JHCC

Welcome aboard, Marshall! If you haven't yet, please READ THIS FIRST!!!

Bummer. I was looking forward to meeting you in person. (And getting my copy of The Book autographed.)

If you can’t hold it, you can’t hit it. There are some good discussions here on tong recommendations for beginners; check them out.

What Buzzkill said. You’ve got a nice Mousehole (aka The Undisputed King of Anvils), made between 1830 and 1835. The 1-1-0 mark means 140 pounds; look around for info on the hundredweight system. The upside-down stamp is unusual and a bit fun. People sometimes say that it’s the kind of mistake that gets made at the end of a shift when workers are tired and not paying attention, but it could simply be carelessness.

My last few hammers, I've given the ash handles a light char all over, then painted on a coat of my standard finish (1 part tung oil, 1 part turpentine, 1 part beeswax) and buffed it. Gives a nice bit of shine without the kind of high gloss that can lead to blistering.

Lovely. Just don't let the dogs get it.

Looks like I will be able to make it, but I think I missed the deadline for online registration.

No, and no. My supervisor's husband runs a dive shop, and I bought a decommissioned tank off him some months ago. Here's the dishing form I made from the bottom: Basically cut off the bottom, inverted it in a section of the body of the tank, and welded it together and onto a base (shown here with hold-down chains but subsequently given more permanent fittings to key it onto the anvil). The new one is made from the top end (with the hole plugged), which is deeper and appears to have two different radii. I think instead of having it mount on the anvil, I'll make it taller and with a stem to fit into the portable hole. Might fill the interior with sand, for greater mass. Nope.

Can’t touch those.

Did some drilling and tapping for the custom-project-to-be-revealed-later. Also did some welding on a new dishing form that I’m making from an old scuba tank.

I don't smell too good, even when unburnt.

Really nice. Very clean, very consistent.

The can you store your finish in is a good option. Just stir well when everything is melted, and put the top on when it's cool. I think you mean either "more likely that the mixture will not catch fire" or "less likely that the mixture will catch fire". (At least, I hope that's what you mean. Let's not set Daswulf on fire.)

Yay!

Ah, I see what you're saying. Okay, time to ruminate....

If at all possible, locate the two shops at opposite ends of the building from each other. Airborne wood dust and forging sparks are NOT a good combination. Also, don't use the same sanding/grinding machinery for both materials, for the same reason.

Like this? Or something hinged?

Maybe I’ll be able to work that into my next business trip to Maine!

Welcome to IFI!!! If you haven’t yet, please READ THIS FIRST!!!

Not much shop time today, but I did manage to finish up the stand I started a little while back.

I think I saw that vise when I was at Liberty Tool myself, but I knew it wouldn’t fit in my luggage. Glad it made its way to a good home.

They make good punches and chisels.

Unglazed clay tiles are even cheaper for pizza, if unsuitable for kiln shelving. I’ve even used a salvaged slab of chimney tile.

Thanks for the update. Still praying for you.

I deduce that I am well on my way to mastery!