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Mark, the backside of that socket looks great! Good job of fitting and welding. On the kettle handle, is there a lid for the kettle? If so, the handle may need to be extended upward a little for clearance.

Why do anything the easy way when there's a hard way so readily available?

That top snake looks like it could have been from our place... ventilated with a couple of pistol bullets. Beautiful work, though!

If the socket dimensions are not critical, you could also run your angle grinder with cutoff wheel down the seam in the socket, removing a little of the rounded edges in the midsection. Then heat and tap the sides to bring the seam back together to weld. It would give you a longer welded seam.

Wow! Buy a case of Advil and keep on making beautiful knives. You're an inspiration to those of us who can only dream of such work.

It looks so real I want to smack it with a shoe! Good work!

Bill Collectors Push Red Button

An X-Acto Blade on steroids? Interesting shape.

This month's project is a paper towel holder. I thought about cheaping out and making a single rod wall-mount thing, then my wife shamed me into more work. So here is my monthly project, warts and all, for everyone to view. The center post and outer post are 3/8" Tractor Supply rod, horse shoes also were sourced there. The triangular tie piece on the base was a piece of scrap from the shop floor. I started out the twist by folding the 36" rod in the middle, then using the loop at the top to twist while holding the loose ends in the vise. Then I decided the loop looked too plain, so I cut the top, spread the prongs and tapered them to make a heart. Then of course I had to carry that theme to the outer post, so I split the end of that rod and drew out the two prongs for a small heart. Also got some cold shuts in the small heart due to trying to take the half-round prongs to make them round. No such luck.

But have you ever read a book IN an outhouse? Sears catalogs were popular.

Looks similar to some T-post pullers I've seen except for the loop. Might still work for that.

If you'll look into local blacksmithing clubs or associations you're likely to find a friendly group of blacksmiths who will be happy to help you learn the needed skills.

That'd be ROOT beer in Mark's case...

I don't shoe horses, but I have been known to shoo horses. Especially when the neighbor's horse gets into my chicken feed.

That's some beautiful work! Unfortunately all I made was a trip to the store for a card and a box of candy.

Thanks for all of the input! I returned the nut and bolt to my friend this morning, and he was impressed with the information y'all provided. Maybe I'm off the hook for making one now.

A friend brought a very old bolt and nut to me and challenged me to make one like it, because he thinks it is hand made. I think it's machine made, therefore I didn't accept the challenge (I couldn't make one like it on my best day, anyway!) What do you think?

This is a statue built from scrap metal and commissioned in England. Amazing detail, almost photographic. Beautiful work! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4088906/Tin-Tommy-s-ready-scrap-20ft-metal-soldier-haunting-reminder-World-War.html

I bought a turbine vent that came with its own boot/flashing. I ran the stack through the roof and put the turbine on top of that. No leaks. It's 12" pipe centered between the 2X4 purlins. At the height where the pipe goes through the roof, the temp seldom exceeds 100 degrees F.

A "light tent" is easy to construct and use for shadowless photos of small items. Click on the above link to see how it's made. You'll also find some very creative photography in the knife making section of this forum.

Glenn has stated some very worthwhile advice. For example, just try reading the hand-printed yard sale signs on 8 1/2" X 11" paper stuck at intersections on weekends. They're hard enough to read if you're standing still right in front of them. 20' away and 30 mph, you can only see a sheet of paper, never mind what's written on it. Will your sign be for foot traffic on a city street, or vehicular traffic on a country road? Simple block letters are much easier to read than fancy script, so simpler is often better. Once you determine how big the sign needs to be, then figure out the best method of hanging it.

That's some beautiful work, but it raises the age-old question; "If it's an occasional table, what is it the rest of the time?"

My shop is open on 2 sides, so any critter with the inclination wanders through. I'm still trying to figure out which one stole my 1/2 pound block of beeswax that I left in a Ziplock bag near the anvil. Probably a raccoon or 'possum.

Yeah, but this was my neighbor, and I saw how much work he was putting into cutting the old truck up for scrap. Since he was going to sell the scrap to the local junk yard, I offered him a little more than I figured he'd get for those parts there. I like having good neighbors.

A neighbor is parting out an old truck, and I picked these items up from him for $25. The coil springs are 3/4", leaf springs are 3/8" thick. The torsion bar and steering links are over 1".