sirsparky1807

Have a question I have been searching for information on the drift size most common for a hawk , and right now am more confused than before there seams to be not actual set size . That is that I can find I made a drift to one inch but it seams a little small that is to me , is there a set or common size that most use when punching not welding and shaping .

It's 5 inches on the jaw width .

Frosty with all the post on here that I've read I should have known that type of response would be coming out soon . Lol No No problems in that area here , lol But if anyone has a guess on the age of the vice sure would be happy to hear it . From all that I've been able to find out is that , with the way it was made and all it might be from the late 1800 or early 1900's does that sound close ?

Lol didn't know there were that many lonely smiths out there or I would have rephrased the way I wrote the title to it .

Thank you for the advice almost have it all cleaned up should have it mounted tomorrow , just need to do a little bit of work on the spring and it will be ready to be put back into service . Thanks again .

After a year of hunting finally found a post vice I wanted , need some advice on what type of grease to us in the gear box . I was thinking about using bearing grease but before I cleaned the old out and used wanted to check if the would be the right stuff to use . Secondly can any one maybe tell me how old it is I know it was forged , and forged welded there is no markings to be found . I know it's wrought iron and 5 layers were used on each side , and markes of a hot cutoff left on the bottom of the jaw opposite the post . Not going to wire wheel just lightly wire brush and oil , any advice will be greatly appriciated .

Will do Frosty ill compare it to the other steel that I have now , I've got rasp , shoes , rail spikes , mower blades , rebar , and some flat stock . I'm still looking for the right stuff to make the cutoffs and other tools with , ill keep looking and scrapping if all else fails will buy what I need . Waiting on the hardy block to get finished being made and traded out for hope to get it next week , just cant wait to get started back on the hardy again and make it right this time .

Thank you Gottmituns and frosty I know its in here some where about testing it at the shop had read it once before , want to read it again and take some notes to keep it close at hand . The big thing is for a field test right now looking for good steel to make tools with , most would say go buy it that's not half the fun the quest and making it yourself is what keeps it fun . Have been on a quest for a while for a post vice and hope after this weekend that will be over also , so thanks for your help ill give it all a try and keep reading and looking for the post on here also .

Thank you Mr. Stevens knew you would have the answer , asked it on the hardy topic also to see if it would work also . But first to the scrap yard for some more metal that you and others said will work .

Ok a repeat from beginners question , went to the welder's today dropped off drawing for the hardy block and what material I had for it . When I was leaving he threw me a piece of round stock that came off a large electric motor he said and that it will work for what I am wanting to build . Still heading to the scrap yard to see what I can find , the question is can I use it for smithing is it good metal to use for tools ?

Another beginner question how can you tell the difference in steal when you go to a scrap yard , went to a welder's shop today to get a project welded for a hardy hole . When we were finished with discussing my drawing and needs , I told him what it was for and what I had done to make a cut off and what I used . He threw me a piece of round stock he said would work for me . It was part of a shaft off a large electric motor he said , is it good steal and can you use it to make hardy tools with ? Thanks for any advice

Out of the box never thought of that it's great , my rail is better than the other just doesn't have the width . I should say to me plus I'm more at home with the feel and ring , time to go back to the start . Thank both of you for the advice .

Thanks for the input and advice Mr. Stevens and Frosty , a little worried about driving it into the hardy hole . This anvil is a 55 pounder from harbor freight , bought it because of the wider face and hardy hole . Trying my best to find a good one here in Texas that doesn't cost as much as I can buy a new one for from Centrum forge . Might go back to my railroad track after I find a piece of good one inch plate to weld on top and garden with hardy and prickle hole . But time to try again thanks again for your advice and patients .

Agreed on all points Mr. Stevens after catching the local blacksmith in town , and we talked found the problems besides the steal . Was that needed to upset it more for more to fit on the anvil it self not just the hardy , the first go at it now to get some good steal and make another one .

There it is my hot cut off hardy , over all took about two and a half hours . There are a few things I need to change on the next one , but deal now that I have learned enough from this one . To go out and buy some good steal like DSW was saying , and build another . This piece came from a high rise I was working at 15 years ago , the steal might not be the best but I learned a lot doing it . For now for me that's what counts to learn and have fun doing it , thank you to everyone for their input , and let me know what you think and would change .