Derek Melton

Big and fast is the best description I have right now. I think if we can get a firm commit from about 10 people, this will happen.

Jackson, MS. Middle of the state. The build might take place in a shop in Mendenhall, MS. I and another member are getting prices together. I think the 1500-1800 is realistic and attainable though.

As the title states, our forge council, the Mississippi Forge council has enough members interested in building a press that we are seriously beginning to gather ideas for a group press build. Similar to a group build for tire or treadle hammers, the idea is that we would obtain or design detailed plans, collect some up-front-money for materials, gather them and then establish a time and place to build 6-10 hydraulic forging presses over a few days. My primary question here is, does anyone have experience doing a group build of a hydraulic forge press and what design, if any, would lend itself to this type of build? We are thinking of a materials cost of around 1500-1800$ per member to hopefully allow each participant to leave with a fully functioning hydraulic forge press. Any advice, plans, design ideas are welcome. For what it's worth, I already own the Batson book on press building. Thanks!

Not a bad idea! I'd be happy with selling a few per month. Help fund tooling for the shop.

Wonder how I'd tap into those alternate markets. Anyone know of jewelers online seeking hammers?

Thanks guys! I appreciate the kind words. I typically go with a straight handle, it feels best to me personally but I can see where it would be more aesthetically pleasing to put some character in the handle.

I've been making some smaller hammers lately. Primarily to learn better how to use my new treadle hammer with top and bottom tools. What do y'all think? These are fun to make, made from hexagonal tool steel from old crow bars. Hardens up in water similar to 1045. Handle material here is Purple Heart and canarywood.

We have a new website going, the calendar will be kept up to date with meeting info and upcoming events. The past issues of the upset will be available and we will have a member gallery for anyone who wants their work displayed can submit pictures, check it out! http://msforgecouncil.com

Yeah, a part of me wanted to make it but I've made several other tools, belt sanders, hydraulic presses, etc. It's actually nice to just have this one ready to use.

I bought plans for 3 types of treadle hammers with the intent of building one this year. Plans changed last weekend when a local blacksmith decided to downsize his shop. I was able to purchase his Clay Spencer style inline treadle hammer. The Mississippi forge council did a group build somewhere around 2005-2006 and 12 of them were built. To my knowledge, this is the only one that's come up for sale. I was super happy to be able to get it. I had to put a new coat of paint on it but other than that, it doesn't look like it's seen much use. I'll be working on making tooling for it and cannot wait to put it to use. It has a few modifications from the original design in that the top hammer is 33 inches of solid 3 inch round and the anvil is solid 6 inch round, it's quite heavy duty and seems to hit HARD.

ThomasPowers, who are you asking! The Trenton I got has 3 holes. One front and back, one underneath.

its lost a bit through surface rust and the edges. I'd be interested to know what the 5 means.

I was purchasing an acetylene torch from a man today and while we were talking he mentioned he had an anvil for sale. He brought it around and I immediately noticed the Trenton logo and asked his price. At 150$ and in decent shape, I didn't haggle. It has a large wide diamond Trenton logo with "solid wrought" clearly visible underneath the logo. I believe there are numbers "102" at the base on the right side. There is a "5" on the front foot. Approximate weight is around 90 I think and the bottom is flat, no oval like some Trenton anvils. Anyone have any clues on this one?

Wow, thanks a bunch for taking the time for such a thorough response, it is much appreciated. I've spoken to a few other vendors from the same show, no one really sold much that day,so I don't think my pricing was the issue after all. It was a very small and under-marketed event. With that said, it was probably a good thing to start somewhere so small. I did learn a lot. The brand markings on my anvil stand weren't planned. Those were courtesy of my 11 year old daughter who got a little 'brand happy' one day in the shop. Every time I see them, I think about her so I keep them there. I really like the idea of hiding the bucket in sheet metal and making the overall look of my booth more industrial and I definitely want to make up some story boards, those are excellent selling tools! I have a shop apron coming, a really nice one from http://www.forge-aprons.com/ which will replace the crappy harbor freight yellow-suede apron I have now, I decided not to wear it and to display my brand t-shirt that day instead. As for minimizing weight, I came across a new NC big face 70lb anvil that is now my 'mobile' anvil and will make moving things a lot easier.

Anyone ever seen a press like this converted to use with forging?

I can neither confirm nor deny the ownership of the goat. That's exactly why the forge cart is behind the tent. I was afraid I'd light it up and we are currently under a burn ban. The propane forge was allowed because it is similar in nature to food cookers.

