tantofolder

A beautiful and inspiring piece.Thanks for sharing and welcome to the site.

Very cool!! Thanks for sharing.

Here you go.I guess it wasn't so recent. http://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/18101-champion-lancaster-40-forge-blower-restoration/

Check the threads in this section.A member did a complete tear down recently I believe and showed the entire process.As I remember the shaft will only remove from one direction.Trying to remove from the wrong direction may damage the housing.

Scroll down and you will see a whole sub forum on knifemaking.There are stickys there which will answer most all of your questions.If you are annealing so that you can grind,then you should really give it time.

That ROCKS!!

So much variation within the three.....WOW,just beautiful!

I am not usually a fan of pins,but I think they really set off well with this blade.Keep them coming!

You should be able to find a basic blacksmith's hammer at any hardware store,even the big box ones.A crosspein is what is generally sought after.While ball peins can be used they are a bit limited for some smithing techniques.

I came across this photo in an old folder.It is a jeweler's anvil I made for a friend's birthday several years back.I think it(face) was just 3/4" square mild stock.Anyway, I figured it would last longer than her crappy cast iron one.She is still using it last I heard.

Thank you for the very kind comment VaughnT,it means a lot to me.It is rare when I make money from my artistic ventures,but that is never really my goal. I have worked very hard in many mediums and crafts(drawing,sculpture,armour,to name a few) and second only to my process is my joy in communicating with others through my work.Thanks again.More to come.

I personally would not have carved(?) into the wood as it disrupts the grain too much for me.But the handle and blade shape are very elegant as is the scabbard.Great work!

Yes.....absolutely lovely!!It was definitely worth reetching.

You may have some luck at antique stores or flea markets.Depending on the store "antiques" may just mean more expensive.I got my first one at an antique store(4" jaws) and even slightly pricey($100 I think) it has been worth every penny. I have two larger ones now as well which weren't as much.Once you find/buy one you will see them everywhere,LOL....that just seems to be the way.

Thanks for the encouragement dcraven and marksnagel! Sorry Frosty,but the fire will be a while....I promise to let you know though. :D Here is a bit more progress on the lower legs.Just a little more refining on these two and then the third one.This is just about what they will look like though. Hopefully I can get started on the square stock soon.

Great form with some heft!!

To access each "finger" individually for tapering,simply heat the piece up and bend the other two down and out of your way. :)

While I have never made one myself,I will give my 2 cents.Considering lack of powwer hammer and size you mentioned,I would try a piece of regtangular stock, maybe 1/4 inch thick.Divide the short end into thirds then make two cuts long ways about 3/4 of the way down with a hacksaw.This will leave you with 3 fingers.Taper all three of them(one at a time) Curl the two outside ones over sideways and call it done.Hope that isn't completely confusing.

Looks fun!!....but heavy.

Well if that wheel is 7" the vise must be about 11"- 12" tall.Very cool looking!!

Well I finally got a chance to do some work on my forge.I put a slight curve on the bracket for the blower(sorry no pic),so it would sit flush against the fire pot hoop. Next I started on the legs.The upper portion of the legs will be 3/4" square bar and riveted to the hoop.The lower 1/3 of the legs(where it will flare outwards) will be made from pipe.I am still working out the transition from bar to pipe,but at this point my idea is to split the bar,inset into pipe,and weld into place.The pipe will hopefully look like the legs of a cloven hoof animal(goat/deer).I have never formed pipe before,so this was a new experience for me. I started with some thick walled pipe pieces 1 5/8"(?) in diameter about 12" long.Though the outside was rusted the inside still had plenty of galvinized coating which I had to burn off...yuck.Then I heated a couple of inches of the ends and flared them over the horn of the anvil.Next I made a couple of tools to work the pipe with.Each is made with angle iron.One I made the angle wider(I read 117 degrees was ideal for supporting pipe,but didn't have a way to check it) and made it to fit in the hardy hole.The other I made the angle smaller than 90 degrees and with a tab to hold it in the vise.This one has got to be the ugliest tool I have ever made.It worked though and is what I used to put the notch in the hooves(I slid the pipe over it and used a brick chisel). I actually haven't needed the wider angle tool much so far as I have mostly been working over the anvil.Here are the hooves started: Hopefully I can work more on the legs today, to finish the next joint and flatten the upper portion of the leg.This pipe work really is fun!!

Yes,that blade looks tough as nails!!!!

That is a beauty!

Fantastic!! The trilobite is a design too often overlooked.Thanks for sharing.

Sweet!!