shortdog

There is no scrap metal until I'm dead.

Pretty sure that's what he meant. That's a good idea for the tongs.

It looks as good as the one I'm using. I might try to work the edges a little with a file or grinder if the chips bothered me.
When I got mine, the edges were badly chipped and had to be welded up some with hardfacing rod. I have radii on the edges, but they don't change from rounder to sharper in the traditional way. It took a while, but I finally have learned where to go to find the radius I want. It's just a quirk, but it's my quirk.

I'd say "Good score" and "Cute kid"!

I think maybe it comes down to the soul of the thing you're working on. Granted, people aren't always willing to pay for soul.

I've always been a fan of old tools. When working with wood, I prefer my drawknife and spokeshave over any power tool out there. While building a skiff several years ago, I discovered that I could saw planks out by hand twice as fast as I could cut them with my jigsaw. I think the point I'm trying to make is that doing things by hand rather than by machine gives us more of a connection with our work. It makes it more of a part of us. The sad part is that production often outpaces what our bodies can provide. That's when all those machines become wonderful things.

More of a "Eureka" moment. Using displacement was a good idea. Thanks for the tip.

Stikes me funny that you warn about using cotton or wool and yet you don't wear a helmet when riding your bike. Texas is a 'no helmet' state also and most of the guys I work with that ride will take the shortest way through a state where they have to wear them. Desn't matter to me, I just thought it was humorous..

My favorite was burning my face while putting a loop on the end of a fork. I was working it around a drift stuck in the hardy hole of my anvil and was a little too close to the work. When I went to pull it off, there was a burr at the end of the drift. The loop hung on it just enough for me to get enough force behind it that I slapped it right to my cheek and right nostril. Nothing like the smell of your own mustache and nose hair burning! That rusty water in the slack tub was some kind of inviting!

I felt so stupid. The ten percent rule definately came into question wuth that one.

Paul- That kid looks so real! You, sir, are an artist!

I really like your three hook setups. I'm going to have to try some of those as utensil hangers.

After 65 the liquor stores practically give me my whiskey - but I still get asked for an ID when I buy my pipe tobacco. Go figger.

Bill

Mike- Find out what the local Health Dept. rules are on outhouses in your area before you start digging. Running behind the shop is one thing, building a structure for the containment and disposal of waste is another entirely. We bought an old used porta-john a few years ago for something like $75 and get it pumped every six to eight months, depending on useage. Costs us about $50. My wife has it set out by the pasture for riding students and visitors. The additives for camp toilets keep it smelling clean. Just a thought, but I'd hate to see you run afoul of the Helth Inspector.

I'd be scared of faling down in that shop. You'd get up full of holes!

Cool old picture. Thanks for posting the link.

The US Supreme Court has recently ruled that it is a basic constitutional right of an individual to own and have a firearm in their home for self defense. I'm thankful that the Court decided in favor of that individual right however it puts a great responsibility on the individual to act in a responsible manner. This does not give the individual the right to kill on sight anyone they suspect is going to harm them. One must exercise extreme self control or become charged with a crime themselves. When you compare Switzerland with Somalia you can see the difference between a country where the rule of law is observed and the rule of law ignored and what a difference. I read an article where England was banning the pint glass in pubs to prevent injury to patrons for several reasons, one it's use as a weapon in fights, the pint glass going the way of the sword. Now how sad is that?

How would a squirrel cage fan motor from a central air system work for a buffer? Too much or too little?

I'm not a fan of cord wrapped handles. You might say I'm the anti- cord wrap. You have restored my faith with this one. Say what you want about stress risers and whatnot.... If you were able to harden this and temper it without it cracking, I call it good. That is a very cool blade! Long live the Snake Knife!

Maybe stomach acid should be the preferred etchant. I've cleaned blades before only to find a crack. When that happened, I felt capable of producing enough etchant for a couple of blades!

How about a tent stake puller? It's just a piece of round stock with a bend in one end for a handle and a curly part (Like a pigtail) on the other end to grab the stake. A big old fork made from some 3/4x1/4 stock could come in really handy as well.

I agree on not forging bush hog blades. Those things can make a real mess if something goes wrong. Just getting them properly balanced off of the machine would be a job in itself. I know if mine isn't right it gets pretty shakey, like rattle your teeth out. I could see this job being a potential liability and a hassle for you.

I've never forged mine, and don't really bother with much of a cutting edge on them. I mainly work out dents and dings with a side grinder while maintaining the balance. It cuts just fine.

Those are cute. Can we see your BIG tongs now?

That's cool. Way to get around having bad edges. I've made some hardy tools out of trailer ball hitches. Don't know what steel they are, but they can be a bear to work.

Sounds like you two had a great visit. It's always good to get with someone else and share ideas. If you're anything like me, though, it usually consists of me learning while the more experienced smith shares ideas.

I think that the friendship is one of the best things about what we do. The help I've gotten from others along the way both online and in person has been a real restorer to my faith in the goodness of mankind. There's a lot of good people hammering steel! All I can hope to do is pay it all back to someone who is interested in getting strted someday. Matter of fact, there's this kid in my neighborhood...... Thanks guys.

I have an aluminum case that's 24'Lx 14"Hx 10"deep. It's lined with a thin layer of foam padding and has a vaulted lid with heavy latches and a center handle. I made a "pocket" out of heavy canvas with dividers stitched in to hold punches and chisels and riveted the whole thing to the back wall of the box. It also has two soft pouches made into the underside of the lid. One holds safety glasses and the other a box of kitchen matches for getting things going. There's plenty of room for everything I have right now, but I'm trying to outgrow it.

I also have a plumbers/ carpenter type box (open box with a long handle on top) that I made years ago that would work out good for carrying hammers and whatnot. Would probably look better at demonstrations, too.

Yance- Those are good looking axes. I haven't progressed much beyond tools and knives yet. I have done a couple of RR spike tomahawks so far, but keep kicking the idea around for a folded axe. I just need to get to where I can consistently forge weld. The learning curve has not been kind.

Where is Fairview? I live down near New Bern, and worked for a couple of years in Brevard/ Asheville/ Johnson City Tn. part of the world. You have some beautiful country up there, but the uphill part was more than I could handle being from the flatlands.

Keep up the good work!

Steve- That is a wicked looking forge! You're doing some nice work. Good to have you here.

Sam- When I read "donkey saw", the electric hacksaw was the first thing that popped into my mind because of the sound it makes. Good one.

Looks like what you have is a very heavy jigsaw puzzle. Maybe someone had trouble getting their kids to sleep at night and would get them to work this puzzle at bedtime? Who knows? Main thing is that it's yours now, and there's a bunch of steel in that thing.

Happy hammering!

Man! Your Dad has some really cool things at his place! I, too, dig the anvil/ vise. That's kind of the ultimate anvil there. What are the gears on the left hand end about?