Frosty

Semi drums aren't good for much other than semi brakes. If you really need to use one though how about a yard fire pit? They look like a great bit of salvage, I think all of us have grabbed something because it was big and BIG is better right? Not. A brake rotor from a family sedan makes a much more useful size fire pot. A washing machine door makes a good forge table and you can make a hole for the rotor with a chisel. Easy peasy ad you don't have to work to think of something for the truck drum. Frosty The Lucky.

Nice bar, the table looks like a nice place for morning coffee and early mornings on the mountains. Sipping a adult beverage and watching evening descend on the same mountains is a fine way to enjoy. Frosty The Lucky.

Yeah, power hammer job for sure and if it's steady work will break even darned quickly. Frosty The Lucky.

I believe his need for help is a lack of practical building experience. Hence the lack of pertinent details. He has height and weight. The surface it's going to be on is IMPORTANT, so is the WIDTH of the tripod at it's base. I don't even consider a tripod for unloading vehicles, only for straight lifting as shown in the picture where one is mounted over a well. A swingset / A frame hoist if far more efficient, can be mounted on wheels and or knocked down for storage. About half again as much steel but far more useful. Frosty The Lucky.

The forklift is something you need to make sure they know what NOT to do, they can get you easy. Welding and plasma cutter? PPE and why not? I was spinning metal at 10 and spinning some exotics at 14. I grew up in Dad's spinning shop and shed plenty of blood learning to keep my eyes open and my attention on everything. I was making 8" groups with my 8mm German Mauser and iron sights at 12, started shooting at 8. Kids will live up to your expectations. Expect them to be some sensitive delicate flower that can't take criticism and that's what you'll get. Expect kids to think for themselves, ask intelligent questions, ask for help when they need it and that's what you'll get. You have to make sure dangerous tools are NOT toys and not to be treated like toys. Being exiled from the shop really helped get my head straight. Not perfect of course I was a kid but I learned to be careful when I played and not tear the tools and equipment up. I did most of Dad's welding, I was better at it. Of course that's just my opinion, I think kids are as smart as adults, their libraries are just sparse. Good guidance, responsibility and opportunity will take them far. Frosty The Lucky.

And that my friend is exactly why I suggest a person learn blacksmithing BEFORE trying to make blades. The tools don't do diddly, it's the clever monkey with thumbs that do it all. Frosty The Lucky.

It'd be pretty hard pulling Romex, it's pretty stiff to make some of the corners. Running a cord through the downdraft exhaust was just one of my many random thoughts. I'll probably go with the overhead recoil electric when I start messing with it again. Real wiring would be sweet though. <sigh> Frosty The Lucky.

That's a pretty good name for the pattern Steve it fits nicely. Frosty The Lucky.

Not married? It's getting the better half to sign off on buying most anything that's the trick. Frosty The Lucky.

Welcome aboard magnet, glad to have you. If you'll put your general location in the header it'll make it much easier to hook up with members living close enough to visit. Yeah yeah, you said where you live in your first post but we're not likely to remember after we check the next post. Frosty The Lucky.

Rail makes a good anvil but what really makes a good anvil is a good blacksmith and that only comes with practice. Frosty The Lucky.

Exactly, if you're buying a tool the only thing that matters is how well it does the job. Age, make, etc. is interesting but doesn't do a job. A tool's pedigree makes good patter at demos if you run out of things to say. That happened to me once, it still gives me the willies! J: Amvils have been re-heat treated but it's a serious job of work and you need to know what you're doing. It's doable though but a fire victim anvil would have to come to me at near scrap price and even then figure at least a day just to heat treat. Finding help and prep time is the wildcard. Frosty The Lucky.

Maybe we'll get someone to video the demo someday. I don't think anyone was shooting vids at all last Saturday. As disorganized as I was it wouldn't have been a very useful T burner making video, it came down to mostly basic metal shop craft Re. drill presses and precise placement. It was a good meeting though, 18 or more attending. We got a couple new members and a number of prospects. Several took their first lash at hot steel and hammers. Once the demos were over every anvil had folk making leaves with a more experienced member walking them through. Jim's wife made a big pot of her scrumptious chili and corn bread. I think word's getting out about her chili and upping our attendance. Frosty The Lucky.

