Cannon Cocker

Not yet. I've used many hoof pics in my life, I'm sure that this will work fine, but I've got a friend who's a ranch hand that I'm gonna give this one to to see how he likes it.

I got an order for 6 hoof picks the other day. So I made one tonight to try out one of my ideas. It turned out okay and I learned a few things that I'll do different. I have a few more complicated designs in my mind that I'll be trying out in a couple of days as well. This one has a bottle opener on it as well. Chaos approved but asked me to forgo testing it out on him.

I don't think there is actually such thing as a "big enough" shop!

I just realized I posted my last days work in the "it followed me home" page. Sorry about that! It was once again to wet in the forest to haul logs so I fired up the forge. I made a couple more page holders and a Nordic belt buckle (still need to make the belt) hopefully I'll sell this stuff at a decent price to help pay the bills!

I made another page holder. My wife changed the name from "cook book holder opener". I agree it's much easier on the tongue.

It's been a wet spring here in South Dakota too. We've had a record amount of precip. It makes making a living in a log truck a little difficult. But on the plus side I've had more time in the "smithy" lately!!

671 jungle that is a steering shaft off of a truck. Probably a semi.

Das, I thought about putting a ball on the other end but I thought that the spring steel might want to be heat treated so I decided to make it in a way that was removable. So far I don't think it's going to be an issue but you never know. I did however have to take it apart already. The position the handle was in put the rivet end pointing directly up when clamped down on 1/2" material, which is the most common thing I put in the vice. So I cut the rivet off, inserted the handle 180 and re riveted it. IFC thanks for the heads up. I've never been bitten by a vice handle. But a couple of wraps of leather can be a good insurance policy to keep my record going! I guess never being bitten by the handle is a bit of a lie. In the shop at the Mill we have a big machinists vice and when not under pressure the handle swings very nicely. I unclamped a piece one day and let go of the handle. I was standing to the side of the vice so when the handle swung around it hit me right between the "uprights". I think I'd take a blood blister over that!

I had a good day in the shop today. I put a new handle on my post vice. I finished my wife's cook book holder opener And I finished a set of pick up tongs I started a long time ago

I finished my fork...... And tested it out. It worked pretty well!

I love him too. He's not a whole lot of chaos most of the time. I named him after one of my heros. General Mattis' call sign was Chaos. Is follow that man anywhere!

Chaos is pure bred golden retriever. Also excellent at making friends!

I cut the stump down for my second Anvil. And then I had to try it out. It has WAY more rebound than the big chunk of mild steel I've been using for an Anvil! I don't have a ball bearing to measure it with, but when I hold the hammer about 6 inches above the surface and let it fall it bounces almost all the way back to is starting point. So I had to try it out. I started forging a fork.

No he doesn't bring home any other dogs. But he likes to make friends with every one and any thing, so I'm pretty sure he'd bring them home if it was an option!

I was unloading a stump for my other Anvil and Chaos found a new friend! It sat so still I was able to just reach down and pick it up. I will name him George....... (Don't worry we let it go!)

That bushing is probably "oil lite". If that's the case it means it is brass infused with a lubricant that releases through wear. (at least that's how I understand it from reading McMaster Carr). If you try doing anything with that let us know how it turns out. I have a nearly endless supply of that from the mill I work at.

Check with your local propane dealer and get a used 100# tank. Then take that to a welding supply store that does exchange programs with the bottles. I get 100# of propane for just over 60 bucks. That's about 1/3 of the price I was paying with the grill sized bottles...

Sorry if my question seemed rude. It looked to me like a round taper at the top in your first picture. A uniform twist on a taper is a hard thing to do. Keep working on it and you'll be knocking out cool hooks in no time!

How are you planning on attaching that hook to the wall?

That's a decent idea pnut. However, these bracelets are for the moms on our son's baseball team. They are made from old balls the team has used so there is a connection to them. She also feels that even if she was selling them the fact that they used to be baseballs is important.

I like your idea cedar Crest! I do get the kids out in the smithy with me quite a bit. Maybe I'll let her be the striker to flatten it out too.

This should help you picture it!

My 9 year old daughter found this clip on the ground thinking I could make something out of it. I told her it was to small to use them I felt bad......... Help me think of some things I could use it for please!

I finished the last two anchors for the trampoline. Then I made a little Anvil for my wife. She is making bracelets out of baseballs with brass name plates on them. The plates have a curve to them that needs to be held while she stamps the letters in them. Long story short I got to make a special punch and then stamped the shape into a piece of 1/4 X 1 1/4.

Good job making another addict!!!!!!!!!