Phil Patrick

what a wimpy anvil.

Foxfire 5 was THE book that got me interested in blacksmithing. as said before, maybe it is not the best "how to" book, but it lights the fire within. The older folks, the ones that did it and did it well despite what equipment they had, that is the treasure.

Looks like a REALLY big branding iron for gigantic mutant cattle.

Looks very good! Whats with the dumbbell looking thing? Is it a mouse squisher? Nicely done Phil

I have spent many years rigging and moving heavy industrial equipment. To date, I still have all my fingers and toes!!! Remember, if you have anything rigged and lifted, do not put anything under it that you are not willing to leave there permanently. Like toes, feet , fingers, etc. Be very patient and THINK when you setting up a pick. It doesn't matter if it is just winching up your anvil or cribbing up a 12000# Beche Lufthammer!!! Be patient,, always think 4 steps ahead. Over built and rigging system you might need to create. Sweep the floor around your rigging area. You might be surprised how easily a 1/8th inch nut can stop a very heavy lift on skates. AND never pick anything up unless you know where you are going to put it. Be safe folks.

For myself. I find that I will build anything about four hundred times in my head before I put it to paper or sharpie or soapstone to steel. Being able to visualize is paramount to what I do both in my hobbies (blacksmithing etc) or my job, which is in the sheetmetal fabrication business. So yeah, I know I plan everything. I find though that certain projects will find their own path, I just follow.

I prefer to employ Frank and Ace, the dynamic dog duo. They bark and act all tough, but at heart they are cowards. I have been hit by thieves twice in my life. I hate a thief, a lot. I mean,, really a lot. I lost a rather expensive firearm collection the last time. I have thought about getting a nasty pit bull/doberman/lion/alligator with a social disease.

The most simple and easy build design I have made is called a spring pole lathe. Attached is a pretty good picture of an early design that I found. I hope it helps you out. The down side is by its design, your cutting cycle will be be as you push down with your foot. Then, the "upstroke" is a dead cycle. It is a little slower and takes some getting used to, but it works just fine. Phil

If any of you fine folks can get to, or live near enough to visit the area, those furnaces are pretty amazing. They are massive! The one near to where I was hunting is in the state park. It gives me a HUGE respect for what the ones before us had to go through just to produce iron. Mining the ore, limestone, baking it, loading all of that, plus the charcoal, tending it etc. All before front end loaders, trucks, electric! Just amazing. The hills around the furnace are just covered in tailings, cinders, etc. That is pretty ironic, pig hunting, pig iron. Both are very useful to me, one just tastes better after 8 hours on my smoker. Phil

I was pig hunting yesterday, when I found something interesting. The area where I hunt is in south east Ohio. The area (near to Chilicothe) was a big iron smelting center for many years. A lot of the old furnaces are still standing. Any way, I was scouting along an abandoned rail road bed. We had found where the porkers had been rooting up turtle eggs out of the rail embankment. The rail line runs next to a creek. We stopped to check it out, when my blacksmith spider sense went off. I saw poking out of the sandy crushed stone, a blob of iron. Overall, I found three or four big blobs of iron, one of which is pretty big. I have attached a photo of one of them. My suspicion is that it is cast iron. I broke off a small piece and looked at the grain structure under my loop. Very brittle, and you could see flecks of graphite like material through out the iron. Either way, a very cool find. Enjoy.

Pass the buck

Roald Dahl think about it.

Smart Alec,,,,(cheecky)

thanks everyone!

terrier,,,,,,

This post goes out to all you sword making folks. Ever hear of a boar sword? It is really too long of a story to explain why I am asking. I have seen boar hunting spears, and I have seen footage of people hunting them with dogs and knives, ( a little too up close and personal for my taste!), but this is new to me. As usual, any info is much appreciated! thanks.

That was by far one of the coolest build I have ever seen in my life. Thanks for sharing.

and loss.......

masticate.....

1)Pick up crescent wrench. 2)Open scrap bin lid. 3)Deposit said wrench into scrap bin. 4)Take scrap bin to recycle yard, sell scrap. 5)Take money from scrap, go to reputable tool vendor. 6)Buy proper wrench for job. 7)Go home/shop, finish job. I hate adjustable wrenches.

Duke Nukem.......

soda.......

Aeon flux.....

Very cool,,, the worlds biggest salami slicer!

glass.........