability. 

I'm unemployed atm so I'm limited in the materials I can get, You will never see new steel in my bin. 

I 

2 hours ago, Frosty said:

You know, if you're building a market with horse people then making a real horse shoe knife isn't a bad idea at all. Shoers make horse shoes all the time, no reason not to make horse shoe knife blanks from good steel. You aren't making a whole horse shoe, not even half just enough to represent the end of one with crease and nail holes.

It'd be far less effort and time than welding a high carbon bit in a real shoe then forging a blade. 

Save old shoes for hoof picks, those are fast, really fast and easy. = cheap. Seriously if a guy can't forge two hoof picks form an old horse shoe in under 10 minutes s/he needs more practice. Easy $5.00.  

Hmm?

Frosty The Lucky.

I have so many horse shoes its ridiculous. Most ferriers in my area bring their old shoes and rasps to me. I've made many hoof picks, and halter hangers, and I agree, they are easy money. 

I'll take an old leaf spring and make myself a fullering tool so I can get that nail ridge in there. 

Well, that's a bummer. I suppose I could try making shoes with better steel and work from there.

I was playing with horse shoes and I ended up with a knife. 

Its perfect to keep in the barn for cutting hay open, but I would like your opinions.

I have a ton of people who want these, but I don't think horse shoes are made to hold an edge. That said, I don't want to sell something that won't hold up, I'm trying to build a reputation.

Here's my book bag, it used to be a shirt, but I figured I would get better use out of it this way. 

It uses galvanised steel, with copper for the inlay. I can't remember the sizes though, its nearly 10 years old and still used without fail.

Empty, it weighs 8lb. 

How much concrete did you use? How deep is it? I'm currently unemployed so money is Extreamly tight, I'm just lucky I know my local scrap yard so well.(I really wish they would hire me)

Unfortunately I can't bolt it down, my floor is dirt. That's why i have the large footprint.

The base already weighs 600lb and has a wide footprint, I don't know if that makes any difference.

I have some, but I was going to use it to make dies

I realise the anvil post needs to weigh more than the hammer. However I can't afford a solid hunk of steel. Is there a temporary alternative that I could find in a scrap yard? Perhaps an I-beam?

I have finally started building my guided helve hammer. I'm very limited in my funds, so I have to work with what I have. I am not trying to win any beauty contests, I'm just trying to get by until I find a proper hammer.

Nothing is welded yet, I think the base is too wide in the current picture.

I live by defiance

17 hours ago, marcusb said:

Were about's are you Paradox? I used to live up that way.

5 hours ago, marcusb said:

In today's market who knows, but before cable shows $750 for a rusty pile of junk was not out of line. I will say this in my opinion, to get the same amount of work done with a new home built hammer you will have to put some steel in it. They makes lots of noise but don't move metal like the commercial jobs did. But when they weigh less than one third of the old cast iron equivalents its not all that surprising. Something to figure into you cost comparisons.

 

I'm aware home built doesn't stack up to the real thing, I figure i'd work with what I have for the time being until I find something decent.

I've been looking at power hammers for a couple years. I've thought about building my own, and I most likely will. However I'm hoping I'll drive by some old farm house and see an old hammer sitting behind a barn. 

So my question is; what's the lowest price y'all paid for an old "fix-er-upper".

I have access to machining equipment, so I'm not worried about getting parts made. 

I will leave the machine intact, and build an Appalachian hammer with the overhead leaf spring. I'm not sure I can bring myself to destroy the press, it still has dies and blocks so I think its best suited for its intended purpose.

I don't have much room to work with. I'm going to have to machine the railroad track to get as much space as possible. I think, by the time its done, there would be 4-6 inches to work in 

Xxxx, the little one is loud, I couldn't imagine how that sounds.

Did you get before and after pictures frosty? I bet it was extremely satisfying to see it cleaned up.

This is the same one, its from the 1890's. I'm not sure what the "no.3" differs from the "no.1"  but you get the idea for now. 

Perhaps using four valve springs out of an engine, situated on each corner of the die, could give enough cushion. Maybe a fifth in the middle for good measure.

I will start by saying I will have pictures soon, and will edit my post accordingly.

A friend of mine is willing to sell me an old "toledo machine and tool" crankshaft stamp press no.1. If anyone has reliable information on them I would love it. I can't find any manuals or diagrams for this machine, as its old enough to use 4" leather drive belts. 

I want to convert it into a power hammer, for small work like knives and wrought iron. It looks as if I can easily make railroad track dies that can bolt right in, and I could even switch back to the stamp press if I wanted. I don't see any kind of springs in the ram, on the outside, so I'm worried there would be problems with locking up,  or snapping the driveshaft. The ram could be hiding spring in the guided head, but I won't know until I can get in there. 

Has anyone heard anything about a mod like this? It would save me a lot of headache. If this works, I'll be upgrading my entire operation from hobby to business.

I'm gonna stop by my local library today, can you recommend others to check out? 

I like the tilt hammer, seems simpler to modify. 

This is the first I'm hearing of De Re Metallica, ill need to find a copy, seems like a page turner. 

dam, I just had a junked MasseyFerguson square bailer, I was wondering if I could do something with the plunger.... Looking back there was a ton of useful stuff on there, and must kick my seat for scraping it.

Ok, so what kind of improvments can be made? I can't find any information on them. Im not looking to build railroads, just knives. 

Keep in mind I'm not going to build it out of wood