Bud in PA

If I remember correctly you have to heat the object to at least 300 deg. and insulate it so that it cools slowly when using NI ROD. I don't know how you would insulate that vertical piece to cool it slowly.

Jason L I welded in a machine shop years ago, I had the same problem with my bifocals. Switched to no line bifocals, problem gone.

Thanks for all the replies. A neighbor just gave me oxyacetylene set up. it's quite old but it was free. I am going to bring the set up to my local welding supply and have them see if it is propane compatible. I know that I need the proper tip, I just want to make sure that the gauges and hose are ok to use. I have a RR track anvil. and when I tried my 4 1/2 " grinder on it to smooth the track part out, I got tired before I made much progress. I have a few fiber blades for my skill saw and may try that.

I have acquired a piece of rail track that I want to use in my press as a flattening die. What are the recommendations for cutting it in half? I have the usual 4 1/2 " angle grinder and an oxy/acetylene torch. I intend to use propane on the torch.

I have my Tombstone plugged into my 220 volt line and have no trouble. If you get a cheap flux core welder make sure you get a C clamp to tighten your feed wheels. It will work better when you get some wear on your feed wheels.

If you are happy with your purchase you paid the right price for it.

My shop is 8 x 12, avoids the bldg. inspector. Over 100 sq.; ft we need a permit.

I like your set up.

Merry Christmas to all.

I have started collecting coil springs and truck leaf springs and torsion bars.

Thanks for the input.

Right now I am just learning, so I just flatten rebar. I watched a you tube video on how to flatten them out with a round depression both ways. when I get some experience I will check into Ken's custom Iron.

A couple of years bac I bought about a half dozen hoof nippers to make tongs out of them. I paid about $5 apiece for them. I guess the ones that are for sale now must be made of gold! I guess I'll have to learn how to make them out of rebar.

I am on a fixed income and don't have extra money, a common problem. I've got a couple of 3 pound hammers, a cross peen and a sledge. With my aches and pains I was thinking of taking my angle grinder to them to get them down to 2 pounds. I use to be a truck driver and never worried about lifting anything until it went over 125 pounds. Now I struggle to get a 50 pound bag of dog food in the house.  These are HF hammers so no great loss if I ruin them. I do have a 2 pound ball peen to use. Will I damage my hammers?

I built a shed, at the insistence of the BOSS!, After I finished my friend bought a metal car port. I realized that I should have done the same. His  carport is big enough for 2 cars and he paid a couple of hundred dollars more for it than what i aid for the lumber. That also included putting it up. He scrounged up some old stockade fence and closed in the sides.

How about rubbing like they do with grave stones? Get some white paper and some artist charcoal, lay the paper over it and rub on the high spots.

George and Anvil Thanks for the advice about stocking up. At 78 years of age I don't worry too much about the future. I used to complain about my morning pain, but now it makes me realize that I woke up alive!

Thanks everybody for the replies. I can see another trip in the very near future.

Picked up my coal today, 100#. I told the woman at the mine that most of the coal suppliers that I contacted had no smithing coal, and didn't know when they would get more. She said that she didn't know when they would get more either. Is there something going on with the supply of smithing coal? I am only going to do this as a hobby, how much more should I get to last me for a year?

Called up Blashak coal in Mahanoy City, PA. They were the only ones I contacted who had any.

Thank you, found it for $10 for a 50 pound bag. I intend to buy 100 pounds to see how it goes. I am finally starting out and figure this will last me quite a while, and save me from travelling 45 miles to get it.

I have finally found some smithing coal. Pea size is all that they have, will there be problems using this. It's either this or anthracite ,which I use in my furnace.

I just checked Ebay and used tongs are not that cheap when you add in shipping. I have bought used hoof nippers off the same site with the intent of making tongs out of them. Since  I bought a few pair of them others have put out videos of how to transform nippers into tongs. Since these video have come out the price of used nippers has risen.

Are there any thermometers that we can use to determine the critical temperature of steel? Something that the average smith can afford.

In Scranton PA we have the Steam Town historic site. They have a Big Boy sitting outside. I can't imagine what it to machine some of the parts on that thing.