pnut

So sorry to hear this Charles. Septicemia is a very serious concern. I hope the surgery goes well and she makes a quick recovery. I have a friend who just recoverd from surgery due to endocarditis. Positive thoughts are coming your way. Pnut

I posted a topic at some point titled, getting started on the cheap. https://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/65352-getting-started-on-the-cheap/?tab=comments#comment-687106 It has all the links I found helpful in the beginning. Welcome aboard, good luck, be safe, and remember it's supposed to be fun. Pnut

It's a hole that something guzinta. Pnut

My anvil is tiny. 30kg but I have a vertical rail that's about 52 kg so between the two I can accomplish any of the projects I work on. Mostly smaller decorative items and hardware. Pnut

I read through the threads. I was just saying I can empathize with you. I did a lot of preparing and research etc over the course of about two years. When I actually seen how little I really needed to do basic smithing I felt like I could have used that time a little better. I understand what it's like not having a ride too. My car died last year and it took me about six or eight months to save up enough for another vehicle. Advice is great and definitely should be heeded if it comes from IFI but it's not the only or best way to go about whatever you're trying to accomplish in many cases because who knows your situation better than yourself? It's about what works for you at your location with your equipment. As they say though, "Two heads are better than one." There's been many times I've asked for advice here and was suggested a way of doing something that hadn't or wouldn't have ever occurred to me. I'm glad you got the supplies you needed and I can't wait to follow your progress. Good luck, be safe, and remember it's supposed to be fun. Pnut

I'm guessing it wasn't a sealed motor. Sorry to hear it. I don't have a 2x72 but I know they're not cheap. Save some money and just get a new motor perhaps? I haven't done anything in quite a while. I just can't bounce back from the medical problem I had a while back. I did sand some hammer handles and rubbed all of the hammers I use down with BLO. They're currently soaking head down in about a quarter inch of BLO. I need to give all my hand tools anvil, vise, etc. a wipe down. They are rusting in my SUV because of the temperature difference at night. I'll get on that later. Have a good day fellow metalheads. Pnut

Nice find. It's stout looking. My post vise isn't that beefy. Good price too, or it is in the part of the US I live in. Pnut

You continue to amaze me with the amount of work you get done on multiple projects. I'm glad you're within sight of the finish line. Hahaha I know you don't probably see it that way. Hope one day to get back up that way. Too bad I won't drive fifteen hundred miles to see a concert anymore or I'd be in your neck of the woods at some point. One day maybe, who knows. Pnut

I just have to say, I dread YouTube links. Watched your video and now it's 30 minutes later. Hahaha. Pnut

A sledgehammer head sunk in a stump and a jabod could have you forging by evening. Don't let perfect get in the way of good enough. I put off getting started for about two years trying to get everything "just right" and now I regret every second I wasted not just getting to it. Pnut

The typo in my previous Post is driving me crazy. Hahaha. Pnut

Save up about six or eight hundred dollars and buy a new anvil. Keep using your rail until then. I used mine for well over a year before getting an anvil and I went cheap and bought a 66 pound eBay anvil because I have to keep about 80% of my smithy in my SUV. Pnut

Welcome aboard. I agree with what swedefiddle stated. I use clay a small hammer and a little block to figure out how to make unfamiliar things and work out the order of operations. I know it's hard to believe but clay moves just like steel. It just doesn't take as much force to move it. Once again, welcome aboard, be safe, and remember it's supposed to be fun. Pnut

I've found that softwood like pine produces less ash and burns hotter than hardwood. I haven't decided if I'm willing to say I prefer it yet but I sure don't mind using softwood. Pnut

Welcome aboard. If you post some thumbnail pictures it would be greatly appreciated. I'm just guessing but I'm sure he's going to have some hammers, a torch, soldering irons. Pnut

I have bi lateral sciatica in addition to some other back problems. I've had the same thing happen from a sneeze before. Also a cough and once just from crossing my leg to play an acoustic guitar. It's horrible knowing that at any time your could get a pain like an ice pick with a cut off extension cord attached to it being plunged into your back. I feel for you. Pnut

Here's how my rail anvil is oriented. I didn't have any problems with it being too small. It only needs to be a little larger than the head of your hammer. It makes laying stock down to punch tricky but I just cut a log to the same height asthe rail face and used a chain hold down. You can see the log moved out of the way in the picture. It worked fine for over a year until I got a cheap 66 pound anvil. I still use the rail sometimes though. Pnut You have to radius (round off) the edges. I work on the cap part of the rail. If you radius the web, the skinny part, it makes a decent bottom Fuller. Pnut

Simplified instructions. Pnut

I like just a bit lower than wrist height but whatever is comfortable for you is the right way to go. I mocked up a stand and stood with the hammer face resting flat on a piece of one inch lumber when my elbow was still bent some. It's pretty comfortable so far. It's been too hot to get a lot of anvil time lately. Good luck Pnut

And the circle grows smaller by one. I'm sorry for your loss. Lovely dirk per usual. Work is a great way to self soothe in my opinion. Pnut

Yes, when it cools off some I'm going to start working on a few of them. The author does assume the reader has a basic grasp of the eight basic techniques. The author doesn't explain tapers or punching etc so it's not for a complete beginner. It would be a great book after a class covering the basic techniques. I am enjoying it. Pnut

Keep in mind that judging colors in the daylight is not always accurate. You're bright orange outside in the daylight may have been closer to a bright yellow in a dim shop. Pnut

"Alarum Bells" perhaps? Pnut

Try soaking it in acetone and automatic transmission fluid in a fifty fifty mixture. Pnut

The sort of behavior of the general contractor usually will take care of itself in smaller markets as word gets around that it's a nightmare to sub for. Pnut