pintail1

Thanks for all the comments, kind words and encouragement: yesterday my older son had several of his friends over (17 to 20 yo range) to remove snowplow mounts from one truck (that are going onto my sons Dodge Cummins)....My son is welding in mounts for a brush bar on the truck the snow plow mounts came off....a little bit of bartering going on as well as ton of testosterone and good times in the garage. Though they tend to make a mess I'm really pleased my son feels comfortable having his buddies over...they all call me dad and my wife mom. My wife went out and got them pizza....I remeber when I could eat like that. Did add my location on the profile. Rehoboth MA Tractors are: 1939 John Deere LA, 1946 John Deere M, Farmall Cub (1950 Demonstrator), a later model Cub-lo-boy (BTW, looking for deluxe seat frame) Case (model???never can remember) John Deeres and Cubs all restored but Case is in needs of work: also 1949 Chevy (2 ton) (has been on the family farm for years and is anther project). (My photo is me on 1950 Cub at Memorial Day Parade). (Have had my eye out for a John Deere H if I can fijnd one at a fair price) Oldest Son is Sr. at regional agricultural HS and plans to join Marines on graduation (Eagle Scout and four years in Naval Sea Cadets) Youngest son is freshman at regional technical H.S. (workjing on his black belt in karate) The younger boy is banging some metal at school which brings me here....though I'll admit I've always been intriqued with blacksmithing: have seen demos at Woodstock Fair (Connecticut) and at Shelburen Museum in Vt and have alway though I'd like to give that a try. You may be able to tell I'm a proud husband and dad, and also like my tractors, engines and a whole bunch of other stuff such as cabinetmaking. I've found with restoring tractors and engines to just ask for help and you will get it in abundance. I've aslo learned not to get between and enthusast and his opinions..when restoring the John Deere M I posted a question about the best paint to use...well that started a "discussion" that is still going on...I asked 4-5 years ago. (just the posts on "primers" would fill volumes). I've posted a question in "forges" as in my recent haul I got a Centaur forge and would apprceiate any information. (will add a picture) I'm getting real itchy to bang some red hot iron. (I kinda go overboard when I get into a thing that interests me, but I'm sure none of you kind folks ave that sam affliction) Hit and miss engines: about 16 including Jaeger, Stover, New Way, IH, de laval (will post some photos)

Bought Several items yeaterday: Centaur Forge Hay Budden Anvil Peter Wright Anvil Blacksmith Vise Plus a whole bunch of odds and ends (not to do with smithing) Any info on the Centaur Forge would be appprecatied (can' seem to find anything similar on web) Fellow told me it was coal/coke: with blower and foot pedal he added. Photos attached (forge plus the other items: I didn't pay much and the fellow gave me a generator. Sold his house and wantred to unload. I posted yesterday "New Anvils and New to Anvils"; he was a real nice guy and as it ended up I'm getting him in touch with a buddy who is into beekepping (this fellow was also and has some nice beekeping equipment to sell).

So far my son has been exposed to sheet metal fabrication, welding, and also blacksmithing...in addition he's done work with cad/cam tools for laser curring as welll as 3-D printing: I've been very impressed with what they have been teaching him and he didi enjoy the smithing. My older son is a Sr. in an Agricultural HS who has found a love affair with diesel engines and mechanics. His first truck was a dodge cummins (early) that needed work, so I was able to get some sheet metal quipment (slip roller, finger brake, and shear) (got all of those from a Boston Start up company for pennies on the dollar) (more dollars thans sense) and a n AC/DC stic mahine and MIG macine (both almost new) from a guy who did welding at nuclear plants (agin those were pennies on the dollar: he was moving to Florida next day and I was the only guy who called. In any case, using what I got him, my son made an old truck look new, sold that and has a new fixer upper "Dodge Cummins". I work on old tractos and single cylinder (hit&miss) engines and the sheet metal equipment and welders have come in real handy: I learned to weld and have been having a great time with it, not prettiest welds in the world, but getting better. I'm now looking forward to learning some basic blacksmithing: I've watched quite a few videos and I have to admit I caught the bug and now have the basic tools. Anyone around Rehoboth Ma who could show me the ropes would be real appreciated.

My son, 14 YO, enetered trade schools this past September and has gotten interested in metal fab (he's made some nice stuff at school): he asked if I could get him some basic metalworking stuff (anvil, etc.) and I was surprised at the prices when I started looking. I've done a lot of reading on the subject over the last several weeks and have gottens some ideas. I placed an ad in Craigslist for "Blacksmith Tools Wanted" and got a call this morning. Went to look and ended up with: Hay Budden (~250#) Peter Wright (1.1.24) ??164# Potable forge Blacksmith vise He threw in a generator (needs some engine work) and a cast iron kettle (for my woodstove). All for $400 (I bought a lottery ticket) He sold his house and needed to get rid of stuff: he liked the idea of a 14 y.o. using the stuff...there really are a lot of nice people left in the world.