Smoggy

I use charcoal with hand bellows...... I use refractory bricks to taylor the size and shape of my fire as turbo is outlining above, I also don't draft the fire when I'm actually forging the work. If you are only working one iron at a time, turning down the blower while you are forging will reduce your fuel bill, it's the air that eats the coals.

I'm of the opinion that by the time you find and collect a swage block (suitable for your project ) you could have made the exactly shaped swages you want and likely have the cutlery half finished. You would also then have cutlery patterns unique to you!

....and if he keeps practicing.......he'll be able to draw a nail out with the claws.....!

You know, if he keeps practicing, some day he may be able to hit a nail with that thing....!

Welcome to the site Stephen, add your location to your profile as you may be close enough to someone who can help show you how to achieve best results. Although I can imagine what a digging bar is I don;t know what material it's made from or what you require for the rock drill, so I'll leave it to others to offer the correct advice.....however it seems to me you have hardened it and not tempered it....

You can still buy them with the wire handles, almost, if not identical pattern to the one above.

Where are you JoLynn? I ask as the arrow stamp looks like the British Military Stamp to me, and the name Pardoe seems familiar.

......and with a bit of T-cut the truck will be good as new too...! As I read this thread, there is an episode of Ice Road truckers on the TV........I bet they'd love this driver on that show!

cat stretching...................why was I expecting an activity? I do like those paws, so simple and effective, the tail could maybe have done with a bit of a forward curve from the base, and I'm unsure about the head......something don't seem right. You do realise, you'll have to do a mouse now!

Alan, my bad, the question was intended for Jeremy. However since you took the trouble to answer: I agree, it would require a large machine, and for that reason I did originally state in my suggestion "...spot weld the components if possible..". All is dependent on facilities, order of work and desired finish.

Welcome to the forum, That don't look overly encouraging for an anvil, keep putting the word about you are looking for one and sooner or later something decent will turn up. In the meantime any heavy lump of steel you can find will serve to get you up and running......nothing fancy required, the free-er the better!

Alan, are you thinking a spot of weld hidden behind the leg rather than spot welding the overlapping sections with a spot welding machine. If so, then I take the blame for not being specific enough with my posting.

Top job Das' I doubt the photo's don't do justice to colouration of the rings. It almost looks like you cold paly it! I'm sure the boss is going to be oer the moon with it,

If it works well enough and you are happy with it then there is little point in "renovating it". I'd be happy to have it as is.

I agree with TP, use one flat and one on end, which is exactly what I have done with my counter balance weights. You could radius the odd edge if you wish or even cut a step in one, or other such "useful features". ID I recognise that from Stratford, worked perfectly well all weekend long as I remember.

The later, you should be able to find some online videos of such fullers in use.

An excellent bit of design carried out beautifully. I'm with Alan, any additional "feature" could well detract from the clean lines. I think I would seek to spot weld the components if possible, with a view to effecting an invisible fixing.

"...A relative gave it to him 40 years ago and it has sat between two trees ever since. I had to remove part of it from inside the tree. ..." A possible source of deformation? Which part had of the vice had to be removed from the tree?

I still think the time proven bent rod hold down is the best, just a few inches of mild steel bar, no welding, no machining, and surely should be one of any blacksmiths early projects if an anvil hole is available for it's use, certainly before starting to split materials! No hole, then go for a chain type.........

Lincoln NE.......DUH! I have edited out all the information pertaining to Lincoln UK I originally posted......

Excellent work, impressive array of tools, top recommendation for Alex's courses and I at last know what those tongs are called.....and am now wondering why I couldn't work that out myself! Thanks for posting Ethan.

Another lifting equipment post! There is a difference between a "spreader beam" and a "lifting beam" ..........

You think that's crazy! No crazier than the continued use of other systems of measurement for distances, drill sizes, metal and wire sizes, and a plethera of other systems. If any of those are confusing, don't even contemplate the cord or gallon! Personally I can't fathom it out, I just find the measurement thing a ton of confusion........ As for the PW, there is nothing wrong with those edges, it simply has addition useful features.

I have Fibromyalgia, which means if I do anything for too long I have problems, ranging from cramp, muscle pain, tendon pain, locked joints, inflamation etc. The anything could be hammering, holding or carrying something, sitting in the same position. It is somewhat debilitating and medication does little to alleviate it, so I have learned to "manage" the condition.......I simply do everything in moderation and by regularly alternating grip, position, etc and taking frequent short rests I am able to continue longer and be as productive without the suffering! If you think about it, everyone has a limit of how long they can do anything, even the fittest and most able will be able to walk no further at some point. So if you do find you are developing a problem, engineering breaks into your work may help and certainly will not aggrivate a problem, this does not mean do nothing, you could do something else, put the hammer down, use a different hammer with a different size handle, work part of the job with power tools, even swap hands and develop a bit of ambidexterity. You may even stumble upon the case of specific problem that is effecting you!

duh !