hawk18

The small face shows signs of being used as an anvil. Based on visual inspection, hardness and rebound, I think it is unhardened cast steel. The opposing holes in the rim pass through. The other two rim holes and the one in the small face are blind. There are no identification marks to be found. Given that this is the PNW, there used to be a mill on most street corners and odd looking anvils I’ve seen are often used for tensioning saw blades. This may be another one. Any info or guesses are welcome. CPH

It’s not what I did IN the shop. It’s what I did TO the shop. I moved my tools from the front driveway to a spot in the back yard. Now I don’t have to move my truck and trailer to be able to drag my tools out for use. Then, put everything back. Hawk

I made the rounds of a few garage sales today and considered my day a success. I found a gold mine of scrap. Actually, a steel mine of scrap. The tool on top is an A 5 Cutdevil rail cutter. Doesn't appear to have been used. The chunk beneath is my new striking anvil. 4.2" X 12.75" X 18.44" calculates out to 280lbs. Gonna take some doin' to get it off the trailer and into the back yard. Hawk

Also, a not so fruitful garage sale haul, I ended up with a couple of pieces of bar/round stock. One 5/8” x 7’ and one 1” x 66”. Wouldn’t be so bad but they are SS and also mystery steel. Give me some ideas on what they might be used for. Hawk

This was a pleasing mornings haul at a garage sale. The bench anvil is a little rough, but, usable. The bick was rough also and won't fit either of my hardy holes but I'll use it in the vise. Hopefully it won't be too tall. The top fuller and tin smiths hammer were in a box labeled "old hammers, 25cents". The hewing axe was abused but salvageable, stamped J.James & Son, Detroit, No. 6. Can't find any info on it. Got the whole bunch for $20 and he threw in an old oil pump can that is brass tagged from the S.S. Caledonia. Interesting read on Google. Hawk

Here's another find. This was covered in rust so I soaked it in vinegar for two days hence the grayish finish. No evidence of names or makers mark but shows some indication it might have been hand forged. Both the edge and poll are hardened. The body is not. I figure it must be an adze but I've never seen one with no flare to the blade. Not much curvature either, to facilitate close work in tight radii. If I can't come up with some other use, I'm going to polish it up and sharpen it. Then, I'll haft it and use it as an adze. Hawk

Got this in a box of goodies. Entire tool is hardened. Edges are chalked to show Demensions/taper. Curvature is approximately based on a six inch radius. Thin edge is not sharpened. Neither edge has been beat on by a hard hammer. Shows signs of being hand forged. Thought it might be a cooperage tool but can find no pictorial evidence of that. Thought it might also be for knocking the tire bead off a 12" rim. What say you experts? Hawk

Thanks. I have an old stainless rifle barrel that needs something.

Nice knife. All around nice look. About the Insta-blak, how does that finish hold up to general, non-abusive use? I want to experiment on some stainless steel. Hawk

Is that Thibeau handle wedge intentionally "s" shaped?

Just got this from the local "Restore" . Came out of their shop but the kid said they never used it. Lots cheaper than buying the materials and subjecting them to my welding. Top is 5/16 " plate and it's good and solid. Nice welding/assembly cart. Hawk

If we're talking about the wood pictured, and if you use it with the larger end down for stability, your anvil base will hang over at the corners. If you can go back and get a piece with a larger diameter, it might work even better. Hawk

Yup. Fat fingers for sure. Also meant the cable is too long. And, if you're bothered by my typing skills, don't look too close at my welding. Hawk

There's a 1/4" rubber casket under the anvil. I wish I had square tubing but the 2" X 1/4" angle iron was all I had. It probably would have been quieter if I could have packed the legs with sand. It's not too bad with the rubber and the magnet. Those darn bicycle lock people made that cable about 6 or 8" too short. I may have to use a piece of chain. Hawk

Just finished this for my new anvil. I like it so far.

Actually, it took three days, including paint. All made with scrap on hand. Eight hammer loops, two tong bars, holes at the corners for pivoting trays (or cans) and the bottom tray for bracing. I already like it better than my other anvil that's on a stump, when using it on concrete. I'll put it in the anvil stand thread also. Hawk

Under the heading of "Patience" A few months ago, I was at a garage sale that had three pairs of old tongs for sale. They were very rough but the seller explained that they were collectors items and wanted $30 a pair. I respectfully declined. Fast forward to today and these were available. Much more reasonable.

Nice openers. Could you please explain the one with the three buttons/rivets? Are they, in fact, rivets? I like the seahorse too. Hawk

What's the base for your stand? It looks like a fairly short radius which would reduce the torque you can apply to the jaws. Also, instead of flat stock, consider chain. This is my "portable" stand back when I made it. The chain idea was stolen and works great to keep tools confined and is easy to sweep of scale or other dirt off. I'd give the guy credit for the idea, if I could remember where I stole it from. Hawk

A little late, but good. Garage sale finds. Bosch 4" grinder, cut devil hot set, 1.8 lb hammer (pitted but good face) 10-11 oz Craftsman pocket axe. Original 10" handle and better than half original paint. The grinder is great, even if I didn't need nother one. The hot set is a duplicate. The hammer is nice, even if the face is too flat. And, I love the little axe. Can't imagine what it would be good for, but, now I got one. Hawk

Here you go.

Christmas in July I posted the anvil I bought, which I thought was a nice present to me, but Friday I stopped at the local Habitat for Humanity Re-store and this was disassembled and wrapped up in plastic. For CHEAP! No names or identifying marks so maybe homemade. Unwrapped it and found a thermocouple and gauge inside it. The thermocouple works but I don't know how accurate it is. I can't get the photo of the single burner gas forge to load. I'll try again. Hawk

Been on vacation for a week and couldn't wait to get home to pick this up. She's a beaut. She's 118# with plenty of rebound

Not Blacksmithing, but related. Could have put it in the "It followed Me Home" thread. I picked up a four pound single jack head for a dollar and didn't need it sooooo, I remembered someone posting a pic of a cats head hammer awhile back. I googled a good image of one and, using it for measurements, I chopped up the four pound head into a rough shape. (I annealed it first and test hardened a scrap to find out if it might work.). Ground it to shape and re-hardened it in water. Tempered it, polished it up and hafted it. The head is a little too short and the handle is a little too fat but it feels, hits and sounds like a hammer.

Bought this hammer from an estate. The deceased had around a thousand handled tools that they referred to as hammers. He had sanded them all down with a sanding disc and painted the non-contact surfaces black, hence, no identifying marks. This one weighs about 3 1/2 pounds and has concave faces. The eye has been punched crooked, both top and bottom. And, is rotated opposite directions. Hanging this handle was probably a challenge. There are top and bottom depressions in the cheeks but no flare. It might not have anything to do with Blacksmithing and might not even be a hammer. Have any of you seen anything like it?