pnut

A guy I used to work for plugged one in and didn't realize it was turned on. It ran up his pants leg doing some damage underneath. That's an extreme example but I give angle grinders the respect they deserve. I only use them if there's no equal alternative. Pnut

I bet a ball hitch in the vise would work well for forming a cupping tool. As you said, attack it from where you're coming from. I just happen to have a ball hitch I've been using since I started not too long ago. Pnut

I agree absolutely with the two above posts. PPE is a MUST no matter what motor you have a wire wheel or cup attached to. Pnut

Well I thought I was feeling all right so I went and got some chain, 3/4in flat stock and all the other bits and pieces to get the leg vise and anvil mounted and the spring made. I wasn't feeling as up to the task as I first thought though so it looks like that's it for today. At least I gathered all the materials. The actual work will have to wait. Pnut

I use my drill with a cup brush. Nice and slow and your completely out of the plane of rotation. Pnut

Almost everything can be repurposed. I'm a hoarder only contained by my lack of space. I did just pay a years rent on a 10x10 storage unit though. It's only about a quarter or third full. Mwaa haha.. Pnut

I thought about buying one of those but they only stock the four pounder in store and I truly hate ordering things online. The vise is coming along nicely Laynne. I've been sick so I've only managed to wire brush it and rub it with some BLO. Thanks again. Pnut

For some reason the steel supplier near me hasn't had any high carbon steel in stock for a while. They've had 1045 and 1060 but nothing with higher carbon than that and don't seem to be able to say when they'll have it back in stock. Has anyone else had this problem with their local suppliers? Pnut

Some people are just too laid back to lead. Plain and simple. I'm pretty soft-spoken and it took me owning my own assembly business at twenty years old to get over not wanting to be seen as "pushy". I still struggle with it at times. Pnut

You can make vice grips much more useful by welding bits to the jaws of the vice grips. When I get access to a welder I'm going to weld bits on a few more pairs. I was having problems with the vise grips not making contact with the stock and creating a swivel point. The bits welded to the jaws stopped it from happening. Even with the bits welded to the jaws a pair of fitted tongs and tong ring is still preferable for me. Pnut

Since you said it's substantially cheaper I hope you've already bought it. One thing I've learned the hard way is that good deals won't wait for you. I hope you get it if you haven't already done so. Pnut

Buy it and look into what a ducks nest is. You can form a firepot from clay. I wouldn't sit around too long or you'll miss out. Pnut

Is that a comparable price to others in your area? Just about six months ago 60-80 USD was about the going rate here. They jumped in price by double since then. Unless they usually are cheaper than that I don't see any obvious red flags. Pnut

I agree. I don't know what happened to the acorn on this particular vise. It's cut cleanly at about a 45 degree angle. I have had some rather unfortunate side effects from an antibiotic I was taking for an oral infection and have been feeling terrible and haven't been able to leave the house in a few days. I think I'm feeling better but I thought the same thing yesterday until I went through the trouble of getting ready and then couldn't leave. Hopefully I'll be able to do some things I've been putting off for days. Fingers crossed. Pnut

I finally bit the bullet and created a new account after a ten year divorce from Facebook. If you wouldn't mind sending me the name of your Page I'd really like to join or take a look. Thanks Pnut

Bamsite has a free downloadable PDF. I think it's printable even. Pnut

I'm so sorry. At least you did the unselfish thing. Time is the only salve for this wound. Take care. Pnut

Just the acorn. As for whether I need it. It's not going to be in a permanent spot and I didn't want it to mushroom or degrade so if I can friction fit something on the end I will. I didn't take a real good look at the actual size but I have some acorn lugnuts that reminded me of the part that was missing. If it fits great. If not on to something else. Pnut

That reminds me. I forgot to mention that the leg is missing the nub on the end. I have no idea what it's called but I plan on hot fitting a large but on it. Maybe a lug nut if it's the right size. I'm open for suggestions if anyone has any that will work better. Pnut

Well since it's pouring rain today and I can't fix it anyway without getting a thorough soaking I'll get 20' for what I was going to pay for 3'. The steel supplier is maybe 20-25 minutes away but TSC is about a mile away and I can be persuaded to spend more money for the convenience of only having a two minute drive. I've looked at a few examples of springs and my plan is to split the last inch and bend them out to capture the movable arm just as was recommended. Thanks for the help and as soon as the rain stops I'll get it done. They're saying there's a slight chance of snow. Strange days for sure. Pnut

TSC nut coal is too big. You need to break it up some. I don't know what nut they're comparing it to but it must be a coconut. Anyway build a good fire from kindling and put a double handful of coal that you've broken into pieces around one inch on it when the kindling is burning good. Turn the air on and when the coal starts to catch add another double handful. You'll have a good bed of coals by then and should be able to start working. Don't be ashamed to use a plumbers torches to get it going If you have to in the beginning. You have to have a fire to manage if you want to learn fire management not to mention blacksmithing. Fire is just a tool. The steel doesn't care if you started it with a striker and steel, a bow and drill,or a blowtorch. You can work on starting it with one match as you go on but you need a fire to blacksmith so getting it lit is the important thing. It will get easier. Fire starting i think has a perishable skill aspect to it. I noticed how much easier I could get a fire of any type going when I was using fire everyday. After a few years of not using fire I had to re learn some things. Good luck,be safe, and remember it's supposed to be fun. Pnut

Definitely like a thunk. Ring like a bell not so much. The little 66 pound anvil I just bought is going to take some serious dampening. I'm going to put silicone,a chain and a magnet along with screwing it down as tight as possible. My rail anvil is quiet. It's mounted in a garbage bucket of very fine dry aggregate. I've heard people say how much they ring but I can only hear the hammer hitting the hot steel. Hopefully I can get the little cast Steel one as quiet. Pnut

I looked through my meager resource pile and don't have anything that's suitable. I'm going to go to the local TSC and buy a yard of 1inx1/4in flat bar. Tractor supply is five minutes away and the steelyard is closer to thirty. They also don't like non commercial customers showing up during the week so TSC it is. If TSC is out of 1/4in. I will end up waiting till the weekend and going to the steelyard. Pics to follow. Pnut

We're pulling for him out here on the Dry Ridge. Hope he makes a quick recovery. Pnut

I think I used that same burn spray before. Iirc it has lidocaine in it. Pnut