I had my first craft show on Saturday. I setup a small table and brought equipment to demonstrate basic items. First of all, I learned what to take and what not to take. I took 2 anvils, an 81lb Peter Wright and a 125lb SISCO Swedish anvil, one for me, one for my son who was working with me. The 125lb won't be going to a craft show again and, as luck would have it, I was offered a 65lb NC anvil while I was at the fair which will make a great demo/portable anvil. I also took a portable forging cart that held my small propane forge and had racks for tongs and hammers. I brought several varying sized bars of mild steel stock for making small items and one 3/8 round bar of 5160 in case someone asked me to make a knife. I also brought an assortment of hammers, tongs, punches and drifts as well as a few top tools and hardy tools, a couple of hand files and a wrench for turning, all of which fit into one 5 gallon bucket which I used for a quench tub. In retrospect, I think for demonstrations a coal forge (burning coke) would be the better option. I think I wasted a LOT of propane when people would stop to talk. Second, I learned that the sweet spot for selling is 5-10$ items. I took about 25 of my 4-5 inch split crosses made from wrought iron, which I thought would sell at 20$. I was wrong. I lowered the price near the end of the day and wound up selling 3-4 of them. The items that did sell were the ones I had the least of, small 5$ & 10$ items like hooks, leaf key-chains, necklace pendants and the weirdest one of all, 'cursive letters.' Someone came up and asked me if I could make a cursive 'Q' for them and after that I had a couple more folks come up and ask for their initial to be made. I used small 3/16 round stock, twisted into the letter of their choice. One thing that was really successful, (which perhaps we should have charged for) was making small swords from double-headed nails. My son really enjoyed doing that and the kids that got them really liked them too. Maybe we should have charged 1$ each for them because word spread among the kids like wildfire and my son spent the majority of the day making them and handing them out to little kids. He had fun and they seemed to be treasured by the kids so it was well worth it regardless. Last, I learned that doing a demo is a LOT of work and it can be difficult to slow down, I don't think I sat down or took a potty break the entire day. When I ran out of small items to sell I began trying to make more of them and then I was moving from making one item to the next so fast it made my head spin. I also found it a bit difficult to concentrate on responding to questions and putting my mind on the work so I wound up tossing more than one ruined item into the quench bucket. There's definitely an art to 'entertaining' at the anvil. Overall, my layout worked well but I'd like to refine my mobile anvil stand now that I have a nice, small anvil to use and next time I will definitely spend more time in preparation making smaller items for sale. I received many complements for my work and was asked to come back next year so, all in all, I learned a few things and I count it as a success. I've attached a few pics showing my booth and the little 65lb NC anvil I got.

I've recently started going again, I'd gone to some in 2000-2001 then I had kids and my free time slowed WAY down. Funny how that happens. I've been getting back into it. I heard Jim talk about the possibility of doing another treadle hammer class, not sure I'd be able to take the time off to do it though, which is why I'm looking at this one. For 1000$ plus shipping, it's a really reasonable price. I think the cost to make one in the class is around the same price. Right now, I think I would rather buy one than build one for the sake of time, etc.

I did ask them, after I'd started this thread. I was primarily interested in hearing from others who had gone through the process, many times the vendor isn't as quick to respond as forum users who have personal experience might be. They said it ships on its side in a crate, mostly assembled. Thanks.

Anyone have a video of how this hammer works with the power pack? I'd LOVE to see it in action.

Anyone have experience with the Mark Hydraulic Treadle Hammer? If so, how does it arrive? How much assembly is required? Got any videos of it? Satisfied with it? Thanks!

Thanks. The purpose will primarily be to hold my small propane forge and to have a hammer and tong rack handy. After thinking about it, attaching a post vise may be something that I won't use quite as much as I thought I would so I may attach a light vise to it. For now I would likely not be doing a whole lot of heavy vise-related pounding during a demo, until my experience and skill deepens. I spent some time last night working on it and this is what I came up with, so far. I still plan to weld on some side racks for hammers and tongs and will probably put a wood board top on it for now. I'm really new to welding but I'm happy with the results so far. That's 3/16 angle iron along with some scrap steel I had laying about and it seems plenty stout enough.

It's 130lbs. I have 4 now, an 81lb, 125, 126 and this 130. I'm hoping to trade two of the 120's for a heavier 200ish anvil. If I can find one.....

Hey, I'll be at the Day Spring church festifall http://www.dayspringonline.org/dayspring-festifall.html. It's a small craft fair which benefits Clinton Police. I have a friend that goes there who asked me if I'd be interested in doing a demo there. I'm a little nervous but excited too. I'll have a small table of the few items I'll have for sale and plan to make leaf keychains, hooks, etc. on the spot.

I've got my first demo in a couple weeks, anyone have some good ideas for a post vise stand that's portable?