pnut

I thought it was a punch also but I didn't see an eye for a handle. Pnut

Glad to have you and welcome aboard. When I was about eight or ten I had a neighbor who supplied the local police department with ammo for their shooting range and spent many an afternoon melting lead. By the time I was twelve I was doing the reloading after school as a job for pocket money. I don't think it'd go over too well today but I'm glad I got the chance to learn how to reload. There's a mountain of info here you just have to look for it. Many questions have been asked already you just have to look for them. Don't waste your time using the search feature here. Use Google or Bing or whatever you prefer with the search terms you're interested in with iforgeiron tacked on the end. It'll save you a lot of time and aggravation. Welcome aboard be safe and remember it's supposed to be fun. Pnut

I don't know about the maker of the anvil but the tool in the hardy hole looks like a bick or bickern if you prefer for a stake plate. It's a smaller version of a horn. It looks like the shank would damage the anvil because it doesn't rest on it's shoulders. If it is for a stake plate it might split the heel off due to the wedge shape of the shank. That's what makes me think it goes into a stake plate and not a hardy tool. Someone more knowledgeable will be along soon as I'm not 100% sure. Pnut

I second that thought, Anvil. Pnut

It's not a stick welder but I just seen a Hobart toolmate 100 115v flux core wire welders for $134 at Tractor Supply Company. Pnut

Thank you sir. Pnut Glad to have been some help. Pnut

The Canadian office of essential skills in industrial arts program has a blacksmithing course. I found the PDF for the facilitators guide by searching blacksmith and essential skills. Maybe get in contact with the office I mentioned above and you may be able to purchase the curriculum since your not in Canada or maybe with some creative digging with search terms from the facilitators guide you can find it on PDF. Pnut

This was an old rusty burn barrel that half was already burned off and both ends were open. No chance of fire. It's a metal hoop now that got cut about eight inches down on the end that was still intact and not rusted or burned through. I have a couple plastic ones but don't want to bump a piece of hot steel against it so when I noticed the old steel one being thrown out I spied the new container for my next jabod. Now just have to fill it up and cut the legs down on the steel prep table I also rescued from the garbage. Pnut

The only drawback is that they charge a premium price for them which kind of defeats the purpose but the upside of paying more thorough them is you could maybe exchange it if you got one that wasn't up to scratch. I don't know if you'd have any recourse if you ordered one from Amazon or wherever and weren't satisfied. Pnut

In my area if I paid $275-$300 I'd feel like I didn't get beat and I didn't take advantage of anyone. Pnut

Don't do anything to it. It looks great. Wipe it down with a rag with some light oil on it if you can't help but do something to it. The surface is good. Price depends on where you're at. Some places $2.50lb other places $5 or $6 a pound. Here in northern Kentucky between $3-$4 per pound. That's why we suggest putting your general location in your profile as so many answers are location dependent. Just a general idea of where you are is all such as Northern Kentucky. Pnut

My luck with those things has been hit or miss. I've gotten bolts out with them but usually have had to drill them out. You may have better luck with a drill press. I've always used hand drills with them and I think that may have been part of the problem. Pnut

I have a friend who owns a H-D dealership/custom bike shop and I get to test drive bikes whenever I want but haven't taken him up on his offer since last spring. We took a ride to Red River Gorge for a camping trip. Got to ride a 77FLH bobber. Shovelheads are one of my favorites. Pnut

It looks like it to me but I have been wrong more often than not in cases like this. Progressively larger bits is my suggestion. Pnut

Something like this is what I've used to drag logs. These are small but they make much larger. They look pretty straightforward to make yourself but the stock sizes you'd need would be better suited to using a power hammer. About the rebar texture. No only the points grip the log. Pnut

I'll have to check for some pics of my bike before it met a deer. It was one of three things my father left me when he died. I've had it since I was 2. I've had a lot of bikes over my life but the panhead has always been there and i can't bring myself to sell it even though I'll probably never fix it. Pnut

I'm not Mikey, but my name is Mike so here goes. One T burner will get a well built forge with an inner volume of 300-350ci. Up to welding temperatures. Don't get caught up in thinking you will build a better mousetrap. Find a proven forge and burner design and follow them exactly. Later on you can tinker after you know what a good forge is and what you want to do out of it. Pnut

I got a drum cut off for me today. It was sitting in a yard by the trash for about a week so I asked about it and he gave it to me. He even offered to cut it off. The guy nearly gave me a nervous breakdown the way he was using the angle grinder. I couldn't stop him after he got going though, I tried to tell him I could take care of it when I got home and I didn't want to inconvenience him, but he wasn't having it. He made a mess of the cut but at least he didn't hurt himself even though he seemed dead set on it. Pnut

The library is your friend. I've read everything Blacksmith related except the weird Amish romance novels my local library has and have Ill'd anything I was curious about that they didn't have. Pnut

Does your ash dump have a cap of some sort or is it open with a bucket under it? Without a cap it will act like a waste gate for the air supply which shouldn't be a problem using anthracite and a hair dryer but might not be as good for bituminous. Pnut

Do you have access to a planer? The boards will take a bit of finishing. Pnut

The skills of a Blacksmith by Mark Aspery, New edge of the anvil by Jack Andrews and The Complete Modern Blacksmith by Alexander Weygers. Pnut

Plistix 900F is manufactured by PLIBRICO Company LLC. I found the MSDS at PLIBRICO.com/uploads/MSDS/sdsPlistix900F or by searching plistix900f. Pnut

PM Glenn. You can buy them from iforgeiron. Pnut

If you haven't already ordered it, plistix is cheaper. Pnut