Maybe we'll get someone to video the demo someday. I don't think anyone was shooting vids at all last Saturday. As disorganized as I was it wouldn't have been a very useful T burner making video, it came down to mostly basic metal shop craft Re. drill presses and precise placement. It was a good meeting though, 18 or more attending. We got a couple new members and a number of prospects. Several took their first lash at hot steel and hammers. Once the demos were over every anvil had folk making leaves with a more experienced member walking them through. Jim's wife made a big pot of her scrumptious chili and corn bread. I think word's getting out about her chili and upping our attendance. Frosty The Lucky.

What's a snap temper? I don't do a lot of hardening but for what I do I use fryer oil from a local super market. I was hoping to get their doughnut oil but no, my shop smells like burritos, fish, fries, etc. Oh well. They were happy to fill a 5gl jug with canola oil when they changed oil. Hyd fluid can make dangerous bad smoke though it does a decent job of quenching it has a high flash temp. Of course you could just buy some heat treat or heat transfer oil but what fun would that be. eh? Frosty The Lucky.

Combustion gasses usually collect in low places when the blower is idling and when fresh air is introduced it can pop. It's not uncommon burning coal but is probably less likely with coke unless makes a lot of CO. A flap cap ash dump will just pop open if a backfire happens so it only cleans out the tuyere nicely. I like to put a bucket with a little water in it under mine. Not that I burn a lot of solid fuels but when I do I like things under control. I have a thing about giving fire it's head. Frosty The Lucky.

You mean my intuitive reasoning was right?! I saw the Psychedelic Chevron but no twist. Nice patterns all round Steve. Frosty The Lucky.

Only the purty ones. Frosty The Lucky.

I think the focus on weight for post vises came from people thinking if it's a factor for anvils it must be true for vises as well. The only time I care is if I have to move it or the one time I air freighted one. The reason modern vises are lighter than the old ones? They darned well should be, modern ones are made of steel not wrought iron. Using a stronger material manufacturers would be idiots to use more than necessary to produce a tool to specs. Frosty The Lucky.

That's gotta be one of the nicest pedestals I've seen, it even has plugintas. I'm afraid I about topped out pre-planning shop layout with the 4' grid gozinta system. Makes me wonder about running extension cords through my sub-floor exhaust system. It'd be easy enough to fish a cord through but I have to wonder if it's more likely to damage the cords. Nice power pedestal, very nicely done. Frosty The Lucky.

Uh huh. Deb's pretty understanding and though she doesn't want my stuff visible from the house pretty much leaves it alone. However there are a few things I dread hearing her say: I saw it on the internet, make some they'll be good Christmas presents. Mop the floor when you get the bleeding stopped. NO you can't wear THAT to church. NO you can't wear THAT to the shop. Not EVEN close! Go to the shop while I clean up your desk. <sigh> Frosty The Lucky.

The old, "Good, Fast or Cheap, pick two," rule applies to buying tools. The more hurried you are the more expensive or worse the condition you have to settle for. Frosty The Lucky.

I haven't noticed increased creeping blue flames with drier sheets and Deb never fails to use them. I've had people darned near beat me senseless when a new flannel shirt fuzz catches and the blue flame spreads. Yeah, I feel it and smell it but my hair doesn't burn easily so I just ignore it. It can really get folk hopping though. If you have bad feet you might want to see about a pair of custom fitted boots. When I bought my first pair of Whites boots my back stopped aching and my knees stopped hurting from standing on the drill stand. It was always vibrating and bouncing, lots of shock damage. The Whites did it though. Frosty The Lucky.

Disappeared AGAIN ARGHHH!!! Make savory custard. Run tasty things through the blender and add them to basic custard, eggs and a little milk. For instance, brown some ham, deglaze the pan by sweating a little onion, liquify it in a blender. Whisk a LITTLE ground sage, salt and pepper in the egg before you add the milk, then add the blendered stuff. Pop it in the oven, when it skins over sprinkle a little sharp cheddar on it and finish cooking. As long as you don't get carried away with pepper, herbs and spices it'll go down easy and best of all it isn't desert. Frosty The Lucky.