DNADave

With some tips and advice from Frosty and MeltedSocks (Thank you) I forged a spring for a ‘new’ columbian vice I found last week. I’m not happy with it yet, some more work is due, but ‘eet will open’ Then I tried to clean up the mess that is my shop

So I played around a bit before I got back here and read above. I did some repeated drops from 25”. Most were 20 to 22” rebound. So 80-84%. Only lost one bearing in the mess.

I have a stainless steel ball about 3/4 inch diameter. I was going to wait till I had it mounted up but I’ll do a before/after and see if there’s a difference.

Nicely done. I like how you have a couple of vices mounted on the block. thank you

The seller is a friend of mine who’s a good picker. He sends blacksmithing items my way so we’ll never know the history I’m afraid. It is a 200lb Peter wright and we agreed on 600 which was as high as I would go around here in central West Virginia

That looks great. I have some mild bar I bought at lowes that should work. I’m sure I can draw out some ears on the bottom as a guide. I’m still on vacation but when I get home and do this I’ll post my results. I visited two civil war era blacksmith shops near Luray Virginia and a half a dozen antique malls and have all kinds of ideas for projects I owe you a debt of gratitude here’s some picks of ideas

Awesome. ! Thank you. yes. Jaws move easy when it’s opened.

This has a nice screw but is missing the spring. I have some ability in the shop and might be able to make the spring. At least will give it a shot. Anyone here done that and have tips or tricks? Spent $100 because the screw was nice and handle isn’t bent. Still has some crosshatching texture on the face of the jaws. if I can’t make it work, it will look good with my others.

Starting to clean up a new-to-me 200 pounder. Planning on a nice heavy wooden base for it.

Made some Christmas tree icicles this morning

There’s a lot of real talent and skill here. Maybe someday I’ll get past the beginner level but today I made another scoop. I’m up to three from 1 inch copper pipe and 1/4 and 3/8 round stock. The rivets are challenging for me to get tight and are made from nails.

Thank you. Looking forward to a few nice fall days in the shop cleaning everything up and putting it back to use. Definitely going to grind off the mushrooms but may leave one as a wall hanger.

Where are these threads at in the life cycle of this vice? I hoping they have a lot of life left in them.

Picked up a whole pile of tools today along with a champion 400 blower with an oil dripper, a Columbus leg vice that’s a beast, a 126 lb beat up anvil and a homemade forge. some of the cutters have sticks for handles if you can imagine using that.

New anvil today. 126 lbs. is there enough here to identify? I’ll be cleaning it up tomorrow. It’s on the top of my bench