pnut

Yet another great video. Something similar was used during WW1 in Europe.

Irondragon, I think you're right. Ancient blacksmith magic. 

Maxwell, it looked much thicker. Nothing to judge it's scale. It reminds me of bowling balls from the seventies. I think it looks cool but your opinion is the only one that counts. I agree it will make good handles for bottle openers or anything else you can think of. I gotta get back to work. 

 Pnut (Mike)

Maxwell, Will you be cutting the resin into thinner slabs for knife scales? If so they may look a little lighter after they are thinner a polish and buff may help make them lighter looking as more light will pass through. It looks good to me though. Keep at it and refine your process and you will get the results you are looking for. 

 Good luck,

                 Pnut (Mike)

Sorry you did say you'd be cutting it. My fault for the oversight.; ) Oops

The load is dispersed across the length of the entire table is my guess, also don't know what kind of support is under the wood. 

    Just my guess,

                   Pnut (Mike)

Bowen, you are very welcome. There's many more people on here that would know more about it than me I just wanted to point out that depending on how hot the face gets it could soften it. Be on the lookout for njanvilman. I believe he is involved in the anvil industry in some capacity. I'm not sure how exactly but he is very knowledgeable on the subject.

   Perhaps you could send him a PM. Anyways welcome to ifi and the art and craft of blacksmithing.

 Best of luck and post pics,

         Pnut (Mike) 

They ring nicely. How about a  phrase a chord a chorus or even a symphony of anvils?

I have nearly a yard of 136# rail and have been pondering how to make a stand for it. Since the shape is so irregular I was thinking about standing it in a garbage can and filling it with sand. I've looked through the improvised anvil thread and didn't see anyone else doing this. It seems like the easiest solution, but maybe there's a reason I haven't seen anyone else doing it. Any thoughts?

          Thanks,

                    Pnut (Mike)      

Welcome to ifi, have you been blacksmithing long? Personally I wouldn't do anything to it until I've used it for about a year. The only part of an anvil that gets used is directly under the hammer. That's about three or four inches. Many anvils have been ruined by trying to repair them. I would think long and hard before doing anything to it. You may make a completely usable anvil much less functional. They have hardened and tempered faces that can be ruined if heated. Someone with more experience will surely be along soon to give you their views. I suggest leaving it be for now.

        Pnut (Mike)   

Mr Ted , I haven't met you but am glad to see you back. It gives me hope when I see people fighting ilness and infirmity and succeeding. I lost my mother about a year ago and she faced nearly the same illnesses you described. She also recovered from them. Work was a tonic to her and helped her recover. She ultimately was overwhelmed by the flu last winter. I'm glad you are doing well and I hope you continue to do so. Thank you for posting and I wish you the best. Please let us know how you are and don't be a stranger. Stay busy and have fun.

      Pnut (Mike)

It's also a good idea to tuck in your shirts around moving machinery. A shirt tail can easily be caught in moving parts.

     Thanks and stay safe,

                        Pnut (Mike)

I should be the one to thank you Glenn and all the people who make this possible. It's truly appreciated.

Pnut (Mike)     

Thomas, I have to agree. Every question I've posed has been answered honestly and thoughtfully. I believe the problems  with younger folks today are no one teaches common courtesy and basic manners to kids anymore. Part of it is Young people's primary form of communication is online which promotes being rude and getting immediate results. You don't have to learn anything anymore because why take the time to read and memorize something when you can just Google and forget it. I've been taught from birth that please, thank you, excuse me, and I'm sorry will get you much farther than rudeness ever will and knowledge and skill is something to strive for and cherish.

My advice for safely asking curmudgeons  for advice is to try to find the answer for yourself first and if you still need help then ask a well thought out question and actually listen to the answers you get.

Thanks,

              Pnut (Mike) and    

I'm not sure if it's called a  sen but the tool he was using like a draw knife was also worth noting.

No more excuses about not having the right equipment lol. I'm going to make a hold fast like he was using. Reminded me of a shaving bench for wood working. 

