CtG

It was a pretty good day- started having to fix a leaky sink, then went and hung out with Mark- I think the hammer came out pretty good! Today was rainy and windy, so it was definitely nice being able to go learn from and work with someone who knows what's what and has a roof over the forge hahaha Thanks again Mark!

We'll need more to go off of. Pictures of markings? Weight? Where in the world are you? All very important pieces of information to be able to help you further.

Back to running shape. Big ugly stinky beasty.

Talk about some tongs! Awesome- looks like you guys had a blast! Blue, that anvil seems to be working out pretty great for you- awesome

Which rods? The high abrasion resistive ones almost always spiderweb from my experience. The high impact resistant ones have been less likely from my experience, if you keep runs short. http://www.anvilmag.com/smith/anvilres.htm Seems to be the accepted method, has specific rod number recommendations.

If it looks like it could spall, I would trim it back- if not, use the beauty. If you need to grind it back (again, to prevent spalling IF needed) then put a soft radius in it- crisp edges will be more likely to chip. Might we see some better pictures of the areas of concern?

Very nice! Looks like you still have useable edge too! Congrats, very nice acquisition! That model looks a bit funny in profile.. the long Trenton horn, but fat too. Still, very very nice! Treat it with the love and respect you would have your Pops and I bet it'll treat you well back and even teach you a few lessons.

Massive congrats! My boy turns 6 in 4 days, my daughter is 7. Love on momma and sis- don't worry, it'll stick!

Frosty, looks a lot like a track spring, uncompressed

Tetrapus? I dunno, I think it looks cool

Different metabolisms, different bodies. If I just have 1 big meal a day it doesn't go over well. No amount of pop-nutrition advice can change that fact for me. 4-5 small meals keeps my weight, focus, and blood sugar much more on track. The content of the meals is a key aspect, to be sure. I have to be careful, as hypoglycemia can transition to diabetes if one isn't smart about diet and care. There is no one-size-fits-all

They went from 6 bolts per hole to 4 per hole without sufficient bolt size increase. The clamping load is mediocre from the factory. A nice set of H11 head studs solves that. Exhaust soot mixes with the oil vapor and forms a nasty sludge. It can build up and severely restrict the inlet. OBS and SD haha

My folks 02 Excursion (7.3) has about 270k miles and is still rolling. Could use some love as she ages... replaced the trans at 200k with a BTS and rebuild the oldie-Goldie 10.5 Sterling in the rear. They did the turbo after we moved. Besides brakes, alternators, glow plugs, and front end stuff (typical) she has been a true champion. They don't have anything modded any more, but dad's EcoBoost 150 is no slouch. Mom's '14 Passat isn't quick but does get 50mpg. Powerstrokenation can be a great resource- just be mindful that there is at least as much "armchair master" as actual master. The 6.0 is pretty darn stoutly built- fully skirted, cross-bolted, beefy castings... if only the FICM, Injectors, oil distribution fittings, and emissions systems were as stout... did you Bulletproof it??

Honestly, it was the product of- "Well, it needs a turbo and injectors, why don't we do something a bit better?" My dad daily-drove till they sold it. The guy who bought it totalled it in a month... Miss that car, did most of my permit hours driving in it. Dad had a dyno-queen 99.5 F250 as well. Just short of 1000ft/lb to the floor. It was mostly built when we got it, but I helped build the fuel supply and regulation system, size the injectors to the HPOP properly, installed ceramic-coated manifolds and up-pipes, valvetrain upgrades, etc etc. Could tow their 6K LBS boat handily if you watched your EGT's carefully. I never got into actual racing, but canyon runs and various other dubious actions I did. Live and learn. Surprisingly, in the canyons, my moms old 92 Miata was a BLAST on the downhill. Not enough power for uphill pulls to be very thrilling, but we had the suspension set up just-so (the HawkEye laser alignment machine had just come out and the boss bought one) and it held those canyon 2-laners like it was on rails. Well, unless a washout put mud across the road after a blind curve and you proceeded to spin and nearly fly off the road.... oops. Yes, late-teen/early-20's hormones make you do... less than intelligent things. A lot of what I learned was at my first wrenching job- I did the fleet work. Mainly diesel, light-through-heavy. However, they had a performance division and they built all kinds of wild setups. From smallish import to furious big block drag beasts. I tried to pick up whatever I could. Was a good experience, to be sure.

If you were dying for an anvil you could run after a 66lb amazon special. Accacio or something like that? Otherwise, there are sooo many large pieces of steel on heavy equipment. Behold, 988K bucket pins. 105lb and 115lb. Would make dandy improv anvils.

Does that little has forge just have exposed inswool or other fibers? If so, you may want to look into coating it to avoid silicosis. Looking good! Like the handle accents

Haha That's a really good one too.

I can relate to that Conrad. A nice, even, clean plug is pretty rewarding. Most of my plugs to this point are a tad.... well, not even hahaha

You've discovered Drach I see! Love his channel. Thanks for sharing here, I've listened to that one 3 or 4 times. Great information with a dash of British wit

Hey all, I have a considerable amount of dross from a coworker lancing the heart out of a large pin. Pin material was most likely 4140, the lance rods were stainless. Would this material be of any use, be it for smelting or otherwise? Thanks! Also, as I'm sure I'll be asked, the big pins are just under 5.5" diameter, and weigh over 105lbs each. Out of a very large wheel loader.

Well done Billy! No ashes for me today, however I'm a bit less Roman. No worries though- I understand (as best I can!!) and respect it! Either way, I think it turned out quite nice! CGL, I think it's a nice improvement on the base set!

No. Hollow teeth, and depending on make of the teeth, they may be fairly brittle in that plane and spall with hard strikes.

I find some of the more classic slapstick enjoyable (at times, and in proper small doses) but the garbage on YT just makes me agitated. People destroying nice things being... less than intelligent.... really irks me. Let alone the harming/scaring others for entertainment sake. But anyway....

Ahhhh Group B.... Talk about talent and nerves. Yeah, the diesels are no exception. But a turned up TDI, done right, can be a joy to drive as well as a tire-boiling beastie. Folks had a 96 Passat that we had a hybrid turbo, larger injectors, better exhaust, and a tune on. That thing would boil the tires through 2nd and half of 3rd, and if you hit the torque band right when you rolled on the go-pedal, would break them loose in 3rd from a roll. Also got 48mpg highway and started first try on a -20°F day at 5400 foot elevation, at 320,000 miles when they sold it. It had the mods done at 180,000. Tune was good too, it hazed but didn't really "roll coal".

Ugh... no fun... windowshade? I have brachial plexus Neuritis in both arms with strange nerve and muscle effects. 3 dead to the world in my hammer arm, 2 in my off-arm. It sucks sometimes, but I make it work. I'll echo above, discuss with your would/will-be teacher your concerns and limitations. You want this to be a pleasant and encouraging experience. KNOW YOUR LIMITS! Please don't make a frustrating but temporary disability into a frustrating and long-term disability by over-doing it. That said, also don't talk yourself out of it if your instructor is willing to make accommodations. Be cautious, but have fun! Also, congrats on the good outcome of surgery!