Richard L. Stanley

Treated wood is soaked in copper sulfate it does contain trace amounts of arsnic. I'm assuming that anywhere you would smith would be well ventilated. Carbon monoxide from a gas forge or the carbon in the smoke of a coal forge is also toxic. Don't think the fumes from the sparks will pose a problem as my shop is well ventilated. That ain't rod, it's a drill bit for a cable style well drilling machine, (Bucyrus Erie 20W) made a 4" hole in the ground into a which 4" pipe/casing was driven. Yes it is solid and those grooves are fuller's/flutes for the casting to flow back up the casing to be baled out. Drilled through gravel, sand, clay, slammed into boulders, and through limestone. Don't know the alloy, but got to be tough stuff. Best part is that there's still another 20 foot stem and bit in the scrap pile.<>< Duce

Thanks. I need to weld a base plate on the drill bit and square/polish the top. As for the rail, would like to undercut the top and shorten the base. Rounding one end, for radiuses, any square the other for right angles. I'm putting two 4X6es 14" long, at a right angle to uprights to counter wobble, making the base 14" by 14". Trying to keep the base small so you can stand in close. Hopefully I can get the rail and bit at same height 33" to 34". Best part all this is scrap off the farm. <>< Duce

Got in the shop after work. Reading several post about this I mocked this up? Any suggestions?

Howdy from central Indiana, growing up, manned a hand cranked bellows while Dad set well drilling bits back. Dad's long gone and would like to reconnect with those old skills. Being younger and so so smart, I let my dad sell a nice 100# anvil, bellows and an old ducks nest, still have his small collection of hammers. Going to see if I can post a few pics of some salvage to use for improvised anvil, forge, and later maybe build a power hammer. This is where I need advice any ideas. The small piece of yardstick is approximately 3 inches. The drill stem, bit and square stock is solid as is the RR rail, and gear. The drill stem is approximately 20 feet long, that's an old tractor weight. Yes that is me in the picture, play mandolin, guitar, little banjo, bass, and sing in traditional, acoustic band. Usually go by the screen name Duce, but lucky just to sign on through Facebook. Soon as I can figure out how to change my profile, till the my given name will do.