Winston

I found this.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-454192/Shes-hot--The-blonde-blacksmith.html

Quote from the last link, "Though it was nearly 300 feet long and weighed 8 million pounds, the maximum variance along the Harvey 12K’s chassis was just 0.004 inches. Source: USAF Materiel Command"

That is just amazing!

If you look at the historic presentation someone posted a link to, it seems like it would take a machine the size of its self just to make it. How did they make the pieces back then?

I live in Shelby County around Columbiana and Chelsea. I would love to be there when it is quenched.

You can thank my mother. She is addicted to pinterest and emails me anything she thinks I would like.

Thanks for the ironwork link.

I found this pinterest page of doors. I love doors. Maybe someone else can be inspired.

http://pinterest.com/periain/open-and-shut/

My first anvil was a good condition 230# Hay Budden that I borrowed. It was my step mothers and had been sitting in a barn for years. Her Grandfather bought it from a guy just to have. He never used it, and is now dead. Even though her grandfather never used it, and she has absolutely no intention of using it, she became sentimental after about 6 months. I had to give it back... so it can sit lonely, and collect dust.

I definitely had some friends tell me to keep it because she would never use it. It sucks, but it wasn't mine. I am glad you gave it back. I now have a 150# Peter Wright in rough shape. I do miss the 230# beauty.

Saw this ad flash up on a website today.

http://www.beyondourrails.org/safety/better-safe\

Misinformed. He is just paranoid about accepting stolen RR material.

Anyone can buy spikes new. There are many sections of private RR lines out there in industrial parks. Not all spike come from the big RR companies.

As an engineer I suppose I could break out the old books and figure it out, but I do like real life tests better.

Impresive. I am suprised at how far it made it.

People do not understand how much power the rail road has. For example a county/city has broad powers within their right-of-way. Anyone doing anything within that right-of-way can be required to have a permit. Except the rail road. When a RR and a road cross, the road is considered to be crossing the RR right-of-way, not the RR crossing the county/city right-of-way. The RR can block a road with train cars and nothing can be done to force them to move. Because the roadway is crossing their right-of-way.

There are many ways to legally get spikes, but to get a lot for free might take some time. For knives and such I would think buying them new would be best. In a thread a while back we discussed some places to get legal spikes, new and used.

http://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/16111-where-to-buy-legal-railroad-spikes/page__hl__%2Blegal+%2Bspike

2 arrested for stealing 15' of RR track.
http://www.wtsp.com/news/topstories/article/195270/250/Two-arrested-for-trying-to-steal-railroad-track-parts

Looking at the individual listings there is about 25 anvils.

Sorry I had the wrong link. The link now shows the tool shop.

I keep up with auctions and was sent this yesterday. I admit if I had the money to go I would not post here, but maybe someone will benefit.

They have a youtube videos showing the "tool shed". My jaw dropped and I just drooled. My wife was in the room while I watched and just laughed at me. I can always dream. Atleast y'all can appreciate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBC5TGH3LuE&feature=related

Here is the auction site.
http://www.aumannauc...s.com/index.php

I think my first try will be a combination of the two ideas. I will make a a ladle shape but have a spiral instead of a solid dish. Curve the handle so I can attach to the upper end to a wall and it will tilt the nest forward at the bottom. With probably a organic termination of the spiral. I will post pics when done, which will be after I get some other things made for the wife.

Thanks. I learn something new everyday.

I found this on Ebay. He mentioned blacksmithing but I doubt it. I can't figure out what it is though. Anyone know what it is?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Old-Tool-it-Blacksmith-Tool-/320697280567?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4aab0c2837

:) I do like conversation pieces.

Has anyone ever made something to display a bird's nest? I have been looking around to get some ideas. My daughter and I have got 4 nests and several little blue eggs and are looking for a way to display them.

One idea I have is to incorporate a vine or a branch into my mantle and have it hang down under the mantle and cradle one of the nests.

I am also thinking of a simple stand to set on a desk.

Has anyone ever preserved a nest? I was debating between leaving them natural or spraying them with poly.

Also for anyone who thinks about collecting nests, put them in a zip lock bag and then into the freezer for a while to kill any mites.

I have never tried to make chain, and don't have any plans to. But I did get a helpful hint from the video. If I had not watched it, I could see myself welding every link to the chain as I went. He welded 2 links by themselves then welded 3 together with only one weld. Doing this many times would cut down on a lot of the cumbersome welding. Build it sections at a time and then join the sections, instead of welding each new link to the chain as you go.

Its the simple things like that, that I love watching someone more experianced than me.

Here is a little bit of a how too I found bouncing from that video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MW02VFn22tU&feature=related

I do not know this woman but this is on my local newspaper website. I liked the gallery pics and thought y'all might also.

http://blog.al.com/entertainment-times/2011/04/jewelry_designer_metalsmith_to.html

What about,

#7 Don't lose your cool

I would assume this came about after cool became a 'in' word, but maybe it was around before?