Tanglediver, thanks for posting the video I love barbones smithing and the resourcefulness of his smithy. Goes to show it's not the tools that make the blacksmith.  

Forge Jim,  is the building you are renting zoned for commercial use? You mentioned being a professional. Hobby use and commercial use is vastly different. Most residential areas consider a gas forge a heating appliance. Using a heating appliance for commerce requires permits and probably a business license not to mention insurance. You need to specify in which manner you will be using your gas forge and you May get a more helpful answer.

Pnut (Mike)

socrates1999 I Know this is an old thread but I see you live in Clarksville TN. When I lived there Austin peay had a metal arts. program . Whether it's still there I don't know but you could check into it.  

GCKY , thanks yeah the closet flea market to me is richwood but it doesn't have as much as it used to. After the tornado damage they remodeled and it's not the same. I go about two or three times a month to check for tools. You can't get in while they're setting up anymore unless you're a vendor. That's when all the good deals are to be had. Too bad. I'm gonna get a 2# ball pien until I build up some stamina and then get the 3# cross pien that seems to be everywhere around here.thanks and let me know if you run across a two pounder. Stay dry. Hope the water isn't rising where you're at.

Glenn, my mind was made up after the first two replies confirmed what I was already thinking.  Thanks for letting me know I was going the right direction.   

Thomas, I've been actively looking for hammers. I ask nearly everyone I talk to. I live in a semi rural area. I can't understand why it's been so hard to come across a decent hammer. I've found many small hammers but no heavier ones. I tried using a one pounder and it was discouraging at best.  Too much effort not enough results. I'm sure I'll eventually find what I need probably for free but that could be tomorrow or next month. Like I said in the original post there seems to be a shortage of heavier ball pien hammers in my neck of the woods. I'm still looking but until then I will have to buy a new hammer  and I'm a cheapskate at heart but if you want to make an omelette you have to crack a couple eggs    

Fowllife, same stores they just don't stock any cross pien hammers smaller than three pounds. I still need to check harbor freight.  Unless I want to order one and pick it up at the store they don't stock them here. HF may have a two pounder but the last time I checked online it said zero available. I'm going to keep my eyes open for some at the flea market but that's a crap shoot at best. Eventually  lll find one there but it could be a while.

Fowllife, I don't like doing monetary transactions on my current internet connection. So I have to go to a store. None of the stores around me have a cross pien lighter than 3# . A cross pien would be my first choice but I can only get what I can find. I think that's the ball pien. Unfortunately it has a round face. The  engineer hammer at Walmart has a square face but weighs two and a half pounds. The synthetic handle is pretty short too.  When I build up some stamina I'll get the three pound cross pien. Until then It's down to the square headed engineer hammer or round  headed ball pien. 

Latticino, it's an engineers hammer I was talking about but mini-sledge is the name Walmart stuck on it. Coincidentally it does have a fiberglass handle. The ball and cross piens have wood. I'm leaning towards the two# ball pien just because it's the most comfortable to swing. I haven't been able to work with it but at the store it's the most comfortable. Thanks for the advice.

Glenn , for some reason there seems to be a drought with regards to ball piens at my local flea market. I'm going to check again this weekend. I couldn't find any over a pound. Someone must have gotten there before me. I can get a two pounder at TSC today though for about ten or twelve bucks.  

Which hammer first? I'm just starting out and have been combing the local flea market, junk shops and antique stores and have had no luck with finding any hammers over a pound or pound and a quarter. I will definitely keep looking but in the meantime the only hammers I can find new are a two pound ball pien, three pound cross pien ,or two and a half pound Walmart mini sledge. I'm not a big guy, 5'8"and 145#. I plan on  eventually buying the three pound cross pien but I'm wondering if I should buy the two pound ball pien or two point five pound sledge first. I'm leaning towards the mini sledge at 2.5 pounds because it's the cheapest. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,.

              Pnut (Mike)