Daswulf

Aus, you really have those shifty lizards and grasshoppers down. I bet you are really sparking the imagination in the kids. Great job.

Thanks guys. I was aiming towards it looking alarmed and guarding itself in a way. kind of on alert. it was the most menacing pose I could think of. I actually tacked the wing base on backwards at first. no idea why it looked right to me at the time. I ended up cutting them off and was about to bend them in the forge until I realized they worked just right reversed and set right.

looks to me like you are missing a step or set. Technicus Joe has a great tutorial on tongs from rr spikes on youtube. I have made some from that tutorial successfully. study it well them take it to the anvil.

I couldn't say for sure in your area. It's on the high end for where I'm at in southwestern PA. depending on the size/ condition. Maybe someone else could help more on that. If I had really searched and hadn't found any others for sale around ( including talking with other blacksmiths in the area) and I needed one, then I might pay that if the screw is in good shape. It's a tool that will last longer then you if you don't absolutely abuse it. Shouldn't hurt to negotiate a bit either.

Have them wind the screw out so you can see if it is in good shape. The screw and screw box are usually the make or break on vises. Any other part can be relatively easily worked on or fixed. That one looks complete. And the jaws look good. Prices vary in different locations.

Will said everything I was thinking. Good firsts. Keep refining as you move forward.

Thanks tC, Frosty. I agree with that, I enjoy looking deeper into things as well to find all the little hidden pieces that make it up. This one is a little more simple in my mind but I guess there are some different things hiding out. I always enjoy seeing how things come together and rooting around for the "right" pieces. On this guy I like watching his head bob around. And I'm real tempted to put him on my porch ledge and see if he scares anyone.

Awesome work 58er. Do you ride them? If so I bet you turn some heads with those. I don't know much of anything about them but I love the look.

Wow 58er, I think that looks great. Nice work.

That Is a slotted spoon on his head. I had to carefully weld 2 bolts into the spring for the neck to get the curve and as a better welding point to the body and head but the center section is free and his head bobs around freely. Thanks for the compliments. this one started out with seeing the head. Once I found the spring and saw how his head would be able to move I was hooked. Lol.

Yes you can. Just do it haha. get the urge and dig around., it'll come to you. My vibes seem to come and go. It's rough. 081.MOV

I'm sorry that the armadillo got on hold, I hope to be back on it soon. here is a vulture to sooth your mind until then. carrion eating filth pig.

I like the glue idea SLAG. I will have to try that if I have some around next time. (always hopeful there isn't a next time tho) I never had much luck with magnets but I suppose that could work in the right situation. I recently picked up 500# and 345# pull magnets tho. Those might do it. I do have nice pinpoint tweezers that have helped me many times but they seem to never be where I need them when I need them. Some how they travel from work to home and back, and I need them when they are at the opposite location. I mostly always have razor blades around. ( in automotive body work we use them a lot.)

It's hard to explain but I do my best to find the direction it is jabbing in at and run a razor blade over it ( pretty much like shaving) and it " usually" comes out. Think shaving With the hair grain, not against it. For the teeny tiny ones that you only feel sometimes you have to try to agrivate it to see if you even got it out. Some times this takes a little effort but it works for me most of the time. If I can't get it with that and it's driving me crazy I'll just carefully dig it out with the point of the razor blade.

Just use it as is till you come across something better. Just my opinion.

It's sad to hear about such things ruining someone livelihood. I'm sure he would appreciate seeing that the tools are being used and to see you progress using them.

Nice haul. Keep in contact with the gentleman, I'm sure he would help you out with more knowledge in the future.

Beautiful chopper! Nice looking leather work as well. I always enjoy the backdrops and stories behind them.

I havnt eaten one yet. I'd be interested if the recipe if it sounds good. I got them to breed and sell them but they are too good at hiding the nests and not good as parents. last year they hatched out 5 keets and I planned on grabbing them the next day but something got them that night. by the time I heard them alarming in the tree and went out with a flashlight it was too late. Found feathers and one dead keet. Before that I have seen two sitting on a mountain of eggs and other old nests with many rotten eggs that looked like a critter had got to. Aus, Cool picture. Every evening my guineas sleep in a pine tree outside of my shop. you can always hear them right before dark running around on the roof before they fly into the tree. lots of pitter patter.

3'x8' of 24 gauge copper.

Welcome aboard. Glad to see people getting kids involved with blacksmithing. Keep up the good work.

A Good rock isn't bad really. You have the ( ASO) anvil so as Thomas pointed out, Use it until you find something better.

Knowledge! Talk with him. Ask him what he used to do and make and see what good stories he has to tell. See if he will give you a bit of a tour through his shop first. He might point out some good tools you may not recognize as useful. But yeah, fill up the suburban, and learn some things from him while you are there. Dont forget pictures. We wanna see!

When I was a kid we had a pair bronze turkeys. They were stupid but very friendly. If they saw you they would come running to you bumbling around and bouncing off each other. They weren't mean at all. Unfortunately a guy shot them in our yard from the bottom of our driveway during turkey season. We found out who it was and unleashed the game commission on him. He had some peacocks as well and what Tomas said is very true about them. We cot some calls from neighbors early off, but no police visits.

Guineafowl are great watch dogs. They are pretty good insect pest control too but they like to roam and thankfully the neighbors yards mine frequent are not upset about their "usual" level of loudness. Geese can be good watch dogs as well and some may even attack strangers. I wonder if anyone was ever sued because their goose bit someone.